Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew.
Matt 5:23-24
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
If this verse was taught in today’s modern church groups, some of them would go bankrupt. The reason why is because the main goal of many heretical religious bodies is the desire to keep people in the church and in the pews in order to collect more gifts of money in the offering plates. They are more concerned about greedy financial gain than they are about scriptural truth. If they actually preached that you have to reconcile with a brother who is upset with you, many in the church would probably get up and leave. They leave because of their own pride and unwillingness to truly forgive the way that God does. Not reconciling with a wronged brother is a heretical belief because it goes against the command of Christ in our study passage.
2 Pet 2:1-3
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Many have turned certain churches into a money making scheme, just as the religious leaders were doing in the temple. Jesus was extremely upset about this.
John 2:13-16
13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Just because a building has a cross out front doesn’t mean that they actually believe in the one who died for them, or the things that he taught. The love of money is the root of all evil and this doesn’t change simply because somebody wears a robe or speaks from a pulpit. It’s better off to be completely broke but knowing that you preached the truth of scripture to others.
Imagine going to a pastor in a church somewhere and offering them a gift for their services but instead of receiving the gift, he first asks you if there is a brother in your life who is upset about something that you have done to them. He then asks you if you have apologized to them and reconciled your relationship with them. He asks if you have completely restored and re-entered the relationship that you had with them in the past before you offended them. Many would say, I’m not going to do that, and go join another church group where reconciliation with others is not required. Reconciliation it’s not optional in the church, it is mandatory with God. There are numerous false teachers who preach the false gospel of non-reconciliation. This goes in complete contravention to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Without reconciliation you are simply usurping His command in our passage today, and choosing to disobey Him.
If you apologize and seek reconciliation with your heart, and truly desire to return to your past relationship, but someone refuses to forgive you, then they themselves will not be forgiven by God.
If I personally need to apologize to someone, I do it many times and also in the presence of others so that every word can be established. Not only do others see your attempt when you apologize, but God does as well. God sees everything. God desires reconciliation in the church. Reconciliation is the restart of the former relationship that you had with someone.
Ps 51:16-17
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
For example, a woman who has been baptized into the Christian faith and leaves her husband goes against the commands of Christ. Her first sin is separating from him. Each day that passes by, she remains in a state of sin. She must seek reconciliation and return to Him so that past events can be forgiven and forgotten. She must willfully place herself under his headship. If she will not attempt to reconcile, she’s only rejecting the commandments of Christ. If this is the case, she’s not walking in a state of grace.
Some people feel that they can contribute to a church and in some way they can buy off God with gifts so that they don’t have to apologize and reconcile with an offended brother. They refuse to admit that they have done the wrong thing and own up to their own faults. This is caused by pride. What’s the old saying, kiss and make-up? God doesn’t want gifts until reconciliation happens because it is far more important to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 – And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Reconciliation is a ministry that God has given to everybody within the church. Reconciliation is the reason why Jesus died on the cross. With outstretched arms he reaches out to the world with one hand and to God the Father with the other so that our relationship with Him can be completely restored. Before reconciliation can happen you must first confess faults to God or a brother that you have wronged. You must apologize and seek reconciliation with them.
Colossians 1:20-23
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
There are many forgiving brothers in the church who have been wounded by others, and the worst part is many people won’t even make the effort to apologize to them. How can someone profess to be a Christian and treat a brother this way? It only reveals the cold and bitter state of their heart. True reconciliation begins when someone seeks reconciliation by apologizing and confessing their faults to those whom they have wronged, and the offended party grants a complete pardon for their sins.
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
The prodigal Son returned home because he was seeking reconciliation with his dad for the things he had done wrong . We seek reconciliation with God when we confess our sins to Him. To seek reconciliation with a brother is to apologize to him so that he can forgive you and you can rejoin the former relationship that you had with him. The offended brother also needs to forgive and forget.
It’s time for both of you to kiss and make-up.
Let’s think about those things for right now and Lord willing talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.💓
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