What Does Matthew 5:23-24 Mean?
Matthew 5:23-24 describes a moment where Jesus teaches that worship means nothing if your heart is divided by broken relationships. If someone has something against you, Jesus says to leave your offering and go make things right first. True worship starts with reconciliation.
Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Matthew
Genre
Gospel
Date
circa 80-90 AD
Key People
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- Worship means nothing if relationships are broken.
- Fix conflicts before focusing on religious duties.
- True righteousness requires a reconciled heart.
Context of Matthew 5:23-24
This passage comes right after Jesus challenges the common understanding of anger, showing that God cares about the heart's intent, not merely outward actions.
He's speaking to his disciples and the crowd, building on the Beatitudes and teaching that real righteousness goes deeper than rule-following - it includes how we treat others.
The next part will look at why reconciliation matters so much in God's eyes.
Reconciliation Before Ritual: The Heart of Worship
True worship, Jesus says, can't be separated from how we treat others - especially when a relationship is broken.
In Jesus' time, offering a gift at the altar was a serious religious act, but He shocks His listeners by saying that fixing a strained relationship takes priority over even this holy duty.
This involves actively pursuing peace, rather than merely avoiding conflict. It reflects God's desire for mercy, not sacrifices.
Other Gospels don't record this exact teaching, but Jesus' emphasis on love and forgiveness appears often, like in Luke 10:27 where He says to love others as yourself.
The word 'reconciled' in the original Greek (diallagēthēti) means to restore friendship after a disagreement, showing this isn't about blame but about healing.
The Practical Call to Make Things Right
The message is clear: if your relationship with someone is broken, don't wait - go make it right before offering anything to God.
Jesus places real love for others ahead of religious routines, showing that our connection with people is tied to our connection with Him.
Fix the relationship first - then come back to worship.
This fits Matthew’s theme that true righteousness involves a changed heart that seeks peace, rather than mere adherence to rules. This is exemplified in Matthew 22:39 where Jesus says, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Worship That Pleases God: From Temple Rituals to Reconciled Hearts
This teaching fits into the Bible's bigger story by showing how Jesus transforms worship from external rituals to internal reality.
In Hebrews 10:19-22, the writer says we now have confidence to enter the holy places by Jesus’ blood, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water - pointing to the deeper cleansing Jesus brings.
The temple was meant to be a place of meeting God. Jesus raises the standard, stating that true worship requires a reconciled heart and unified community among believers, rather than mere sacrifice.
Our access to God is built on a cleansed heart, not just correct rituals.
The next section will explore how this call to reconciliation applies in everyday relationships today.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine standing in church, ready to give your offering, when suddenly you remember that harsh email you sent your coworker last week - words you didn’t mean, but never fixed. That’s the moment Jesus speaks to. He’s saying your worship feels hollow to Him if you’re holding onto brokenness. It’s not about being perfect, but honest. When we choose to pause our routines and pursue peace - calling that friend, apologizing to our spouse, forgiving the one who hurt us - we are doing more than merely cleaning up relationships. We’re aligning our hearts with God’s. And that’s when worship becomes real, rather than merely routine.
Personal Reflection
- Is there someone I’ve been avoiding because of a past disagreement, even a small one?
- Do I treat my religious habits - like prayer or church - as more important than making things right with others?
- What’s one step I can take this week to restore a strained relationship, even if I’m not the one who started it?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one relationship where there’s tension or unresolved hurt. Reach out - call, text, or meet - and take the first step toward reconciliation, even if it means saying, 'I’ve been thinking about us, and I’d like to talk.'
A Prayer of Response
God, I admit I’ve sometimes tried to worship You while ignoring the people I’m at odds with. Forgive me. Show me who I need to reconcile with, and give me the courage to go first. Help me value relationships the way You do. May my heart be a place of peace, not pride. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Matthew 5:21-22
Jesus addresses anger and insults, showing that internal attitudes matter - leading directly to the call for reconciliation in 5:23-24.
Matthew 5:25-26
Continues the theme of resolving conflicts quickly, applying it to legal disputes as a parallel to relational reconciliation.
Connections Across Scripture
Hosea 6:6
God values mercy over sacrifice, a truth Jesus quotes and embodies in prioritizing reconciliation.
1 John 4:20
Links love for God with love for others, showing that broken relationships hinder true worship.
James 1:27
Defines pure religion as caring for others, aligning with Jesus’ emphasis on relational righteousness.