LEAVE
YOUR OFFERING THERE BEFORE THE ALTAR AND
GO: aphes (2SAAM) ekei to
doron sou emprosthen tou thusiasteriou kai hupage (2SPAM)
(Mt
18:15-17;
Job 42:8;
Proverbs 25:9;
Mark 9:50;
Romans 12:17,18;
1 Corinthians 6:7,8;
1 Timothy 2:8;
James 3:13-18;
5:16;
1 Peter 3:7,8)
Spurgeon comments that...
It is said that, in Hindostan,
there is a complete divorce of religion from morality, so that a man may
be supposed to be eminently religious even while living in the utmost
filthiness and vice; but it must never be so among us. We must never
imagine that God can accept an offering from us while we harbor any
enmity in our hearts. Perhaps, after reading this passage, you say, “If
I had anything against my brother, I would go to him at once, and seek
to be reconciled to him.” That would be quite right; but you must go
further than that, for Christ says, “If thou bring thy gift to the
altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee.”
It is much more easy to go to the man who has wronged you than to the
one whom you have wronged. Yet the second is evidently the clearer duty,
and should be attended to at once: neither can we expect the Lord to
attend to us unless we attend to this duty.
Leave
(863)
(aphiemi) let go (interesting picture "Let go of your offering").
Offering (1435
before
altar
go
first
reconciled
then
come
and
present
offering)
(doron) a gift offered to God.
Before (1715)
(emprosthen) in front of.
Jesus' point is that anger and
hatred affect our relationship to God. As long as there is internal sin,
outward acts of worship are not acceptable to God. Reconciliation must
precede worship because unresolved conflict has priority and must be
settled. Settle the breach between you and your brother before you try
to settle the breach between you and God. Not to do that is to be a
hypocrite by asking for forgiveness without repenting.
Mark it down beloved. If you bring
anger to the altar, you cannot worship God, so get rid of the anger
quickly. Do not be deceived.
Is there someone God's Spirit is bringing to your mind to reconcile with
so that you might then worship Him in spirit and in truth?
The Father desires and seeks true worshipers (John 4:23). Don't put off
until tomorrow what you should deal with today. And remember your
obligation is only as far as it is possible (the other party may make it
totally impossible) for you to be at peace with all men (see
Romans 12:14-17;
12:18-21).
A clear, clean
conscience
is a wonderful thing.
FIRST
BE RECONCILED TO YOUR
BROTHER
AND THEN COME AND
PRESENT
YOUR OFFERING:
proton diallageqi (2SAPM) to adelphos sou, kai tote elthon
(AAPMSN) prosphere (2SPAM) to doron sou (Mt
23:23;
1 Corinthians 11:28)
First (4413)
(proton) means first in time, place, order or importance. Here Jesus
speaks of the priority, and the necessity that
reconciliation of an animosity should take over worship.
Be reconciled
(1259)
(diallasso from diá = denoting transition + allásso
= to change - see
Reconcilation
or
Reconcile) means to change one's feelings towards another and so to
become reconciled. It means to be restored to normal relations or
harmony with someone. This could apply to a enmity, animosity or a quarrel
in which the fault may be two-sided or one-sided. The context must show
which side the active enmity is on, but in this case it is the brother
who is somehow offended.
Jesus teaches that we should
take every reasonable step to promote an effect opposite of murder
(whether it is with or without guns or knives). In this case, instead of
murdering by hand or mouth, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are those
who should seek with all their power to establish right relationships
with their brothers.
Brothers is used in the sense not of the Christian
brotherhood but in the sense that all mankind is related through Adam's
lineage ("the brotherhood of mankind") and all are to be treated as
those made in the image of God.
Present
(4374)
(prosphero from pros = before + phero = bear) to
bear before and so to bring unto.
John MacArthur wisely comments
that
Obviously we cannot change
another person’s heart or attitude, but our desire and effort should be
to close the breach as much as is possible from our side and to hold no
anger ourselves even if the other person does. Regardless of who is
responsible for the break in relationship-and often there is guilt on
both sides-we should determine to make a reconciliation before we come
before God to worship. True worship is not enhanced by better
music, better prayers, better architecture, or even better preaching.
True worship is enhanced by better relationships between
those who come to worship. Worship may be improved by our staying
away from church until we have made things right with those with whom we
know our relationship is strained or broken. When there is animosity or
sin of any sort in our heart there cannot be integrity in our worship.
