So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you, 24leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25Come to terms quickly [at the earliest opportunity] with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way [to court], so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison. 26I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid the last Gr kodrantes, from the Lat quadrans, which was the smallest Roman bronze coin.cent. Matthew 5:23-26 AMP
Here we see Jesus speaking on the importance of forgiveness from another perspective. We don’t normally speak about forgiveness from the viewpoint of needing forgiveness from other people, it is usually only spoken about when we have been wronged by others and need to forgive them. Jesus is speaking about two important principles: sacrificial offerings, and forgiveness. In the old testament, and until Jesus’ death&resurrection, sacrifice was required in order to receive forgiveness from sin. When jews broke God’s law, they were to present offerings/sacrifices at the temple with the priest where God would transfer the sin from the person to the animal that was being sacrificed (killed) in their place. Jesus is essentially saying that you are to leave the sacrifice which would provide forgiveness for your sins, and instead find your brother (anyone you have wronged) who has something against you so that you receive forgiveness from your brother before you even think about asking God for forgiveness. Jesus is stressing that before we can think about having or getting our vertical relationship (spiritual) right, we must first and more importantly correct our horizontal (earthly) relationships. What do you do when you become aware of a brother/sister that is offended by something you’ve done, whether right or wrong? Jesus says that it is important to settle/reconcile with the brother before reaching court where you’ll be handed over to the judge. We know that God defends/stands on the side of the oppressed/victims, and that we are called to love one another. Do you love your brother/sister enough to seek their forgiveness at the expense of your pride?
Reflection Time
Are you humble enough to ask forgiveness from others even when you feel that you’re right? Today, instead of praying, reach out to someone you suspect or know that feels offended/wronged by you, and ask forgiveness, or resolve the conflict. Do you value your pride to the point that you risk finding yourself in conflict with God because one of his children is crying out to him against you?
