Matthew 5:1–48 (Continued)

March 15, 2012

I've been pondering Matthew 5:23–24 for a long time now.

"So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer you gift."

I've been asking Jesus what exactly He means by this teaching. As we know, my sister (in her mind) has "something against me" and has filed a lawsuit accusing us of evil things and seeking harm against us. So, I read these words and I wonder—what is my responsibility here? I want to be obedient to God's words. All of them! Is He asking me to do something? I shouldn't use the word "asking." Is He "telling" me to do something? Because if He is telling me do something I will do it! So, I've been asking God, what exactly is Jesus teaching here? What do these verses mean?

I've heard many sermons where the Pastor uses the phrase, "as much as it depends on you" meaning we are responsible to go and seek peace but we are not responsible for the actions of the other person and whether they forgive, hold on to revenge, or whether the "problem" is only in their minds, etc. I've only ever heard this verse explained in what I view as a "victim" type circumstance. The other person has a problem with you, so you should go try and fix it. It wasn't your action against the other person, it was the other person's problem, but you are responsible to go and try to fix it (I have to wonder now if that is actually how it was preached or if that was how I "heard" it because of my "fix-it" personality.)

I don't think that is what this verse is saying at all. After days of asking what Jesus' teaching means, slowly His teaching became very clear. It's not about the other person at all. It is only about me (and you). It is a continuation of the prophet's teaching in the Old Testament. Let me explain. I've just spent years immersed in the Old Testament. As I am reading Matthew 5:23–24, I suddenly realized I recognized what Jesus was teaching. Jesus' teaching in Matthew is the same message the prophets were teaching in the Old Testament. So, I began to look back through the Old Testament to find the passages.

In Isaiah 1:2–20 - God says over and over "I have had enough... I am not pleased... don't continue to bring me worthless sacrifices... I can't stand your rituals... I hate your offerings." Why did God hate the way they were "doing church"? Because their lives (their walk) did not match their talk. He wanted changed hearts and lives and not just someone going through the motions. Isaiah 58 - God again talks about people who do what they want, whenever they want and then "worship" God "acting" as if they are fair and honest people while the truth is they are unfair, selfish, dishonest, etc.—all things God hates. And God says, "You cannot do these things as you do now and believe your prayers are heard in heaven." This is not what I want. "This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done... I will tell you what I want."

• Free the people you have put in chains
• Be fair
• Be generous
• Be kind
• Stop making trouble
• Stop accusing

THEN—I will accept your offerings and hear you prayers. In Jeremiah 7:1–28 - God tells Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the temple to preach this message: You come through these gates to worship the LORD, but this is what I want, "Change your lives and do what is right... you must change your lives and do what is right." Be fair. Treat others right. Obedience is more that bringing me a sacrifice or an offering. I didn't only give commands about offerings and sacrifices. "I also gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Do all that I command so that good things will happen to you." Obedience is what is important—NOT offerings.

Ezekiel talks about it. Hosea talks about it. Hosea 6:8 - "I want faithful love more that I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings." Amos 5 - The LORD calls Israel to repentance. Come to me! Come to me! "You turn justice upside down, and you throw on the ground what is right." You hate truth, you take money to do wrong, and you don't care about justice. And God says, "I completely hate your feasts; I cannot stand your religious meetings. If you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I won't accept them."

There are many, many more references to what God wants recorded by the prophets. He doesn't want our offerings while we continue to pursue our own selfish desires. He wants changed hearts and lives.

I believe Matthew 5:23–24 is a continuation of God's message to His people through the prophets and now through Jesus. Don't bring me an offering while at the same time you are hurting, cheating, stealing, or are in any way trying to harm your brother and sister, because I don't want it, and I won't accept it. Change your hearts and lives; go to them; make it right; and then come and offer your gift.


Next Entry: Matthew 5:1–48 (Continued)