“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24, ESV)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarified the intent of the Law by presenting six precepts to show that it is a matter of the heart. The first precept dealt with that of anger or conflict between two people. In it, Jesus gave instruction on how children of the kingdom should resolve such conflict.
There are a couple key points to consider here. First, this passage does not presume that the one presenting his gift is guilty. This person may or may not be guilty of that which the other accuses. The idea is that if the one presenting his gift has a remembrance of a lingering problem that another has with him, he must seek to resolve it.
Second, the person with the remembrance is not to present his gift to the Lord until the reconciliation occurs. What does the verse mean by gift? Here it directly refers to an offering for sacrifice that the person would present to the priest at the Temple. Under the New Covenant, we realize that Jesus is the Great High Priest and that we are to present ourselves as a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). This refers not only to a specific act of service in the church, but our life of service to Him. Conflict with a brother interferes with our effective service for the Lord.
Third, the prescription indicates that the brother who believes another has something against him should go to him. The Scripture states, “leave you gift there before the altar and go.” Go where? To the person. This is an area where the process often breaks down and then fosters greater problems. Many people often prefer to get someone else involved rather than go to the person directly. Many will choose to use media rather than personal contact. It has been my experience that these options usually create further tension and separation. The proper response is to go to the person for a personal dialogue where they can discuss and resolve the conflict. It is only when the two cannot resolve the issue that they must get another involved (Matthew 18:15-19).
Fourth, the goal is the restoration of fellowship between two people. Jesus stated, “First be reconciled to your brother.” The word “reconciled,” diallassomai, comes from two Greek words, “through” and “to change.” Strong defines the word, “to reconcile, to renew friendship with one.” The purpose of the meeting is to change the situation, to restore a broken relationship. This is another step that often breaks down since the parties involved frequently seek vindication or venting rather than restoration. While this is less likely if the parties meet face-to-face, it still can happen if the parties do not seek what the Lord desires in the meeting. The Lord desires believers in Christ to live in harmony with one another. This is the goal.
Finally, after reconciliation the believers can offer their gifts to the Lord. Then they can once again participate in the local fellowship and serve the Lord properly.
This precept puts the responsibility on the person who feels someone has something against him. True children of the Kingdom must make every effort to live at peace with one another (Romans 12:18). It should not require an outsider to police up conflicts between people. If this needs to happen, it is clearly the second step in the process, as the Lord instructed in Matthew 18:15-19.
Renewing the Heart 