YOU ARE

Matthew

5: 21-24

a reconciler

YOU ARE

Matthew 5

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long

ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders

will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that

anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be

subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a

brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.

And 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 or sister has

something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front

of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then

come and offer your gift.

YOU ARE

You are a reconciler.

“Go and be

reconciled.”

YOU ARE

Reconciliation:

“to change completely”

“to be restored to friendship or

harmony.”

Reconciliation involves a change

in the relationship between God

and man or man and man. It

assumes there has been a breakdown in the

relationship, but now there has been a change from a

state of enmity and fragmentation to one of harmony

and fellowship.

YOU ARE

Matthew 5

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar

and there remember that your brother or sister has

something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front

of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then

come and offer your gift.

Am I responsible for someone’s

grudge against me?

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be

called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because

of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,

persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil

against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,

because great is your reward in heaven, for in the

same way they persecuted the prophets who were

before you.

Humility is the key to

reconciliation.

John Piper:1. We are only responsible for what others hold

against us when it is owing to real sin or

blundering on our part.

2. We are responsible to pursue reconciliation, but

live with the pain if it does not succeed. In

other words, we are not responsible to make

reconciliation happen.

Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on

you, live at peace with everyone.

Marks of an unreconciled

relationship:

Hear their name or voice: heart sinks

Can’t be in the same room

Thoughts

Avoidance

Coldness

Irritability

Vice Versa

How to be reconciled:

From: Resolving Everyday Conflict (Peacemakers)

1. Go to Higher Ground/ Glorify God

(1 Corinthians 10:31)

This response encourages you to clarify your

highest values, applying them to how you

respond to conflict and treat others when

experiencing conflict. For the believer it means

asking yourself, “How can I please and honor God

in this situation?”

How to be reconciled:

2. Get Real About Yourself/ Get the Log Out of

Your Eye (Matthew 7:5)

This response encourages you to examine your

own attitudes and actions, understanding how

you have contributed to the conflict, and giving a

thorough and humble confession.

How to be reconciled:

3. Gently Engage Others/ Gently Restore

(Galatians 6:1)

Taking responsibility for your own contribution is

followed by respectfully and graciously helping

others to see how they have contributed to the

conflict.

How to be reconciled:

4. Get Together on Lasting Solutions/ Go and Be

Reconciled (Matthew 5:21-24)

Focusing on preserving and restoring the

relationship through forgiveness leads you to a

lasting solution that resolves both material and

personal issues.

Starting Next Sunday

8:20 a.m. in Café Crème

Challenge to all:

Just stop the slander and gossip.

James 4:10-11a – “Humble yourselves before the Lord.

Brothers, don’t slander or attack one another.”

So … what might you do with

that?

1. If someone has something against me, is it

because of something I should not have done or

should not have said? Is it because of something I

should have done or should have said, but didn't?

In other words, have I wronged someone?

2. If I am to blame, have I taken sufficient steps

to be reconciled?

3. If not, am I willing to humble myself and make

the contact?

YOU ARE

Matthew

5: 21-24

a reconciler