Reconcile
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Dismiss children’s ministry.
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 5:21-26 as we continue in the Sermon on the Mount. It is a great day to be back to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am going to pray and we will dive into the text of Scripture.
Pray.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Anger is a dangerous emotion. Anger can cause the human mind to drift and wonder into very dark places. We have seen this in our world and through history. Even in the Bible, we see anger fuel the death of Abel as Cain is angry that his offering was not accepted.
Anger sneaks into our lives cause us to do outrageous things. Anger leads to murder, riots, and slander. Oftentimes, it does not take much to cause anger. Driving to slower on the highway can be a death sentence. Or, speaking the truth can cause fits of anger to well up within the heart of an individual causing harm. Unrighteous anger has dangerous consequences leading to broken relationship, marriages, and worship.
In first century Israel, anger had seemingly gone unaddressed as an emotion. As long as external obedience to the Law and requirements of the manmade law were upheld, internal feeling were of no concern. The Pharisees and religious leaders had thought only to uphold outward obedience to the law while never considering their motives, heart attitudes, or thoughts. As long as they did not murder, they deemed that anger was acceptable. However, Jesus uproots such interpretation of the Law. He establishes the right understanding of the law in these verses. Jesus deems that those who have unrighteous anger are guilty of murder. He calls for the one who is angry or has caused anger to seek unity and reconciliation.
Main Idea: The Christian must seek reconciliation and unity.
Today will evaluate three negative outcomes of unrighteous anger.
The first outcome seen is...
Unrighteous anger leads to the same judgment as murder.
Unrighteous anger leads to the same judgment as murder.
Jesus instructs the disciples and crowd. As He continues to do so, He constantly builds upon the previous thought. He has listed the Beatitudes, the call to be salt and light, and the reality that He came to fulfill the Law and Prophets. As we understood last week, Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. As He came to do so, He now begins instructing on how He came to fulfill the Law. He takes the Law and expounds upon it. Notice verse 21.
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
Jesus begins by pointing back to the Law. He starts by stating, “You have heard that it was said to those of old.” Jesus is specifically referencing the Israelites of the Old Testament. He is pointing back to the giving of the Law. Specifically, Jesus is taking His listeners back to the Old Testament back to the Law of God. Then, He quotes Exodus 20:13 which is,
13 “You shall not murder.
This is the sixth commandment of the Ten Commandments. However, Jesus also includes an additional clause. It is the punishment for such sin as murder. The punishment was judgment. Whoever commits murder will be liable or subject to judgment. It is interesting that Jesus points out this command and this particular punishment.
In reality, Jesus is pointing out the way in which the Jewish religious leaders had distorted the Law as well as neglecting to live according to the law.
Those listening to Jesus were probably thinking as you are currently. “I haven’t murdered anyone.” I have never killed someone. That may be true in the physical external sense. However, Jesus is about to flip that thought. Furthermore, the Jewish religious leaders had distorted the authority of Scripture because in the Old Testament anyone who committed murder was to be killed. The Jewish religious leaders simply stated that a murder was only subject to judgment.
Jesus in fulfilling the Law right reveals the commandment to us.
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Notice the way in which Jesus begins. The crowd had heard teaching from of old. Then, Jesus uses His authority as God’s Son, the Messiah, to instruct. He uses His very own authority. He states, “I say to you.”
Jesus takes the Law from Exodus 20:13 in the Ten Commandments and sheds light upon that verse. He says that if someone is even angry with his brother that he is liable to judgment. Anger leads to the passions of revenge and malice which can lead to physical murder.
We must understand the anger in which Jesus is speaking of here. Two types of anger exist. Righteous anger is anger that is unselfish and founded in reverence for God. For instance, Jesus in the temple is an example of righteous anger. He saw that those in the temple were dishonoring God which led Him to righteous anger and driving out those stealing. Then, there is unrighteous anger which is fueled by selfishness and seeks for boost yourself up. It is this type of anger that Jesus is speaking of here.
Anyone that has anger against his brother. Jesus uses the general term for brother here speaking of a fellow image-bearer or person. Anyone who has unrighteous, malicious anger against another person is subject to judgment. They have within their heart anger and murder, or the desire for another person’s death, Whoever insults another person in anger is subject to judgment. The greek term used there is Raca which means empty-head. It is an abusive term used in arrogance toward another person.
Whoever calls another person a fool is subject to judgment. Notice, Jesus multiplies the examples to make His point. If one has anger against another that results in slander, maliciousness, or thoughts of that person’s death, he is worthy of judgment, not just any judgment. He is worthy of the fire of hell.
