Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Matthew

[Silver Star]

Does God require us to make amends with everyone we've wronged or sinned against before accepting our worship, as mentioned in Matthew 5:23-26? The verse suggests seeking reconciliation and making proper acknowledgments for any harm caused, emphasizing the importance of living justly with others. But what if making amends could cause harm "such as the person being unaware and doing so would only cause harm to them" or is impossible due to various reasons "such as inability to contact or the person being dead or not knowing who they are"? Does this mean one must reconcile with every person they've wronged to truly repent? And does failure to do so imply being unsaved or not having genuinely repented according to Biblical New Testament Christianity? This verse also implies that we are going to be thrown in hell if we don't make amends with every person we have ever wronged. This just seems like an impossible task.I know the bible constantly says to confess to God for forgiveness but this verse seems to say that we will be thrown in hell if we don't make amends with everyone we've ever wronged.

[jimwalton]

Verses 23-26 are an example of vv. 21-22, emphasizing the difference between reality and sincerity (Oswald Chambers). Jesus is not making rules, as you seem to be thinking. The Sermon on the Mount is not about rules (especially this part), but instead is about your heart.

Kevin DeYoung comments, "Jesus says that anger is so serious that we should not only do what we can to eliminate it in our heart, but also so what we can to prevent and alleviate it in others. We should seek reconciliation. We should love our neighbor as ourselves, be patient, peace loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "In anger you lose access to God: your worship is unacceptable. If we despise our brother, our worship is unreal. When we come to God with hearts full of contempt and unreconciled with our neighbor, we are worshipping an idol. Not just the fact that I am angry, but there is somebody who has been hurt, damaged, and disgraced by me, who 'has a cause against me.' God wants no honor for himself as long as our brother is dishonored."

The idea is that what is in your heart supersedes any religious rituals you perform. If your heart isn't right, your ritual is without value. Your relationships with other people are the gauge of your relationship with God (Mt. 25.34-46; 1 Jn. 2.10; 3.10; 4.8).

As for vv. 25-26, there is no indication that it's particularly speaking about Hell. The analogy of v. 25 is a judge and prison. The idea is that you are accountable for all your actions (2 Cor. 5.10). Believers are not in danger of Gehenna, but your reward in Heaven will be affected by your actions on Earth—the Scriptures teach us there will be degrees of reward in Heaven (Lk. 19.11-27, esp. 15-19; Mt. 25.19-23; 2 Cor. 5.10) just as there will be degrees of punishment in Hell. The punishment will fit the "crime," and the reward will fit what you deserve.