Matthew 5:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If love alone is not enough to induce us to be reconciled to our neighbour, the desire that our work should not remain imperfect, and especially in the holy place, should induce us.

God prioritizes our love for one another over His own glory. In response to the statement, “If your brother has anything against you,” He added no further conditions regarding the justification of the grievance; rather, He urges reconciliation. He did not say, “if you have something against him,” but rather, “if he has something against you, strive to mend the relationship.” He instructs you to set aside your offering in favor of seeking reconciliation, indicating that true love exemplifies genuine sacrifice. If you wish to present your offering, it is essential that you first seek to restore harmony.

If it be not lawful to be angry with a brother, or to say to him Racha, or Thou fool, much less is it lawful to keep in the memory any thing which might convert anger into hate.

Is this directive addressed exclusively to the priests, or is it meant for everyone? “If you bring your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, go first and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (vv. 23-24). How can any of us present a gift at the altar? Since it is proclaimed that you shall be called the servants of God (Is. 61:6) and that the sacrifice of praise glorifies the Lord (Ps. 49:23), and it is also written that a broken spirit is the true sacrifice to God (Ps. 50:19); furthermore, the Apostle instructs us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is our spiritual worship (Rom. 12:1). This understanding applies to all believers, emphasizing that each one of us is called to act in accordance with these teachings.

He spoke clearly to eliminate any uncertainty about the consequences of neglecting the sacred atonement and leaving the wrongdoers unpunished.

It is not, If thou hast ought against thy brother; but, If thy brother has ought against thee, that the necessity of reconciliation may be more imperative.

If you choose not to stray from God's love, do not allow your brother to succumb to despair against you, nor permit yourself to be overwhelmed with distress against him. Instead, seek to be reconciled with your brother, and upon your return, with a tranquil heart, present the offering of love to Christ through earnest prayer.

All that has been expressed previously, what is mentioned now, and what is yet to come, all pertains to love, which He frequently highlights and commends in various forms, as will be evident throughout this discussion. As God, motivated by love for us, He took on human form and endured all trials so that we, too, may love God and ourselves, be united in love, and create one body, with Christ as our leader. In this way, by eliminating the discord that divides, He eradicates everything that disrupts love. And consider the depth of His humanity.

He bids us when peace with our fellow-men is restored, then to return to peace with God, passing from the love of men to the love of God; then go and offer thy gift.

Reconciliation among one another is of utmost significance to the God of the Word. The One who harmonizes the heavenly with the earthly also brings an end to our hostilities, preventing new ones from emerging and uprooting those that have taken root. He advises, ‘Do not anger your brother in vain’ (Matthew 5:22). Understanding our human frailty, He removes the very roots of our conflicts and insists that offerings intended for Him should not remain unpresented until we achieve harmony among ourselves. Thus, what is expressed reveals profound compassion paired with justice. ‘You seek,’ He says, ‘mercy; yet the one who is hurt desires retribution. You refer to Me as merciful, while he deems Me just; you plea for leniency, but he laments the absence of assistance.

Lo He is not willing to accept sacrifice at the hands of those who are at variance. Hence then consider how great an evil is strife, which throws away what should be the means of remission of sin.

What instruction has the Lord established for those who seek desire? ‘He that looketh upon a woman, to lust after her, he hath already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matthew 5:24). In light of this command, what kind of trap does the wicked craft within his mind? When the sources of temptation are far removed, he turns inward, engaging in an internal struggle against this command. This internal conflict arises as he conjures vivid images of immorality, allowing even spoken words to provoke desire, while many other factors provoke temptation through mental turmoil.

The Lord instructed us to maintain harmony with our neighbors, as stated in Matthew 5:23-24; likewise, the Apostle encourages us to strive for peace with everyone whenever possible (Romans 12:18). Rather than focusing on who is right or wrong, whether it is you or your neighbor, examine your own heart and seek to uphold peace through humility.

The God of love and peace does not receive offerings made in His name from those who have wronged their neighbor and have not sought reconciliation. Therefore, He instructs us that when we approach Him in prayer to implore His mercy, we should first reflect on our hearts to identify if there are any who hold grievances against us, or whom we have offended. If we discover any fault on our part, we must first seek reconciliation with our brother who has been wronged, and only then should we turn to prayer. Failing to do so, we will encounter not a merciful Father, but a stern judge.

Do not claim, "He has wronged me, while I have not wronged him; he should seek forgiveness from me, not I from him." If the Lord, for the sake of your salvation, calls you to seek reconciliation, then especially when you are wronged, strive to foster peace. By doing so, you will achieve a twofold honor: the first for enduring the offense, and the second for being the one who seeks to mend the relationship. If you have caused harm and seek forgiveness, God will grant you mercy for the offense because you sought it, but you will not receive a reward, as you did so while still at fault. Yet, if someone has sinned against you and you take the initiative to seek reconciliation, you will reap a significant reward.

Leave your gift at the altar of sacrifice and first seek to reconcile with your brother. Only after achieving this peace should you return to offer your gift with a clear conscience. Why does Christ instruct this? Primarily, He wishes to emphasize that genuine love is the ultimate offering, and without it, all other sacrifices lack value. Additionally, He encourages us to mend relationships, not just out of love for others, but so that our sacrifices are complete. This signifies that the Lord’s Supper is not for those who harbor enmity towards one another. If you approach God with resentment in your heart, it is better to pause your prayer, mend the rift with your brother, and then return to prayer.

The act of leaving a gift at the altar for the purpose of reconciling with an adversary can also be interpreted figuratively. It is sufficient to achieve reconciliation in one's heart or mind, which entails desiring this restoration, planning to reach an agreement at the earliest opportunity, and seeking a moment for reconciliation. This represents the act of leaving the gift before the altar. Even in the Old Testament, it was declared on the Lord's behalf: I desire mercy, not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). In the New Testament, the principles of grace and peace should take precedence.

When you present your offering at the altar and recall that your brother holds something against you, meaning if you realize that you have wronged your brother in any manner, leave your gift there. Among the Jews, as with other nations, halting a sacrifice in progress was deemed a serious offense, meriting substantial punishment from God. Therefore, seek reconciliation with your brother by asking for his forgiveness for your wrongdoing. In this way, the Lord illustrates that harmony among individuals, in God's sight, is of greater importance than any offering, and it also provides a means to evade condemnation for anyone who harbors unjust anger towards his brother and verbally insults him (Matthew 5:22).

The Jewish people, notably the Pharisees and scribes, placed greater emphasis on the external observance of the law while showing little regard for the inner condition of the heart. Those who meticulously adhered to the external requirements of the Law were deemed righteous, despite harboring feelings of envy, animosity, resentment, and other negative traits towards their fellow human beings. This contrasts sharply with the teachings of the Lord. It is far more essential to maintain a pure heart rather than merely perform outward rituals; without a sincere heart, such rituals hold no significance in God's eyes. They acquire potency and importance before God only when accompanied by a spirit of peace and love towards others.