1月17日
标 题：要和解
经 节：就把礼物留在坛前，先去同弟兄和好，然后来献礼物。（马太福音五章24节）
当你与弟兄结怨，向神献礼物是没有用的。耶稣说祂的跟随者应该与他的敌对者和解。世人所寻求的和解是有限的，然而基督徒要付出任何代价换取和解。
你说：“你不了解他伤害我有多深！要我和他恢复关系是不合理的。”或者是：“我试了，但是她就是不肯和解。”耶稣要求我们和解，并不包含任何的例外。那人若是你的仇敌，耶稣说你要爱他（马太福音五：44）；他若逼迫你，你要为他祷告（44节）；她若公然羞辱你，你不可以牙还牙（39节）；有人若占你便宜，就给他多过他的要求（41节）。世人鼓吹“维护自己的权益”，耶稣教导要“放弃自己的利益”。世人警告你常常会被利用，耶稣关心的却不是门徒是否被公平对待，而是门徒不管别人如何待自己，仍然能表露出无条件的爱。世人蔑视耶稣，将祂钉死在十字架上。祂的反应是我们的榜样：“父啊！赦免他们；因为他们所做的，他们不晓得。”（路加福音廿三：34）
如果有什么命令常使你苦于无法顺服，一定就是与人和解这条命令。我们以“神知道我已经尽力，但我的对头不肯和解”这种想法安慰自己。然而，神并没有说“试着和解”，乃是“要和解”。你生命中是否有个人，是你需要与他和解的？现在就照着神的话去做。
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.
