Week 23 - Matthew 5:23-25

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

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.

This command would be a little difficult to memorize but you could easily memorize its meaning.  Spend some time this week considering this principle and meditating on the Word.   

NIV, Life Application Study Bible Footnotes:

Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God.  If we have a problem or grievance with a firiend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others.  Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God (1 John 4:20).

In Jesus' day, someone who couldn't pay a debt was thrown into prison until the debt was paid.  Unless someone came to pay the debt for the prisoner, he or she would probably die there.  It is practical advice to resolve our differences with our enemies before their anger causes more trouble (Proverbs 25:8-10).  You may not get into a disagreement that takes you to court, but even small conflicts mend more easily if you try to  make peace right away.  In a broader sense, these verses advise us to get things right with our brothers and sisters before we have to stand before God.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.