First Be Reconciled

Friends, we came to worship Jesus Christ today because God came in flesh and blood to be with us.

Early in his ministry, with his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus laid out the attitudes and behaviors required, and indicative of, those who follow him.

And Jesus revealed the ways in which his followers would be enabled to live up to those ideals.

By saying, “You have heard that it was said,” Jesus to scriptures, and “but I say to you,” as his interpretation as Christ, Messiah, of those scriptures and teachings.

Jesus literally quotes from Exodus 20 with the command “You shall not murder,” and Deuteronomy 5 with “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.”

At this point, you have to think that everyone is nodding their heads in agreement to what he is saying.

But Jesus goes one step further “if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council [of elders for judgment].”

The word Matthew used for liable is enochos (en-O-hos), indicating the opposite of blameless, even guilty of bloodshed; as if you verbally murders another person’s character.

Christ does not say simply, “Don’t be angry,” or “those who are angry are sinning,” but as Paul correctly interprets in Ephesians 4:26, “Be angry, but do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

Jesus is saying that any insults or epithets (cursing) we hurl put us in danger of God’s judgment.

Jesus doubles down and says whoever calls another “You fool” will be liable to the hell of fire.” (or fires of hell)

Disciples of Jesus Christ need to be extremely careful when they are angry with a brother or sister in Christ.

Honestly, does it make any difference if they are Christians or not?

This isn’t about other people so much as it’s about us; what we do and how we treat others.

Jesus later calls some Pharisees fools, and David, who God was after his heart, says those who say there is no God are fools, and later Paul described Galatians who were misled from faith in God as foolish.

In each of these cases, there was a righteous reason for response, including exploiting others, glorifying the collection of gold, and unbelief.

Jesus points out the audacity of those who seek the blessings and forgiveness of God while stubbornly holding on to their anger.

We need to be extremely careful when we are angry with a brother or sister in Christ.

Our words can do real damage and may lead others to believe that they have little to no value.

If we recognize and affirm that Jesus Christ came to die for another person instead of coming to condemn them, then holding a grudge against another is placing our judgment over God’s.

In the middle of this paragraph, during his sermon, is his crucial command, “first be reconciled.”

He says that when you are bringing offerings to God in worship, stop and first work out the problem that you have.

We can’t require people simply to forgive us.

Reconciliation is not guaranteed in any relationship, even when we express remorse.

Even still, we must actively engage in conversations while making amends if we truly value those relationships.

This is the judgment of God that came through Christ interpreting the Greatest Commandments as loving God and loving others.

Both David and Paul emphasized that anyone who misses the centrality of God’s commands as the love of God and the love of others is foolish.

Those that treat anyone in any other way than loving are liable for judgment.

We must consider that we might be liable for judgment, even if we feel justified in our anger.

That is why we must be cautious and seek to “first be reconciled” before making our appeals for God’s blessings.

As Paul made plain to the Corinthians, while we are still quarreling, acting in jealousy, and motivated by selfish ambitions and desires, we are not ready to hear of spiritual things.

Yet, God calls to us, while we are yet sinning. Our response to God’s call includes leaving those things behind and learning how to grow in relationships.

Growth happens when dignity is preserved by both parties being truthful, owning their actions and attitudes, and committing to do better.

That may involve reconciliation, but that is our hope.

Growth also happens when we establish clear boundaries to ensure that further harm does not occur because they will not recognizing their faults.

Reconciliation is what this passage is about, doing everything within our collective power to reconcile ourselves before God so that our offerings and our sacrifice of praise is not brought in vain.

Maybe in the process of working together through our conflict, we can be reconciled and, as a result, continue the mission of bringing the light of God to the world.