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

This passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount always trips me up a bit. In fact, I've misquoted it a number of times. The "logical" reading of this passage for me is this:

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that you have something against your brother . . ." [emphasis mine]

Having something against someone else seems more controllable, doesn't it? If I'm going to church and realize I'm mad at Bob because he was a jerk to me yesterday . . . *sigh*, well, I guess I better go have a talk with him. I can tell him how he hurt me, get it off my chest, and maybe he'll see the error of his ways.

But the passage doesn't say that I need to leave my gift at the altar if someone's done something to offend me, and go be reconciled (although I think that can be inferred). As with all things from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes us one rung higher on the high-dive of obedience.

"if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you . . ."

Are there any Greek scholars out there? Does this say what it seems to be saying? Because someone can have something against me, even if I don't think I did anything wrong to them. Have you ever had to approach someone to be reconciled for a wrong that doesn't seem all that wrong to you? Were you able to do it without the mealy-mouthed "If I've offended you . . ." speech? It's hard. It's humbling.

I think what Jesus is saying here is "blessed are the peacemakers". Imagine living in a family, or a work environment, or a church, where problems are taken care of immediately. Where people who have hurt you are coming to you and seeking to make things right.

Can you imagine that? You and I can begin building that culture today.

I do believe there is a practical limit to what Jesus is saying here - at least I hope there is. He says "be reconciled to your brother", but there may be instances where your brother refuses to reconcile. I don't believe this passage supports the idea of suspending all worship until the unsolvable gets solved. Although, ironically, there are churches where all worship has, in effect, been suspended due to hard-hearted people who refuse to be reconciled, even when approached in good faith, and who poison the atmosphere of the church due to their lack of forgiveness and high sense of offense.

I do think it supports the idea of attacking relationship problems quickly, and going above and beyond what's normal for us to achieve reconciliation.

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." - Romans 12:18.

Is there anyone in your life for which some gift-leaving and reconciliation is called?