The Ministry of Reconciliation
NIV Matthew
5:21-24 "You have heard that it was said to the people long
ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.'
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be
subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,
' (worthless, idiot) is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus is telling us that He won’t tolerate believers harboring anger,
hatred and forgiveness in our hearts towards one another.
Jesus said just having a bad attitude towards a brother is a serious matter
in The Kingdom of God!
➢ Jesus uses (3) three levels or types of attitudes Christians should
not have that can weaken our position in the kingdom and cause us
to lose our inheritance.
In Matt 5:21 Jesus uses the backdrop of MURDER to make His
point!
Everyone knew how serious murder was and it’s punishment!
So with murder on everyone’s mind Jesus reveals how He feels about
saints who have hateful attitudes towards another.
First Jesus says anyone who is angry with his brother (period) is in
danger of judgment! Jesus doesn’t say whether it is justified or not!
Anger is having a hostile attitude with a desire for ill will toward
another!
NIV Colossians
3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as
these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Anger causes people to lose control of their emotions say and do things
contrary to The Word of God!
Anger escalates things and magnifies the flesh while at the same time
hindering and quenching The Spirit!
NIV James
1:19-20 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should
be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God
desires.
Jesus says us being angry at one another believer places us in judgment.
Judgment here is to pass sentence and wait for punishment.
Because anger works against the plan of God and anyone working
against God will be in danger of judgment!
Being angry with another believer prevents us from working together to
build The Kingdom of God!
The second stage after emotion the separates believers Jesus says is a
Christian calling another Christian out of their name.
Jesus uses the word “raca” which means “worthless idiot”! Raca was a
person so mentally deficient they are incapable of understanding.
Do you not know that everyone in God’s Kingdom has value!
In the first example Jesus says any believer who has anger which is
(a hostile feeling/emotion) in their heart about another believer is in
danger of being sentenced.
Now Jesus moves on to say any believer who speaks evil about another
believer will be sentenced and separated from The Kingdom.
Make no mistake here my brothers and sisters—this is serious.
Jesus is saying any believer who says to their brother you are no good—
for whatever reason will be sentenced.
We don’t have the right to reduce people’s importance to God because
we feel we’re bigger, better or more anointed.
Lastly, Jesus says calling (speaking out publically) about believer calling
them a FOOL is in danger of hell! (Matt 5:22c)
Calling another believer a fool like saying they are ungodly and aren’t
born again. They really don’t know God!
NJB Psalm
14:1 For the choirmaster Of David The fool has said in his
heart, 'There is no God.' Their deeds are corrupt and vile, not one of
them does right.
Jesus said when we call another child of God corrupt, evil and
unrighteous we are in danger of burning in hell!
Notice the progression that occurs!
First is the emotion of anger unchecked and out of control!
It starts off as just a feeling, but it’s not brought under the control of The
Holy Spirit.
Next is leads to telling (speaking) or saying to a brother he ain’t no good
Then if that’s not checked it will continue until it’s publically declared
that another believer isn’t even saved.
They are no good to God or His Kingdom.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus says our offerings (prayers, monies, service and worship) given to
God in love and honor are meaningless when we dishonor one another.
We shouldn’t think we can be right with God and wrong with one
another and God over looks it!
KJV 2
Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the
word of reconciliation.
❖ Reconcile means “to bring together again, to win over again” it
also means to restore friendly relations!
NIV Proverbs
18:19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a
fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
The two most dysfunctional brothers outside Cain & Abel are Jacob &
Esau.
Jacob not only stole his brother’s birth-right but the blessing of the
oldest son, yet Esau and Jacob reconciled.
KJV Genesis
33:4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell
on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
However their families never did which is why the Arab and the Jew are
brothers.