Jesus explains this commandment in order that those listening will understand and we will understand. While we may think we are good before God in this area because we have never murdered anyone physically, Jesus makes sure that we understand that God looks at the heart as well. Even though we have not physically murdered someone, we have all fallen due to our unrighteous anger against another person. Unrighteous anger can lead to physical murder as murder has already taken place in the heart. Jesus is making clear that there is not a single person righteous.
Illustration: High School friend. I evangelized because I did not know he was attending a church. I could not tell he was a “Christian.” Language and attitude was terrible.
Application: Our thoughts, motives, and heart attitudes matter to God. We can look at our lives and seek to argue that we are pretty good people. We hand out can food items at the local food bank. We donate to charities. While those are good things, the heart attitude must be examined. Likewise, our words matter as well. The Lord deals with me often in regards to my words. We must seek to lift others up. Jesus speaks of insulting others. Insults are fueled by our heart attitude.
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Our call is to love others as Christ Jesus has loved us. In doing so, our language changes to be encouraging to others. Building others up and seeking to point them to Christ Jesus. Likewise, we cannot let our anger turn to such sinfulness.
How can we combat unrighteous anger?
First, we recognize that we ourselves are sinners and extend a measure of grace to those who offend or wrong us. We understand that we are not perfect and have wronged others. Likewise, we keep our focus upon Jesus Christ. In moments of frustration and anger, we must step back and remember our redemption. This is why meditation on and the memorization of Scripture is vital to the Christian life. Scripture has a way of reminding us of our humble salvation. Our lives as believers should be characterized by joy and the kindness of Christ Jesus not anger and murder.
Unrighteous anger leads to worship being hindered.
Unrighteous anger leads to worship being hindered.
Jesus has taken the Old Testament Law and added to it. Now, He further seeks to help the listener understand by giving two examples of how unrighteous anger hinders an individual. Jesus begins with an example of offering a gift to God in worship as Jesus is preaching to a predominately Jewish audience.
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Jesus gives His listeners a practical example to help them understand. In the first century, offerings would be brought to God whether it be an animal or grain offering. Sacrifices would be made for atonement and in worship of God. This had become a religious practice so much so that brothers or fellow Israelites would be at odds with one another and still bring a sacrifice without seeking to be reconciled to their brother or specifically those within the same covenant community. They were seeking to have reconciliation with God whenever they would not even reconcile with someone else.
So, Jesus explains how one should live according to the Word. Before giving an offering, one should leave the gift and go to be reconciled with the other person. Reconciliation is to be restored to right relationship. Worship is merely an act if we are not living according to the way in which the One we worship prescribed for us to live. Our worship is hindered whenever we are not obedient to the Word. God knows the heart. He knows your thoughts and actions. Nothing is hidden from Him. Therefore, He calls for reconciliation to be made between brothers. If we are at odds with another believer, how can we worship? We are seeking for God to forgive us and restore us to right relationship. Then, we do the opposite by neglecting to reconcile with another person. They can go to the same place and sit on opposite sides of the room while never seeking reconciliation. In doing so, they are actually hurting themselves because they are hindering their own worship.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
We must seek reconciliation among one another in order that our worship is not hindered. In order that God would continue to bless us. If you are angry with someone within the church you must seek reconciliation and restoration.
Calvin writes, “To impress this more strongly upon us, Christ declares, that even the duties of religion are displeasing to God, and are rejected by him, if we are at variance with each other.”
Illustration: My brother and I would be mad at each other and not talk. It hindered the home specifically my relationship with my parent because they would call for us to get along. We could not leave the house because that is where we lived. We could not get rid of one another because we had the same parents. Much like the church. We are members of the kingdom of God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. We cannot leave the kingdom. Whenever we are at odds with another believer, it hinders our relation with our Father. We must seek reconciliation in order that our relationship with our Father is not hindered.
How do we do so?
Application: Jesus taught us how to be reconciled to one another.
Matthew 18:15-20
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are not to let sin go unaddressed and conflict to go without reconciliation. Therefore, Jesus gave us Matthew 18. These verse give us instruction on what is known as Church discipline. I know that those words sound scary. However, Jesus gives us these practical steps to maintain unity and be reconciled in order that our worship is not hindered.
When someone sins or commits a wrong against you, the first step is to go and explain the fault that is there. It can be the cause that such wrongdoing is not known. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the one who feels wrong to go and point out the fault. In doing so, the hope is that the one who has done wrong will admit his fault, repent, and seek the forgiveness of his or her brother or sister in Christ. If one who does wrong does not repent, the one who is wronged is to take one or two other believers with him or her and seek reconciliation. Prayerfully, the one who committed the wrong with turn away from the sin and seek forgiveness. If he or she does not, the wrongdoing is to be taken to the church. As it is taken to the church, the church is to consider the matter at hand and call the wrongdoer to repentance. If he or she still does not repent, they are to be removed from the church body as they are not rejecting the faith.
