Love God Greatly - the Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

Reconcile with Others

Read: Matthew 5:17–24

SOAP: Matthew 5:23–24

So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your gift.

Into the text

Today’s verses are right in the middle of a sermon Jesus gave when He was near the Sea of Galilee, called the Sermon on the Mount. Throughout this discourse, Jesus explained many things, including how the Law had been misinterpreted and misapplied. While God had given the Law to Moses, including the Ten Commandments, specific instructions for sacrifices, and over six hundred other individual laws for living as God’s people, the priests and teachers of the law had created their version of what was right and wrong.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed many of these issues. The Pharisees and law experts wanted to believe they were righteous, but Jesus showed them how righteousness comes from the heart and not from our actions. While some of the law teachers may have appeared righteous by their actions, their hearts were far from God.

At the time Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, sacrifices were still being practiced in Israel. Jesus explained that if someone came to offer a gift or sacrifice to God but held something against another, or someone had something against them, they needed to leave their gift, be reconciled, and return to present the gift. What matters to God is the condition of our hearts, not the appearance of our actions.

Prayer is the same. It has little to do with our appearance, position, or words. It is about our hearts. If we harbor jealousy, anger, or discontent toward someone when we pray, it is not hidden from God. We need to be sure we have attempted to reconcile with others, committing the outcome to God. Our hearts are what matters to Him. Each time we approach God’s throne, whether in praise or request, the condition of our hearts matters most.

Prayer

Father God, I confess where I am holding anger against a brother or sister. Help me offer forgiveness to them and lead me in coming to a resolution. Show me ways my heart may be far from You when I come to You in prayer. I long for my heart to be aligned with You every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.