Many times the impact of what Jesus said can be lost in our modern day. The spiritual spin we apply to a verse by jumping to interpretation before we have carefully observed can remove the strength of emphasis which struck Christ's hearers. For example, during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus employed a complete paradigm shift from what the Law said to what He said. In doing so He claimed to be a greater authority than Moses, which was an unimaginable claim to the Jews!
Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-24, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." The Law said "Thou shalt not murder," but Jesus took it further. He claimed the motives leading to murder to be as sinful as the physical act. Cain's anger which led to murder was just as sinful as actually killing his brother Abel. Even as a physical assault led to prosecution and judgment, so verbal attacks were equally sinful in God's sight and would not go unpunished.
Verse 23 emphasised the high value God places on reconciliation between men. In the day of temple worship, men often traveled great distances to Jerusalem in obedience to the Law to present themselves before the LORD on days appointed and offer sacrifice. Say a man traveled three weeks on foot to Jerusalem with his family and animals. Jesus said if that man remembered even at the precise moment before offering a sacrifice to God someone had an unresolved quarrel with him, he should leave his offering at the altar "unoffered," and go all the way back home to earnestly seek reconciliation with his offended brother. After doing his part to restore that relationship, he could return and offer his gift. If a man did not love his offended brother enough to seek reconciliation with him, could he truly claim to love God? 1 John 4:20-21 says, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."
Do you see the very high value God places on being reconciled to our fellow men - especially those of the household of faith? We are called to love even our enemies, and God desires obedience over sacrifice. God's love is sacrificial, and obedience always comes at a cost. Can you imagine making the trek to Jerusalem, only to remember a conflict back home or in the synogogue? I suppose I would easily justify sacrificing to God since I was already in Jerusalem and then seek reconciliation later - if I bothered to do so at all! But Jesus stated plainly the importance of fostering unity with our brethren in our private lives over performing public acts of piety. The sacrifices under the Law were holy and good, but the true words of Jesus cut to the heart. If we love God, we will love our brother and seek reconciliation and restoration of relationship. If we do not care to be reconciled to our brother, Jesus said not to bother with other unacceptable sacrifices. Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise." God will not endure hypocrites, and it would be better to tie a millstone around our necks than to willingly offend one of God's little ones.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-24, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." The Law said "Thou shalt not murder," but Jesus took it further. He claimed the motives leading to murder to be as sinful as the physical act. Cain's anger which led to murder was just as sinful as actually killing his brother Abel. Even as a physical assault led to prosecution and judgment, so verbal attacks were equally sinful in God's sight and would not go unpunished.
Verse 23 emphasised the high value God places on reconciliation between men. In the day of temple worship, men often traveled great distances to Jerusalem in obedience to the Law to present themselves before the LORD on days appointed and offer sacrifice. Say a man traveled three weeks on foot to Jerusalem with his family and animals. Jesus said if that man remembered even at the precise moment before offering a sacrifice to God someone had an unresolved quarrel with him, he should leave his offering at the altar "unoffered," and go all the way back home to earnestly seek reconciliation with his offended brother. After doing his part to restore that relationship, he could return and offer his gift. If a man did not love his offended brother enough to seek reconciliation with him, could he truly claim to love God? 1 John 4:20-21 says, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."
Do you see the very high value God places on being reconciled to our fellow men - especially those of the household of faith? We are called to love even our enemies, and God desires obedience over sacrifice. God's love is sacrificial, and obedience always comes at a cost. Can you imagine making the trek to Jerusalem, only to remember a conflict back home or in the synogogue? I suppose I would easily justify sacrificing to God since I was already in Jerusalem and then seek reconciliation later - if I bothered to do so at all! But Jesus stated plainly the importance of fostering unity with our brethren in our private lives over performing public acts of piety. The sacrifices under the Law were holy and good, but the true words of Jesus cut to the heart. If we love God, we will love our brother and seek reconciliation and restoration of relationship. If we do not care to be reconciled to our brother, Jesus said not to bother with other unacceptable sacrifices. Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise." God will not endure hypocrites, and it would be better to tie a millstone around our necks than to willingly offend one of God's little ones.
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