Reconcile Before Worship

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Matthew 5:23

Main Point: Verse 23 - Reconcile Before Worship

Jesus’ attitude: This is first priority. Do not attempt to worship with hate/bitterness in your heart. Do not attempt to worship if you know someone has ought with you because you have wronged them.

Jesus’ Attitude about Worship and Relationships: This is priority – Do not worship with hate in your heart. Go to your brothers and sisters and reconcile first, before sacrifices of worship are given.

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Verses 20-21 – To emphasize the outward works of righteousness without an inward righteousness is to emphasize works righteousness or self-righteousness. Scribes and Pharisees took pride in outward expressions without an inward reality of God’s love and mercy. They were not depending on or drawing from God’s own righteousness. No, they had impure hearts, motives and intentions.

1. Your righteous deeds will not give you anything but hell unless God changes the heart so that the righteous deeds are holy and pure. Christ must take away your sin. The Holy Spirit must transform the heart so that motivations and intentions are pure and worshipful.

2. You will not see the Kingdom of God by doing religious things. You will not see the Kingdom by coming to church and by being a good person in the eyes of the church. You must be born again, be covered by the righteousness of Christ, and have Him change your heart.

3. Then your righteousness will exceed that of the scribe and or Pharisee.

21 – “You have heard it said…” Scribes/Rabbis have written commentary and these traditions are followed at this time. What happened? The Spirit of the Law is being missed. The heart of God is being missed. According to tradition… it is ok to hate without murder, and lust without committing adultery. Jesus corrects this, and brings the people back to the Heart of God. “This is what God desires,” Jesus declares.

What does God want? According to Pharisees: It is ok to hate and have issues with others as long as I bring my sacrifices to the alter. You can attack a person’s character and identity as long as you worship by bringing the sacrifices to God.

Was this taught in the Old Testament? No. Love your neighbor as yourself was taught. Hosea 6:6 – For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Micah 6:8 – God has shown you what is good and what He requires of you: Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.

Many times, throughout the Old Testament, people got into tis mindset… I can hate, I can hurt others, abuse others, have affairs, have prostitutes, live sinful lifestyles, and do all of this ungodliness… just as long as I bring my sacrifices to the temple and “worship” in this way.

This is not worship. This is not the heart of God. This is not pleasing to God. Not then. Not now.

Verse 23 – Get the picture. You are on your way to worship, to sacrifice, and you remember that your brother has something against you. Why does your brother have something against you? Because you have sinned/wronged your brother and you remember this, or they have unjustified ought with you.

Point: Unresolved conflict has priority and must be settled.

Do you ever wonder why worship and prayer is dry? Does it seem painful to do it, as Christian?

Somethings not right. Prayer and worship connect you with God, the Giver of life, joy, peace, and comfort. But when you try… you do not connect. Why? Something is not right. Something is wrong. Is this this? Is it unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, hatred with someone? Does someone have ought with you, and you know it?

Now, I understand that it is possible to seek reconciliation without the brother or sister ever releasing you verbally, but God releases you as you have sought to be obedient.

“What do I need to do about it? Should I just pray about it and let God deal with them? I don’t want to cause more problems, should I just let it go?”

**Who makes the first move? The first who will be moved to obey God. Do not wait for your brother of sister to move; you be obedient to Christ and go. You have been reconciled; now go and be reconciled.

In order to get God’s results, we must do it God’s way. Do not be deceived! Satan uses this situation to keep people in bondage to anger, with wedges, keeping families apart, churches apart, causing a festering to occur which causes great spiritual infection to grow in everyone surrounding.

And listen… sometimes he just tells you to wait. “Just wait. Give it time. Just pray. Just another day. Offer your worship, God doesn’t want you to be uncomfortable… Your anger is justified, and maybe you should be more angry; but that is because you are so godly… just wait...”

1. The text says: Go to them. This is important. Go talk. Stop what you are doing and go. Put your sacrifice on hold and go.

“Are there any more steps that I should take, in order to reconcile? Pray. Walk. And Talk.

2. You may need to pray some, to prepare your heart and theirs. Do not let too much time pass by. Cover everything in prayer. Galatians 6:1 -If anyone is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

a. Prayer is vital to walking in the power of the Spirit. You will be prideful, not humble, hard and not gracious, if you are not tenderized by prayer.

b. God uses prayer to open up doors of opportunity, to open hearts, change attitudes, and change circumstances. Pray about everything.

3. Lastly, Talk with Counsel, or a third party may be needed, depending on the situation… and then Talk with the brother.

Now: If this is you - “Well, I am just going to pray about it...”

But Listen: 1 Peter 3:7 – Prayers may be hindered if the husband and wife are having issues. Your unwillingness to repent and talk things out with the other may be hindering your prayer life...

Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

So… your prayers are hindered because the will of God has already been revealed, and you are choosing to disobey His clear command… but you are still speaking to the ceiling hoping that God will change His mind and will about what you should do in this situation.

Scripture tells us that we’re to “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from [us], along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Failure to obey this command results in division in the body of Christ and grief to the Holy Spirit. We’re also told not to allow a “root of bitterness” to spring up among us, leading to trouble and defilement (Hebrews 12:15). Clearly, a biblical method of conflict resolution is needed.

*Let’s get this clear: We are being molded into the image of Christ. We are called to be molded into His image. We are not called to be moldy. We are not called to sit around and form mold on us by being apathetic, and doing harm to those around us.

Jesus is clear, Luke 17:3 - If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him...

Ephesians 4:26 – Do not let the sun set while you are still angry. Take care of this as soon as possible or you are going to give demons the tools that they need to destroy your lives.

The whole of Scripture is replete and clear, giving everything needed for instruction and godliness, but Jesus gets straight to it in this text: Go to them. Talk to them. Work this out.

Do not come to worship and believe that you are good with God because you give Him a sacrifice of praise and thanks. He desires mercy, love, and a forgiving spirit more that your little sacrifices.

1 Samuel 15:22 - “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...”

This is big stuff to God. So, this is big stuff to us. Your relationship with God is not going to be what it should be until your relationships with your church family is resolved. You are going to be miserable. You are going to be sick. Your ministry will not be fruitful. God will allow you to turn off the spicket of blessing until you repent and get things right.

And then… 2 Chronicles 7:17 – Then God will forgive your sin and bring healing that you need.

Then the spicket of blessing can be opened up. Then you will be refreshed. Then spiritual fruit can grow again. Then God can be glorified and honored in and through your life. Then… your worship will be pleasing. Then… Then… Then...

Until then, the judgement and misery from God will be upon you, as the Holy Spirit is grieved and quenched. Worship activity will be vain motions and joy will be far from you.

What are you waiting for? Take the first step. You can’t changed their heart. All you can do is obey God and let God work. Do your part and let God do His.

At one time… I was separated from Christ and an enemy of God. Christ did not wait for me to come to Him. He first came to me…Christ didn’t wait for you to come to Him… He first came to you. He took the first step...

Follow Him today.