© 15 Colin Melbourne
True Filial Piety
Q: In Mth. 5 who is meant by the “brother” we must be reconciled with?
A: Mth. 5:21-26 KJV;
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
It plainly means brother in every sense; fellow Jew, fellow Christian, familial brother, and so on. But don’t miss the deeper meaning. (See below: Your Kinsman Redeemer.)
The reason you ask is because you have not yet reconciled with your brother, and are convicted.
Respond wholeheartedly, and do your part in making the reconciliation with your brother.
He put an end to hating and killing sinners; then showed us the New Way to deal with them: The New Kind of Love.
Of course, if the fault truly lies with the offending brother, you cannot force him to repent and reconcile, but at least you must do all you can to further reconciliation.
The primary point of the discourse, is that God will not accept your worship if you harbour the least malice against anyone.
The Heavens will remain brass until you cleanse your heart attitude. Pr. 4:20-23 KJV;
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
“Keep” means to protect, guard and control your heart attitude, attending to and obeying the revealed rhema word.
It is a precious way to walk through life, and the only way to truly live with Jesus.
Your Kinsman Redeemer
There is a beautiful further meaning to Christ’s words which, sadly, the religious cannot bear.
It is that; unless, and until, Christ becomes your Brother, your Kinsman Redeemer, through heart-faith in His Sacrifice for you, then all your worship of God is in vain.
You must be born into God’s household, Christ’s family, God’s adopted child.
Has that happened to you yet?
If not, then re-read this scripture and consider if Almighty God in the Flesh has ought against thee.
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.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
He always claimed His Humanity and His Deity
In passing, notice Jesus said, then come;
…first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
This is significant because it affirms His deity: He knew He was both the Son of Man and God in The Flesh, and never denied it.
Remember He was speaking on a mountainside to a multitude. He often preached in the Temple courts at Jerusalem, but not when He said this.
Had He been a mere man, or prophet, it would be logical to phrase it; …first be reconciled to thy brother, and then go and offer thy gift.
Meaning; go to the Temple, where offerings were still being made to God there when He said this.
But Jesus said come and offer thy gift.
Meaning offer it to God through Him, because Jesus is Almighty God made Flesh.
Temple worship has long been abolished, just as He prophesied (Jn. 4:21-24, Mth. 24:2).
Now there remains only one acceptable way to God. Jn. 14:6 KJV;
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This book is will help you learn, How to be led by the Spirit of God: Get it, and you won’t look back.
© 15 Colin Melbourne
