I Have Something Against You
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000
I Have Something Against You
This area of personal relationships can get really complicated. But, if
we keep things in Biblical perspective, we can greatly simplify and enrich
them.
"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar,
and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer
thy gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24)
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained
thy brother." (Matthew 18:15)
Jesus rather clearly teaches that, when there is a problem between two
people, the burden of reconciliation rests upon BOTH of them. He says
that if you remember that someone has "ought against" you, YOU are to
"be reconciled to" your "brother." On the other hand, if someone has done
wrong to you, He says that you are to "go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone." It is your own knowledge of the problem that obligates
you to do something about it.
The Bible method of dealing with problems between individuals is simple.
We should simply go to the person with whom we have a problem and do
whatever we can to work it out. Reconciliation is the ultimate goal.
The context of Matthew 18:15, both before and after, is crammed with
pertinent truth. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus speaks of offences, humbling
ourselves as children, of receiving children and not offending them, and of
God's love for one who is apart from Him. Later on, beginning with verse
15, He deals with the proper order for dealing with an offending party,
which includes the matter of church discipline.
Then Peter asks how many times he should forgive an offending brother,
obviously realizing that the whole tenor of Christ's teaching here was that
we should seek the restoration of the offended and of the offender. Then
Jesus tells the compelling parable of the unmerciful servant, which speaks
volumes about forgiveness by itself.
Now, I would challenge us to apply these wonderful principles to our
personal and public relationships. Take for instance when Jesus said that
we should treat an unrepentant offender as "an heathen". How would Jesus
deal with the heathen?
He certainly would not commission them to preach the gospel, to be
missionaries, to be Bible School or Sunday School teachers. I doubt that He
would call on such to lead a prayer meeting. But, are they not lost sheep?
Are they not part of the world "for whom Christ died?" Are they not to be
pitied? Are we not to pray for them? Are we not to show the love of Christ
to them?
"God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to
us the ministry of reconciliation; 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."(II Corinthians 5:18,19)
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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