#1226 Matthew 5 Part 11 Reconciled

 

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5: 21-26 ESV

Matthew 5: 23-26

…16Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Deuteronomy 16: 16-17

So if you are offering your gift at the altar - They would come before God at different times of the year to bring a sacrifice. Even the poor could offer a sacrifice, based upon affordability, the rich would bring a bull or a lamb, and the poor man could make the same sacrifice with doves. The sacrifices related to the penalty of sin, a life for a life, and they pointed to the ultimate and only pleasing sacrifice, which was Christ. When Adam and Eve sinned, God made the first animal sacrifice in order cover them and establish the principal. 

The Tabernacle Testimony

Remember that your brother has something against you - Being outwardly religious in no way removes the offense. Bringing the offering does not cover or take the place of doing what is right. If you have wronged your brother, which we saw before may even include harsh words or malice in the heart, God is not interested in your lamb as an appeasement. He's not Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton, there is no pay to play or look the other way. It's like the strange fire of Nadab and Abihu, God is looking at your heart.

Hear the word of the Lord,

you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the instruction of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—

what are they to me?” says the Lord.

“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,

of rams and the fat of fattened animals;

I have no pleasure

in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

12 When you come to appear before me,

who has asked this of you,

this trampling of my courts?

13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—

I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals

I hate with all my being.

They have become a burden to me;

I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,

I hide my eyes from you;

even when you offer many prayers,

I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood!

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight;

stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1: 10-17

First be reconciled to your brother - Go, take care of the offense. If you owe money then pay, if you can't pay in full then set up a payment schedule. It is a mar on the face of your religion that you will not look at the one who is made in God's image and consider that wronging even the least of  men is an act against God, against His name's sake. 

…17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”… Romans 12: 17-19

Come to terms quickly with your accuser - Don't let your ego get in the way. If you are in the wrong then confess and rectify, and if you are not then be gracious. Be careful of debt, do not enter into large amounts and avoid high interest. If something were to happen that you can't pay, it will soil your testimony. 

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 you have been trapped by what you said,

ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,

since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go—to the point of exhaustion—

and give your neighbor no rest!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,

no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

like a bird from the snare of the fowler. Proverbs 6: 1-5