Sermon on the Mount - Reconciliation

Matthew 5:²³ “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, ²⁴ leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Reconciliation (def) - the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.

The Lord sets the stage for many other things we should experience in our lives during our faith walk, and reconciliation is one that works us toward unity, or being like-minded, as Paul said in Philippians 2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Paul wasn't just saying "do this "without first stating in 1 Corinthians 2 that we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2: ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?    Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. So reconciliation is birthed in spiritual realization or understanding who we are in Christ. If we have the mind of Christ and look at our world and others as Jesus would, we come to a point of desiring reconciliation, and then that burden is lifted, and we are free!!

The writer of Proverbs brings this whole thing down to "growing" in our faith, and in that growth, there will be times when God leads us to a new way of thinking that aligns us with what Jesus preached in His Sermon on the Mount. The reconciliation that Jesus is speaking about is an ongoing reconciliation that is born out of our eternal reconciliation with God through Jesus. It is not something we do to "get it overwith", but it is a heart change and a new relationship built on the selfless attitude Jesus shows us. It is not what the following story shows, but something much more heartfelt.

One New Year's Eve at London's Garrick Club, British dramatist Frederick Lonsdale was asked by Symour Hicks to reconcile with a fellow member. The two had quarreled in the past and never restored their friendship. "You must," Hicks said to Lonsdale. "It is very unkind to be unfriendly at such a time. Go over now and wish him a happy New Year."

So Lonsdale crossed the room and spoke to his enemy. "I wish you a happy New Year," he said, "but only one." DON'T MISS THE POINT JESUS IS MAKING.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren