5 Anger and Reconciliation
Jesus has been speaking to his disciples about how hate and anger fall short of God's standards. In today's reading, he offers two illustrations.
In the first, someone comes to offer a sacrifice in the Temple, but remembers that he is guilty of some sin against a brother. Jesus comments,
Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5: 24 [NIV]
For a Galilean, going to the Temple involved an 80-mile journey. It was a significant act of worship. But Jesus says that putting matters right with your friend is a prerequisite. God will not be pleased with your worship if your heart is full of bitterness against someone else.
In the second illustration (verses 25, 26), an adversary is taking you to court for debt. Jesus advises settling up as soon as possible, so that you don't end up in prison:
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5: 26 [NIV]
While this is good advice on a human level, Jesus is thinking in terms of our relationship with God. We are debtors to God; the Lord's prayer invites us to pray Forgive us our debts. We are on our way to judgement, and the time is short.
Now is the time to settle things with God. He calls on us to repent and to believe. Only when we have surrendered to his liberating authority will we be free from the consequences of our sins.
Repentance, in the sense of a complete change of allegiance, lifestyle and direction, is no easy thing - but nothing else will do. [Steve Motyer]
Lord Jesus, thank you that you have paid the price for my sins, and that hell is no longer something I need fear. Amen.
David Long
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