(MacArthur, J:
Matthew 1-7 Macarthur New Testament
Commentary Chicago: Moody Press)
(Bolding added)
Sinclair Ferguson draws an
illustration...
Picture a man in church. He is
about to express his devotion to the Lord in worship and in his
offering. But he has not been enjoying fellowship with his brother.
There is disharmony in the relationship. Jesus says the man should leave
his offering, be reconciled to his brother, and then return to worship
God with a clear conscience and full heart. Is Jesus saying that the
only important thing in worship is right relationships with our fellow
men? Hardly! He recognises that our relationship with God is primary,
but we always appear before God as those who are related, rightly or
wrongly, to our fellow men. What we are before God involves how we are
related to others (cf 1John 1:6-7). And if we are at enmity with others,
how can we come into the Lord's presence with clean hands and a pure
heart (cf see note
Matthew 5:8)?
It is monstrous to think that he will find our hypocritical offering
acceptable. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1Sa 15:22). As Peter
shows, this principle extends to the home and family: husbands are to
treat their wives with respect and as heirs of the gracious gift of life
so that nothing will hinder their prayers (see note
1 Peter 3:7).
The principle is clear: right relationships with others are part of the
meaning of the commandment not to murder. They are essential if our
righteousness is to go down deeper than that of the scribes and
Pharisees. (Ferguson,
Sinclair: Sermon on the Mount :Banner of Truth)
(Bolding added)
Max Lucado quips...
As far as I know, this is the only
time God tells you to slip out of church early. Apparently, he’d rather
have you give your olive branch than your tithe. If you are worshiping
and remember that your mom is hacked-off at you for forgetting her
birthday, then get off the pew and find a phone. Maybe she’ll forgive
you; maybe she won’t. But at least you can return to your pew with a
clean conscience. (Lucado,
M. When God Whispers Your Name. Page 127. Dallas: Word Pub).
G Campbell Morgan writes
that...
God seeks and values the gifts we
bring Him—gifts of praise, thanksgiving, service, and material
offerings. In all such giving at the altar we enter into the highest
experiences of fellowship. But the gift is acceptable to God in the
measure to which the one who offers it is in fellowship with Him in
character and conduct; and the test of this is in our relationships with
our fellow men. We are thus charged to postpone giving to God until
right relationships are established with others. Could the neglect of
this be the explanation of the barrenness of our worship?
><> ><> ><>
F B Meyer has the following
devotional thoughts entitled "First, Reconciliation" focusing on Mt
5:23-24...
THERE IS a marked difference between
memory and recollection.
Memory resembles a great box or chest into which a man casts his
letters, accounts, and MSS.; recollection is the readiness, be it less
or more, with which he can lay his hand on what he requires. We know
that it is somewhere in our possession, we remember to have seen and
turned it over, but search as we may we cannot find or recall it.
But there is a moment of quickened recollection when we stand before
God: "When thou bringest thy gift to the altar and rememberest." As the
Divine searchlight plays upon our past life it reveals many things which
had passed from our mind. Conscience is a keen quickener of our powers
of recollection.
What has your brother against you? This--that you flamed out against him
in passion, with bitter, angry words, in hatred and contempt; or
this--that you have been sullen and sulky, scarcely answering his
advances, meeting his salutations with grudging courtesy. Perhaps you
have done him a positive wrong, and have taken from him his only
covering, or have forborne to help him when he stood in sore need (Ex
22:26-27; 23:4-9).
We are bidden to get right with man, as the first step to acceptance
with God--" first be reconciled to thy brother." Humility is necessary
in every approach to God, and nothing so humbles our pride as to confess
our faults to our brethren. Truth is necessary to all right dealings
with God, and nothing will so promote truth in our inward parts as to be
transparent and simple in our dealings with our fellows. Sincerity in
confession of sin is an essential beginning of peace with God, but how
can we be sure that our confession is sincere unless it costs us
something more than words. "'First, be reconciled with thy brother"--not
only with the brother of human flesh--but with our great Brother in the
Glory (Gen 1:17-21;
Hebrews 2:11 [note]). Then comet Offer thyself, as thy gift; He
will accept thee, and thy gifts.
PRAYER Give unto us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, broken and contrite
hearts. Help us to do all that ought to be done to make amends, and
grant unto our brother the willingness to meet us with forgiveness and
peace. So shall we have peace with Thee, our Elder Brother, against whom
we have grievously sinned. AMEN. (Our Daily Walk)
><> ><> ><>
Today in the Word
has the following
devotional thoughts on Mt 5:23-24...
