Be Reconciled
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24
After Jesus was baptized and then spent forty days and nights in the wilderness, tempted by the devil, He began His ministry in Galilee. When crowds began to follow Him, He went up a mountain, where His disciples followed Him, and He began to teach.
The Sermon on the Mount is a set of teachings from Jesus in which He recalls and interprets the old law and offers a new law. The lesson from the Gospel of Matthew that includes the quote above sounds more like a list of rules and extremely harsh consequences than Good News. The subjects addressed are murder, adultery, divorce and the taking of oaths. So -- where can we find the Good News in this lesson? The Good News in this lesson is what we learn about the importance of relationships.
Relationships with our brother or sister and with God are especially important. We desire to come to the altar having reconciled with our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is the beginning of reconciliation and we come to the altar knowing that we have been forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. Reconciliation requires something of both parties, the healing of a relationship between two people. One definition of reconciliation is a restoration of a right relationship with God.
The interesting part of this is that Jesus didn’t say that we should be in agreement with our brother or sister, but to be reconciled to them. Today, when you think about people with whom you disagree, remember that you can be reconciled with them without agreeing with them. The important thing is to heal the relationship, to be reconciled, to be at peace with one another. This is so important that you should be reconciled with your brother or sister before offering your gifts at the altar. When we love one another as Christ loves us, then we are reconciled. And it is Christ working through us that makes reconciliation, healing of relationships, possible.
