Thursday, February 9, 2017

Forgiving and Worship Go Together

23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:23-26)

Thoughts: Jesus here points out that worship should wait until forgiveness is found.  To worship without forgiveness is a kind of shallow worship.  But to come before God with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:4).
    In another place (Mt. 18) Jesus says a similar verse on reconciliation: 
15“If your brother or sisterb sins,c go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’d 17If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  In Matthew 5 someone has something against you.  In Matthew 18 you may see something wrong in another.  Either way, you are responsible for reconciliation in Jesus' eyes.  We do not wait for someone from the outside or the other person to tell us that we need to be reconciled.  In The Lord's Prayer we are taught to ask God to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors- and our Lord later said, "with the measure you forgive you shall be forgiven."  
Verses 25-26 speak of the need for speed for forgiveness.  Paul said, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Eph. 4:26).  Forgiveness is a priority.  Grudges are not to be held.  Turning the cheek, putting other's needs ahead of your own is important.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to live a forgiving life.  

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