Of course there are more details that one would need to understand. However, that is the process by which we seek reconciliation within the church. This is why church membership is vitally important. When we take our membership seriously, we are able to approach one another in love in order to maintain unity and our worship not be hindered. However, if we never seek to take our membership serious we will be just like the rest as we split over small issues and unresolved tension. Likewise, church disciple begins in the pulpit through the preaching of God’s Word, carries over to the small group through the study of God’s Word together, and marinates in the heart of the individual Christian calling for him or her to live God’s Word. This will result in seeking to maintain right relationships and unity within the Church. Likewise, unity within the church always leads to God doing great things through the church.
Unrighteous anger leads to relationships being hindered.
Unrighteous anger leads to relationships being hindered.
Jesus continues with a second example which derives itself from the judicial system.
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
Jesus gives the example of someone who has an accuser or has wrong another person. In doing so, that person seeks to take them to court. Jesus makes clear the point. The one who has wronged another must go to the one wronged and seek forgiveness, seek to make things right. If he does not, he will face the judge. Once found guilty, he will be handed over to the guard and put in prison. He will get the punishment he deserves.
Jesus is providing us with a very practical example here. He continues.
26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Jesus begins with an emphatic word, Truly. He is telling the truth and calling attention to the point. Then, He speaks using His authority once again with the first person “I”. The one who has committed wrong against another will remain in prison until he has paid the very last penny of debt.
Jesus is making the point that reconciliation between others is vital and must be carried out quickly. If we have wronged someone, we must seek to make it right as soon as possible. Just like if we have a debt, we must seek to pay it off as soon as possible. The reality is that one must seek to be reconciled to another in order that their relationship with one another not be hindered. Unrighteous anger against another person leads to a broken relationship with that person.
Jesus uses this example with purpose I believe. To harbor anger toward another person leads to a prison. More importantly, to harbor unrighteous anger against another person is not Christlike and will not be carried out by a Christian. A Christ-follower seeks reconciliation with others. He or she does not hold a grudge or intentionally wrong other people. Christ forgave us; therefore, we must forgive others. Likewise, if we have wronged someone we should see to make it right.
Application: We must seek to be reconciled to those whom we have wrong for the sake of making a Gospel or Christlike impact on their lives. We have all seen it play out in the lives of others or maybe even our own lives. Someone will do something that is wrong toward another person. In doing so, they never seek the other person’s forgiveness. Jesus tells us that we must go quickly to make things right.
Who is someone that you have wronged and need to make things right with today? Will you seek their forgiveness or will you remain in the prison of pride and neglect to make things right?
Conclusion
Jesus calls for us to forsake unrighteous anger and seek reconciliation. In harboring unrighteous anger we each are guilty of murder. Anger leads to judgment, worship being hindered, and relationships being harmed.
This text of Scripture causes us to recognize that man is prone to look to external obedience to the Law without heart obedience. We are prone to say we have never murdered all the while we murder in our hearts with anger and seek to never reconcile broken relationships.
What does this passage of Scripture call for us to do? This text of Scripture beckons us to seek reconciliation with others. Who have you wrong that you need to go and seek their forgiveness and restore things? Who has wrong you that you need to forgive? Is your worship being hindered?
Today, maybe God is brining someone to your mind. I urge you to pray about how you will respond. Be a doer of the Word. Seek reconciliation. Seek forgiveness. Seek to do away with anger.
Likewise, this text beckons us to remember the reconciliation we have been given through Jesus Christ. As Jesus mentions that we must seek reconciliation as soon as possible so that we do not stand before a judge be handed to the guard and end up in prison. We understand that we are each and every one fallen in our sinful condition. We all have had anger within us. Likewise, we have sinned against God, a holy and sovereign God. In doing so, our relationship with Him was broken. We could not mend the relationship in our sinful state. We were in need of reconciliation. And God, in His immense mercy and grace, destined to give His very own Son in order to make reconciliation between God and man. We were the one’s in debt to God, yet He chose to pay the debt Himself in order to have us for His own possession.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
We were in need of reconciliation to God and He provided it in Christ Jesus. Jesus came to this earth humbly in the form of a servant. He never sinned. Yet, He suffered by going to the cross to take all of our sin upon Himself. He did this in order that God would pour out His wrath upon His Son instead of us. He went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin in order that we would be forgiven and reconciled to God. That is the grace of God on display.
Today, there is an ultimate reconciliation that needs to take place. That is the reconciliation of you to God. If you have not called upon the name of Jesus Christ, will you call upon Him today? Turning from your sin and trust in His finished work.
Pray.