When D. L. Moody was four years old,
his father died, leaving a large, impoverished family. The eldest son
ran away from home, but each night his mother put a light in the window,
hoping for his return. Mr. Moody recalled that when his older brother
did come home, he was barely recognizable behind a heavy beard. It was
only as he began to cry that Mrs. Moody realized it was her son and
invited him in. ""No, mother,"" he said, ""I will not come in until I
hear first that you have forgiven me."" Mrs. Moody threw her arms around
her son and brought him indoors. Moody's older brother was clearly in
the wrong and he knew it, which made his mother's gift of forgiveness
and reconciliation a special one. We as believers have the gift of
re-conciliation to offer others, and Jesus urges us to give it freely.
In fact, Jesus commands us to initiate reconciliation whether we are in
the right or in the wrong. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus doesn't define who
is the guilty party or who is responsible for the broken relationship.
The point is not to assign blame, but to make the situation right. The
same is true in the courtroom scene Jesus outlined in verses 25-26. He
didn't say the person being taken to court will definitely be found
guilty, although that seems to be the likely outcome if the case goes to
trial. It doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong--again, the point is
to ""settle matters quickly.""
Taking the first step in re-conciliation is our responsibility as
believers. When we fail to do so, we often try to justify ourselves by
saying something like, ""I'm not mad at her, she's mad at me. It's her
problem. She needs to deal with it."" But Jesus turns that kind of logic
upside-down. God wants us to do everything we can to remove barriers and
offenses between us and other Christians. Otherwise, our acts of worship
are hollow to Him. That ought to be motivation enough to seek peace!
Let's admit it. These are tough commands to follow. Why? Because it's
difficult for us to set aside the issue of blame. When we feel we are
innocent, most of us want justice. It's only when we are in the wrong
that we want mercy.
><> ><> ><>
Our Daily Bread
has the following devotionals - These are used by permission of Radio
Bible Class (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Going Straight- How far would you travel to put
things right with a brother who hadn't spoken to you in 10 years? Would
you go 300 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin? On a riding lawn mower?
Unable to drive a car and despising bus travel, Alvin Straight did
exactly that in the intriguing film The Straight Story. It is the
true-life drama of a 73-year-old man who decided it was time to end the
silence, stop the hating, and break down the wall of anger he and his
brother had built between them.
As I watched the film in a packed theater, where the audience was silent
from beginning to end, I thought of all the broken relationships that
must have surfaced in the minds of people sitting there in the darkness.
I also pondered the words of Jesus about setting things right with those
from whom we've been estranged. He said, "If you bring your gift to the
altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew
5:23-24).
Is there a relative, a friend, or a brother in Christ with whom you need
to make things right? Then why not go straight to that person and do it
today? —D C McCasland
Lord, let me feel the pain of a
wounded soul
And seek to heal that wounded one I pray;
Yes, I would take the reconciling role,
And bring an end to pain and strife today. —Hess
An offense against your neighbor
builds a fence between you and God.
><> ><> ><>
$7.23 Plus Pride- As I was studying the Old Testament
law about making restitution for theft and property loss, I began to
wonder how it applied to me. Immediately the words Bill's pump came to
mind. Months before, I had borrowed my neighbor's pump to inflate a
bicycle tire. It broke while I was using it. But I'm ashamed to admit
that I returned it without saying anything to him.
It was obvious that God wanted me to confess my wrong to Bill and buy
him a new pump. But my rationalizations were swift: It was old, and it
would have broken anyway. It would be embarrassing to reveal my failure
and show what a weak Christian I am.
My excuses sounded hollow. I knew the Lord wanted me to make it right.
So I bought a pump and went over to Bill's house, but he was out of
town. At church the next morning, I started to drop my offering in the
plate and remembered, "First be reconciled to your brother, and then
come and offer your gift" (Mt. 5:24). The money went back in my pocket.
When Bill returned, I told him what I'd done, apologized, and gave him
the new pump. He graciously understood. It cost $7.23 plus pride--a
small price to restore a relationship with a neighbor and a clear
conscience with God. --D C McCasland
Show us, Lord, where we have failed
And sinned against a brother;
Give us courage to confess
Our faults to one another. --Sper
The only way to make things right is
to admit that you've been wrong.
