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. ~ Matthew 5:21-24
Jesus is taking the Rabbinic teaching to the next level. It was okay to do certain things under the Old Covenant, but Jesus holds His Church to a higher standard.
Now, under our New Covenant, it’s all about grace. It’s all about mercy. It’s all about forgiveness. Our words are seasoned with salt. We don’t let any old thing come out of our mouths. We don’t live any old way.
Matter of fact, look at what Jesus said in verse 23. He said if you’re at the altar offering a gift to the LORD and the Holy Spirit brings to your memory that a brother has something against you. Now, mind you, it’s not if you have something against him or her; no, it’s if they have something against you. If you’re in prayer and conviction hits you, it doesn’t have to be your fault, but it’s your responsibility for reconciliation. Don’t leave matters like that not reconciled. Be the bigger person because you are a child of the King.
Father, help me to be a peacemaker and to understand that I have the ministry of reconciliation. I will not let the sun go down on my anger, nor will I let someone else stew over a misunderstanding, even if it was not my fault. In Jesus’s name, I pray, amen.
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