Something Against You

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Today's Text: Matthew 5:21-26

Key Verse: Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV): "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

Before us this morning is a major part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, which are a collection of Jesus' teachings on kingdom life and discipleship. The text was written in the late 50s or early 60s AD, likely for a Jewish audience in Antioch, Syria by Matthew Levi, a former tax collector and disciple of Jesus to help his audience understand Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of heaven.

To him, Jesus's intention in his first sets of teachings is that understanding God's love involves our interaction with others. That's why He emphasized the importance of managing our anger and reconciling with others before offering sacrifices to God. Anger towards others can lead to judgment and punishment: hence, the need for reconciliation and forgiveness, even before offering sacrifices to God. That is why Jesus emphasizes the importance of internal transformation, rather than just external compliance; and the ethics of God's kingdom emphasizes the importance of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation over sacrifice.

What does this mean for us? Our walk with God cannot be separated from our walk with people. "If you remember that your brother has something against you" implies an awareness of a conflict or grievance. The command to "leave your gift there before the altar" signifies that our pursuit of religious activity is not preeminent to addressing our relational issues. This is the sequence: we must clearly prioritize mending broken relationships before engaging religiosity and spirituality. Isn't this an uncommon call to swallow our pride, and to actively pursue peace, recognizing that our horizontal relationships profoundly impact our vertical relationship with God.

Action Steps: Reflect on your relationships. Is there anyone who might have something against you? If so, be proactive in seeking reconciliation. This might involve apologizing, clarifying misunderstandings, or simply listening with an open heart. Prioritize making amends over other activities, even spiritual ones. Pray for wisdom and humility to address any relational breaches and to live in peace with all people.

Quote for the Day: "A reconciled heart is a greater offering to God than any gift laid on the altar." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth that reconciliation is paramount in Your eyes. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized ritual over relationship. Grant us the courage and humility to seek out those who have something against us and to make amends. Help us to be peacemakers, so that our worship may be pure and acceptable in Your sight — in Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for being part of this journey. For additional reading on today's meditation, read: Romans 12:18, Colossians 3:13, and 1 Peter 3:8.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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