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 situation. We can’t just say it’s their problem, not ours. No, if we discover that someone else is angry with us, it is we ourselves who are still responsible to try to heal the relationship. It is we who must take the initiative to go and be reconciled to whoever is angry with us. In fact, Jesus says that such pursuit of reconciliation 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 any murder we might 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 (NASB)

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
23 “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 “Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent.