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leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Verse Takeaways
1
Reconciliation Before Ritual
Commentators unanimously agree that Jesus places a higher priority on relational harmony than on religious ceremony. If you are about to worship and remember you have wronged someone, Jesus commands you to pause your worship, leave your offering, and first seek peace with that person. As one scholar puts it, the rule is 'first peace with man, and then acceptance with God.'
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Matthew
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, etc. The Pharisees were intent only on the external act in worship. They did not …
First be reconciled (πρωτον διαλλαγηθ). Second aorist passive imperative. Get reconciled (ingressive aorist, take the initiative).…
19th Century
Anglican
Leave there your gift — The words describe an act that would appear to people as a breach of liturgical propriety. To leave the gi…
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Baptist
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; leave there your gift before the …
Jesus gives two illustrations exposing the seriousness of anger, the first in a setting of temple worship (vv.23–24) and the second in a judicial s…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Leave there your gift before the altar This might easily be done, and the business soon dispatched, at some seasons;…
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The Jewish teachers had taught that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. In this way, they explained away its spiri…
13th Century
Catholic
For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees. Above, the Lord showed that …
