Leave your gift...

It’s not always easy to tidy up relational goofs. In fact, it takes so much time and so much effort that at times, let’s admit it, we’re ready to call it quits.

“This is too hard. I can’t stand it any longer. I give up!”

You can’t tell me you haven’t felt like that once or twice. We all have. We’re all sinners. We all want our way rather than God’s.

Jesus was preaching one day on a mountainside. Toward the beginning of his message he said a few things about reconciliation.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘RacaRaca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:21-24, NIV)

I’m going to let the first part of this passage speak for itself. I’m pretty sure you caught that anger isn’t good and that calling someone a fool is dangerous. You’ve heard that enough times. You never yell “Idiot!” at anyone on the turnpike now. You’ve made that application, right?

So we can move on to the final two sentences, the ones about leaving your gift at the altar and all.

Now, understand that offering a gift at the altar in the temple was an important thing. If it was a sin offering, it was your way back into God’s good graces at the time. No bull. No blood. No forgiveness. No eternal life.

So Jesus says, “As important as getting your sins taken care of is taking care of the stuff your brother has against you is your first order of business. Leave your gift at the altar.”

Don’t seek absolution for your sins first. Don’t worship God first. Don’t pretend all is well when it’s not.

“Go and be reconciled to your brother.”

You know, I never really thought about what that word reconciliation meant until a couple of weeks ago. I’d always thought Jesus meant for us to seek forgiveness, but reconciliation is the word Jesus uses, not forgiveness.

Reconciliation is a big word. Six syllables! Do you know what it means? If you’re like me, your definition may be a little fuzzy around the edges. So let me tell you what reconciliation is.

It’s the ending of conflict between warring parties. It’s the return to friendly relations following a dispute. It’s the renewal of love after an estrangement.

It’s peace, real peace, between you and your brother, you and your sister, you and your wife, you and your child, you and your boss, you and your teacher, you and your husband, you and your friend, you and your pastor, you and your mother, you and your father, you and your neighbor.

That is what you’ve got to go after before you talk to God about taking care of your sins. If you won’t seek peace with the brother you’ve offended, with the sister who has something against you, you won’t find peace with God. When you’ve sinned against another, you must – that’s an imperative, a command, a requirement – you must go and be reconciled to them.

Reconciliation is the sinner’s duty. That’s what Jesus says. Pay attention to his word choice. It’s deliberate.

“…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Emphasis mine)

You see? The one who has sinned is charged with taking action. The offender has to go after reconciliation.

Does someone have something against you? Go and be reconciled. If you don’t know how, I’ll give some suggestions later on this week.

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