so, I've been reading the thread and I agree in principal...I might quibble abit here and there...but maybe I am just asking myself questions....
I think you have put some thought into this and I appreciate that....
Maybe we could discuss this:
21“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[SUP]a[/SUP] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[SUP]b[/SUP] [SUP]c[/SUP] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[SUP]d[/SUP] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.25“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5
with respect in particular to what is in green above, but the whole thing generally...
when I look at verses 23 & 24 (green) seems God puts getting things right with other believers before we approach Him...with our 'gifts'...
1. What do we 'see' as gifts
2. Has anyone ever actually 'left their gift' and gone and reconciled
and I'm thinking about something else too, but that's prob enough to chew on for now
Thanks! (ps...this is for honest discussion...I'm not going in with preconceived answers here even though I have looked into this for my own benefit)
We are no longer under the law, we are under the new covenant of grace, so we don't have to offer a gift to have our sins forgiven.
The law was given not for man to follow, but to show man that they could not follow it, so we could understand the grace that god would give us through the sacrifice and resurrection of his son Christ Jesus.
This is how i see and interpret the above passages in very simple terms. Again i could be wrong.
So, i for one have never left a gift because under grace through Christ Jesus it is not required of me anymore.
God bless