Matt 5.21-26. Leave your gift at the altar and first be reconciled
- samuel stringer
- Aug 23, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 6, 2020
It's astonishing that you shouldn't be angry!
Snoqualmie Falls and the lodge, Washington State
Matthew 5.21-26
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool,” you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Hagner, page 118
In his exegesis of the truest meaning of the Mosaic commandment—and presentation of the level of righteousness required by the kingdom—Jesus goes far beyond the letter of the text (where some may have been inclined to stop). By his explication of “thou shalt not murder,” Jesus penetrates to the spirit of the commandment. Since the spring of a person’s conduct is the heart, or inner person, the transforming power of the kingdom must be especially experienced there. Anger and insults spoken from anger are evil and corrupting, and they therefore call forth God’s judgment, just as the act of murder itself does. Accordingly, the worship and service of God cannot be performed as long as anger infects the soul. Thus, the recipient of the grace of the kingdom is one who initiates and seeks reconciliation, both with members of the community of faith and with adversaries (cf. 5:9). The underlying and key message of these astonishingly authoritative words is that a person is held accountable for his or her angry thoughts, not merely for external acts of violence against others. Here, as in the beatitudes, the truly revolutionary character of the kingdom and its ethics makes itself felt.
It is a mistake to treat these stipulations casuistically and thus to fall into a new and harsh nomism. While they are meant to be taken seriously, calling attention to the relation between the root of a tree and its fruit (to use other Matthean metaphors), they, like the antitheses that follow, function more as exhortations to a life that perfectly reflects the reality of the kingdom. This teaching is not necessarily incompatible the display of righteous anger by Jesus in Mark 3:5 (cf. Eph 4:26) or his calling the Pharisees “Fools” in 23:17 (where Matthew uses the same word as here).
Jesus has already told the crowds that being the people of God is much more than just being members of a tribe or people. Those who call themselves the people of God are entrusted with doing what he would do if he were here walking with us. His people are his primary means of accomplishing his will and work among humanity. If the people of God don’t do it, then God is handcuffed, and he must either do it himself or find someone more agreeable to listening to his demands.
When we read Hagner’s explanation we have to ask ourselves, “what possible use is there in what he says for accomplishing the work of God?” It makes no sense. Are we supposed to think him profound simply because he uses big words? How does exegesis, explication, casuistically, or nomism help us understand Jesus better? By using phrases like transforming power, astonishingly authoritative words, and revolutionary character of the kingdom, does he expect us to regard his explanation as transforming, powerful, astonishing, authoritative, or revolutionary? It’s not. It’s useless. No one can read Hagner’s words and know what Jesus wants of us. Hagner’s explanation does not tell the people of God how to fulfill God’s expectations.
And, in fact, Jesus’ words aren’t astonishing or revolutionary either. Hagner looks at the text and wants to see something remarkable, so he does, and then loads up his explanation with superlatives. But truly, it is astonishing that people should not hate one another? Is it revolutionary that someone would tell us we’re not supposed to insult people or call them fools?
Jesus has said we are to be salt and light. We can’t do that if we harbor hatred against our neighbor. Jesus will say we are to love our enemy. We don’t accomplish that through insults. Jesus will say we are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. We can’t do that if our hearts are nothing like his. And lastly, we are go work for God. We can’t do that if we assert our rights in squabbles over things that have nothing to do with the work of God.
Jesus is not telling us how to be good people. People who make no claim to being the children of God would have these same ideals. It is never good to have thoughts of murder or anger, it is never good to insult another person, it is stupid to fight for something that could land you in prison if you can escape with just an apology or a payment. These are not divine: they’re common sense.
The reason they’re worth mentioning is because the people of God have been acting like this and Jesus insists it must stop. The work of God is far more important than your personal grievances and feuds. If you are going to waste your life insisting on things happen according to your definition of right and wrong, then you’re no good to God. Jesus says, let it go. The child of God must act like God. You can’t fritter away your days and years on stupid stuff and still expect to do what God wants: bother because you declare yourself as unfit by always demanding things go your way and because you drag down the work with your baggage. Stop it. Leave it there. Count it all garbage. Move on. Do something.
Or... stay angry and bitter and petty. It’s called narcissism. It’s not pretty. And it makes a person useless to God.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV), copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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