“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that 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; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”
St. Matthew 5:20-26 (NRS)
In this passage, Jesus has given us much to consider. Kingdom of Heaven righteousness exceeds the righteous practices of the 1st century Pharisee. This kingdom righteousness goes beyond the simple letter of laws and commands. It goes deep into one’s emotional and psychic self to the very seat of personal motivation. This kingdom righteousness communicates by our conscience and lets us know even at the altar of God when we need to fix a sin or error. He doesn’t leave us, however, to muddle about in the sea of questions. Instead Jesus, the King of Righteousness, provides us with his kingdom’s fix-it guide.
It seems rather clear that we should not proceed in our worship (leave your gift at the altar) until the matter is reconciled with the other party. Note his comments in verses 25-26. Come to terms quickly prior to court. If we have wronged someone, then the case is in his or her favor. If the case goes to court, the judge will rule accordingly and we will lose. We will not be free, from this wrong, until we have paid the penalty of law to its fullest extent.
Question? Who is this fix-it provision about . . . the wronged person? . . . or the person who did the wrong? In order to discover the answer, we have to decide which of the two is under bondage to the wrong. Who achieves liberty through reconciliation?
St. Francis of Assisi prayed, “Help me to seek not so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.” He was correct. Our real concern should always be the other person’s pain, which we have caused. As we console the other person with our reconciling repentance, however, our own soul is consoled with reconciling freedom.
Consider the full extent of bondage that you may experience if you never console the one you have wronged. Our Lord’s concern is for those who want to experience Kingdom of Heaven righteousness.
Dear Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you, Lord for your guide to righteousness and freedom. Holy Father, it is so difficult for us to humble ourselves and correct our wrongs. Grant to us the desire to reconcile our wrongs. Enable us to humbly, lovingly console the pain of those we have wronged. Empower us with the joy of reconciled freedom. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for Kingdom righteousness and live in its liberty,
Pastor Smith