1月17日

標 題：要和解

經 節：就把禮物留在壇前，先去同弟兄和好，然後來獻禮物。（馬太福音五章24節）

當你與弟兄結怨，向神獻禮物是沒有用的。耶穌說祂的跟隨者應該與他的敵對者和解。世人所尋求的和解是有限的，然而基督徒要付出任何代價換取和解。

你說：「你不瞭解他傷害我有多深！要我和他恢復關係是不合理的。」或者是：「我試了，但是她就是不肯和解。」耶穌要求我們和解，並不包含任何的例外。那人若是你的仇敵，耶穌說你要愛他（馬太福音五：44）；他若逼迫你，你要為他禱告（44節）；她若公然羞辱你，你不可以牙還牙（39節）；有人若占你便宜，就給他多過他的要求（41節）。世人鼓吹「維護自己的權益」，耶穌教導要「放棄自己的利益」。世人警告你常常會被利用，耶穌關心的卻不是門徒是否被公平對待，而是門徒不管別人如何待自己，仍然能表露出無條件的愛。世人蔑視耶穌，將祂釘死在十字架上。祂的反應是我們的榜樣：「父啊！赦免他們；因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。」（路加福音廿三：34）

如果有甚麼命令常使你苦於無法順服，一定就是與人和解這條命令。我們以「神知道我已經盡力，但我的對頭不肯和解」這種想法安慰自己。然而，神並沒有說「試著和解」，乃是「要和解」。你生命中是否有個人，是你需要與他和解的？現在就照著神的話去做。

Be Reconciled!

Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:24)

It is useless to give offerings to God while you are at enmity with your brother. Jesus said that His followers should be reconciled with anyone who has_something against them. The world seeks reconciliation on limited terms. Christians are to be reconciled, whatever_it takes.

You say, “But you don’t know how deeply he hurt me! It’s unreasonable to ask me to restore our relationship.” Or, “I tried but she would not be appeased.” Jesus did not include an exception clause for our reconciliation. If the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matt. 5:44). If he persecutes you, you are to pray for him (v. 44). If she publicly humiliates you, you are not to retaliate (v. 39). If someone takes advantage of you, you are to give even more than he asks (v. 41). The world preaches “Assert yourself.” Jesus taught, “Deny yourself.” The world warns that you will be constantly exploited. Jesus’ concern was not that His disciples be treated fairly but that they show unconditional love to others regardless of how they were treated. Men spat upon Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. His response was our model: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

If there were ever a command that is constantly disobeyed, it is this mandate to be reconciled. We comfort ourselves with the thought, “God knows that I tried to make things right, but my enemy refused.” God’s word does not say “Try to be reconciled,” but “Be reconciled.” Is there someone with whom you need to make peace? Then do what God tells you to do.