Anchor My Faith

Come to Terms Quickly

Scripture: Luke 12:57-59

In the previous lesson we considered the effect of an unreconciled relationship with a person we have hurt and our ability to worship. In this lesson we will see that by not trying to reconcile, the other brother may file charges against us and require us to come before a judge for restitution or punishment. Jesus continues by saying: Lk 12:57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

In lesson H207, we began this section titled “The Real Law,” in which Jesus extended the meaning of the sixth commandment “You shall not murder.” In that lesson we learned that murder was the outward evidence of an angry heart. Therefore, an angry person, who may or may not act out his anger, is guilty of judgment before God.

In lesson H208, Jesus made it clear that the condition of the heart will be judged by God, just as the outward action is judged. Thus your anger toward another person makes you guilty of murder before God. Jesus then goes further and includes the one who insults his brother and the one who calls him a fool.

In lesson H209, Jesus extends this topic to include worship. If you have in some way wronged your brother or sister, you need to go to that person to be reconciled before you go to worship God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that our worship must be in spirit and in truth. Jesus tells us that it is not possible to truly worship God if you are unreconciled with another person.

In this lesson, Jesus speaks of the importance of reconciling quickly with the person you have wronged. He sees this in the context of sixth commandment and is thus important. Jesus does this in this parable by painting the picture of the offender being taken by the accuser before a magistrate. Jesus tell us to try to settle with the accuser before being taken before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. This condition of the heart toward the brethren is here being played out in the language of the courts and punishment being handed down by human tribunals. This to show that before God you are guilty under the sixth commandment.

In this section, gev049, Jesus shows us that murder, or what we say or do towards our brother or sister is simply the outward indication of a troubled heart that needs attention as it will be judged by God if left unchanged. We will sin and thus we need to reconcile as best as possible to keep the heart right before God.

Prayer

Father, our sinful nature makes it easy to create tension with others and thus the importance of spiritual growth to become more and more like Jesus in the way we live among others. Father, we need to learn that our growth is enhanced by the painful act of reconciling. I pray that as we walk with Jesus along this gospel path, we will learn from him and become more like him.