Ancient Order
“If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24 NASB
And then come – In a few hours Shabbat will begin. Many of us will celebrate this God-ordained day of rest with the opening blessing Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam (Bless the Lord our God, King of the Universe). We will offer praise and thanksgiving, if not Friday evening then perhaps Sunday morning. But should we? Perhaps there is a step necessary before we come to worship, a step that is very, very old – much older than Yeshua’s elucidation of the process.
“Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?”
Do you remember those words? God spoke them to Cain after his offering was not regarded (the Hebrew is lo sha’ah – to not look with favor). Are we to imagine that Cain and Abel had a perfect relationship before this incident? Does a man kill his brother over the first difficulty between them? Why was Cain’s offering not accepted? Could it have been that reconciliation was needed before the offering was presented? Is it more natural to read between the lines, concluding that jealousy and hatred were already in full bloom before Cain received this report? And doesn’t YHWH’s instruction make far more sense if it is about reconciliation rather than some unknown ritual observation?
“If you do well.” “Leave your offering there and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come (kai tote elthon).”
We who honor the Sabbath are about to engage in an ancient sacred ritual of worship. Are we reconciled with our brothers and sisters? Are we ready to present our offerings or have we overlooked a vital first step? What is more important in the eyes of the Lord: Shabbat prayers or reconciled relationships?
Had Cain listened to YHWH, left his offering and been reconciled to his brother, I am quite sure that YHWH would have looked favorably upon his gift – and that would lead immediately to Cain changing his offering to the best of the herd rather than a negotiated sacrifice. Reconciliation with my brother begins the process of reconciliation with God. It is a spiritual paradox that my action of reconciliation toward someone I can see becomes the springboard for reconciliation with the God I cannot see. Oswald Chambers said that God will never do what He expects us to do. Quite clearly, God expects us to initiate reconciliation with others. Then God will do what no man can ever do – look favorably upon our offerings.
Topical Index: and then come, reconciliation, Cain, Genesis 4:6, Matthew 5:23-24
CORRECTION: Yesterday I made a spelling-phonetic mistake. Rodney was kind enough to point it out. The doubled consonant in “heart” (“with all your heart”) is not a vav. It is, of course, a bet. I gave the correct spelling, but then I didn’t pay attention and produced a phonetic description (bet sounds like vet when it is not pointed). My mistake. It has been corrected. I’ll pay closer attention to the little dots.
This scripture is particularly meaningful to me. Many years ago, I was reading my morning devotional, and this was the daily portion. It just so happened that I had been putting off a very needed apology for over two years, because I knew I was not genuinely sorry for what I had done. That morning, it was as if Nathan the prophet was saying to me, “You are the man (woman)!” It was on a Saturday morning, and I was suddenly aware that to attend a worship service the next day, without dealing with this issue, would be compounding my sin. I resolved right then to address the person I had hurt, as soon as possible. I was kind of ‘paralyzed’ until Monday morning, when I was able to contact them, and apologize face to face for my behavior. It is impossible to count all of the blessings I experienced from that simple act of obedience. He wants us to be reconciled to one another, and have restored relationships. That’s what His people look like.
In these recent years, I have seen and am grateful for the statement: “Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship.” I say this, and am fully aware of centuries of “false” religion, even the religion of Cain.
Man was born to worship. We are going to worship something or someone. Every one of us participate in some “form or fashion” of worship. Where is my directed, intense passion? How do I spend my “spare” (leisure) time? Idols abound everywhere. And anything, (anything) I love more, seek more, value more, focus on more than G-d is an idol. G-d demands (and rightly so..) first place. Our Provider does not want prominence, He deserves pre-eminence.
My time, my treasure, my testimony, my teeth and my tongue “all” belong to Him. I am not the only one, -there is a multitude of others who also “know” this, (experientially). I love this truism also- “I will do Torah, and then I will understand.” The word “torah” means “instruction.” We have an instruction manual for life. It is the complete, entire, fully revealed- word of G-d. Not only the “ten words” (the ten commandments), but every word of G-d is “instructional” and pertains unto life and godliness. Yes, brother Skip, (and dear reader)- every “jot and tittle” is inspired by the Breath of G-d, the Ruach HaKodesh, -the Holy Breath.
How do we know “the will of G-d?” How do we know what pleases our Father? The will of G-d is fully revealed in the word of G-d. So is the wisdom of G-d manifested (made clear) in the word(s) of G-d. This is our mission: “study to show yourself approved unto G-d, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The ISV states: “handling the word of truth with precision.” I like this. The Bible is not a club, it is a sword. A two-edged sword unlike any other. A sword that often cuts the very one who wields it. (The truth often..ouch!). A sword, sharper than a scalpel, in the capable nail-pierced hands of a skilled Surgeon, words that pierce to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit!- now that’s a sharp sword!!.
We should listen to His words. How do I know this? How does anyone know this? (selah..?) ______? “It is written.” -“Shema.” I have come to love this word- “listen and obey.” Shema.
“for through the Messiah, G-d was reconciling the world to Himself by not counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Corinthians 5.19)
And how, dear friends are we (who are sinful) reconciled to a thrice-holy G-d? I will never be reconciled to my brother or my neighbor, or even my wife until I am first reconciled to G-d, but when I can say it and know it: “there is nothing between my soul and the Savior”- and know (again) from the very word(s) of G-d: “there is therefore now (now) no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8.1) A Maskil of David. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32.1)
I want to love you. (yes, I’m talkin’ to you). But I cannot give you what I do not have. No one can. I cannot give away what I do not possess. Speaking the truth is easy, but speaking the truth in love? Where does this “agape” love come from? How may I forgive another, if I myself am not forgiven? (Oh, -but I am!!)
“Benevolence toward another at cost to myself.” (amen, brother Skip). Sacrificial love. Agape love. Has our Master-Teacher demonstrated to us what tHis love looks like? -He has.
Are we listening? -“and through Him G-d reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1.20) Are these my words? No, they are not. These are the words of G-d, revealed, made plain, fully manifested to “whosoever will.” Read them and weep. Amen. Hallelujah -every day, -every moment, for the cross.
Thank you brother Skip for ministering to the saints.