In this era of increasingly violent disagreement, Jesus reminds us that seeking reconciliation is not optional for Christians. This is especially true if we are the guilty party, if someone has accused us of wrongdoing. In this case, Jesus insists in verses 25 and 26 that it is our responsibility to reach out to those who are angry with us. If we are at fault, we are the ones who must seek reconciliation. Of course it doesn’t hurt that this is also the most practical approach to interpersonal relations – after all, if our squabbles and disputes end up in court, we could just as easily lose as win.

But what if we aren’t at fault? What if someone is angry at us for no good reason? Verses 23 and 24 say we can’t simply dismiss that. We can’t just say it’s their problem. No, if we discover that someone else is angry with us, it is we who are still responsible to try to heal the relationship. We must take the initiative to go and be reconciled to whoever is angry with us. And Jesus says this is even more important than going to public worship!

And why is that? Because of how serious a problem anger is. In verses 21 and 22, Jesus makes it plain that anger in our hearts is just as spiritually deadly as murder we commit with our hands. That means if someone else is angry with us, his anger places him in eternal danger. So, we can’t very well go and worship God while we are indifferent to our brothers and sisters’ spiritual health, can we? Since we are called to love one another, it wouldn’t be loving to let someone else be burned in Hell, would it? But letting someone stew in his or her anger could lead to precisely that result.

Is there someone you know you have hurt? Is there someone who has become estranged from you? Is there someone with whom you need to be reconciled, for whatever reason? You know what to do.

Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV)

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.