We closed last time with the statement: The hardest thing to give is in. Giving in, however, is not giving up. Giving in is taking the first step to reconciliation as Jesus commanded.
Jesus spoke to this issue from two perspectives first in Matthew 5:23-24 and second in Matthew 18:15-17.
First He said, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought* against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
*In the Greek language the word ought is as vague as it is in modern-day English. In this instance Scripture does not point out definite conditions under which one would go to another to seek reconciliation. You could be at fault or the other person could be at fault. The second instance, however, is very clearly stated.
Second He said as recorded in Matt. 18:15a: “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him of his fault…” There is no vagueness in this illustration command.
You may be thinking, He has trespassed against me; let him come to me. With Jesus, it doesn’t work that way.
Theoretically two Christians at odds with one another should bump into each other half way while seeking to reconcile.
But, how do you approach them?
Next time: Part Three: The A, B, C’s of A Negative Approach to a Positive Response
