021920 – Matthew 5.23-24
I would like to talk with you about TWO short verses of Scripture this evening.
The TWO verses come from Matthew’s infamous – SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Matthew 5:23-24 says,
“Therefore, if YOU are offering YOUR GIFT at the altar and there REMEMBER that your BROTHER or your NEIGHBOR or your 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.
APPARENTLY, Jesus wants his JEWISH audience to IMAGINE a very specific kind of SCENARIO in their minds eye.
PICTURE a MAN and his family going to the Temple in JERUSALEM to offer a SACRIFICE.
Jesus is in GALILEE right now, which is about 70 miles AWAY, so this family doesn’t travel to Jerusalem VERY OFTEN, but this is “A SPECIAL OCCASION.” THIS is big stuff!
Because the HARVEST has been GOOD, or BECAUSE they are feeling EXTRA GRATEFUL and VERY BLESSED, he takes his family to Jerusalem to GIVE a freewill offering of a male CALF, SHEEP or GOAT.
This is a SOLEMN and COSTLY occasion.
It is also a “FEEL-GOOD,” kind of moment. You are doing this because YOU WANT TO.
You are doing this because you are COMPELLED to do so.
You are doing this because it just feels RIGHT. You have been BLESSED.
It is your DESIRE to GIVE THANKS.
It is A MOMENT for REJOICING.
The FATHER takes the lamb or maybe they PURCHASED one there or perhaps it is one they brought FROM HOME, to the priests who takes it into the COURT OF THE PRIESTS to sacrifice it.
BUT FIRST, according to the LAW – the animal to be sacrificed – must FIRST be declared KOSHER…there can BE NEITHER SORE, SPOT or BLEMISH.
ONLY THE BEST is given or presented to GOD.
But as the LAMB is lead to the altar, the man is REMINDED of something that is HOLDING HIM BACK…something tugging on his heartstrings…
WORDS were spoken.
UNKIND words.
He RECALLS an ARGUMENT that he had with his NEIGHBOR over the HARVEST, how ANGRY they BOTH got with each other, and HOW they did NOT try to RESOLVE the matter.
There was no conflict RESOLUTION.
There was no REMORSE.
There were NO REGRETS.
There was NO FORGIVENESS.
It was just left LAYING THERE.
WORDS SPOKEN.
ANGER expressed.
Words and Anger left “hanging in the air.”
Jesus is saying, in the words of the SERMON on the MOUNT…
“It is MORE IMPORTANT to STOP the sacrifice… go BACK TO Galilee, and get RIGHT with your brother, neighbor, or sister, THAN IT IS to offer THIS sacrifice or ANY SACRIFICE knowing your brother, neighbor, or sister has something AGAINST YOU.”
PEACE, RECONCILIATION and FORGIVENESS is of the utmost importance.
LET THE GIFT LAY THERE. Let it stay there. Other things are MORE IMPORTANT.
GOD wants to see – a purity, a righteousness, a goodness in YOUR HEART.
To heck with the SACRIFICE.
YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
YOUR NEIGHBOR IS MORE IMPORTANT.
YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR SISTER IS MORE IMPORTANT.
Be reconciled FIRST to them.
Acknowledge THEM.
THEN, COME and OFFER your GIFT.
GOD SEES. GOD KNOWS.
GOD LOOKS INTO THE DEPTHS OF YOUR HEART.
YES, it is a LONG trip home.
YES, it will cost you something.
YES, you will be tired when you are through.
But THIS is the RIGHT way.
THIS is the CORRECT way.
THIS IS what makes your SACRIFICE WORTHY and ACCEPTABLE.
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!
There is no tarnish. There is no blot. There is no sore. There is no spot. ALL has been removed.
ALL IS NOW GOOD! ALL IS AS IT SHOULD BE!
And for the record, I do need to share this, this is the impetus for the PASSING of the PEACE. This is where the liturgical act stems from…
DO NOT APPROACH the altar unless you have first made amends with your brother, or your neighbor or your sister. Then come, come to the altar. Come to the table. For YOU are now READY.
Amen.