Matthew 5: 23-24
Therefore, if you are offering you gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar. Go first and be reconciled to your brother;then come and offer your gift.
So given this, am I right in assuming that you can not seek God's forgiveness before you seek the forgiveness of the ones you have sinned against?
2006-08-19 05:26:08 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, that is correct.
One cannot be in discord with his brothers and find favor with God.
But, Christians don't follow the rules, so, what do they care?
2006-08-19 05:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by Left the building 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are led to apologize, then do it.
If not then don't.
By the way all your sin was washed away at the cross.
Not just some of it.
You don't need to be on the works program.
Be careful of religious teaching.
You should, you ought, you gotta.
The Bible is written in a very special way.
You need the writer to point you to the correct interpretation. No writer, no correct interpretation.
You can read it like a manual. Step by step of what you do.
This won't work, you will get very upset trying to do it.
It goes against the human condition.
If you get on the works program, you are in for a serious oppression.
Ya people will say, it says so right here.
No way can you do it.
You will drive yourself crazy if you try.
I call the, "it says so right here" the religiosity crowd.
Been there and done that, not happy I had to go there either.
It did train me to know religiosity when I see it and when I hear it.
2006-08-19 12:45:55 · answer #2 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think what this is supposed to teach, is that the remembrance of misdeeds weighs heavily on the heart and mind, and therefore, how can you offer a gift of love and worship, when you are knowing that you are not clean? (This is a thought construct, not a reality. You are still worthy of offering your gift to God, but the mind will say it is not so. So who is doing the condemning, yourself, or your God?) And since the misdeeds are remembered there, you are thinking of that, and not your offering. It is supposed to show the people that you cannot offer if your heart is concerned with Earthly struggle. Now, upon return, after reconciliation with the one who has been remembered, your heart is no longer heavy, your mind is in the right place for offering. This really has nothing to do with forgiveness of God, it has everything to do with forgiveness of oneself through reconciliation. You cannot give an offering of love and worship if your mind isn't in the right thinking. I hope I have helped.
Blessed Be.
2006-08-19 12:42:26 · answer #3 · answered by Lauralanthalasa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The offer of animal sacrifices was pagan in origin. It comes from
the belief that our spirits fell from grace when they came to live in animals, and got trapped here by the forces which create this material world.
Man, through his vanity. Thought that by sacrificing animals,
that would somehow make up for this.
We create real spiritual energies. The original method was to
lay the hand on the head of the animal. While the priest invoked
words of power, to transfer our negative energies into the animal.
Then it was sacrificed. Sending the energies to heaven to be taken care of.
But this was done in vain in many cases. Just going through
the motions. And we actually polluted Heaven with all kinds
of nasty energies.
That is why God said make up to a friend, before we send our trash to God.
2006-08-19 12:37:26 · answer #4 · answered by Tegghiaio Aldobrandi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't take this word for word. It doesn't mean go door to door and ask forgiveness from every person you have sinned against. That would be ludicrous. It merely means you need to realize what you have done wrong and be sorry for each thing you have done wrong. Much of the bible like this is not literal. You don't need to go talk to someone and tell them you did wrong and ask forgiveness then go ask God. Just understand what you have done wrong and try to change. Bettering yourself and furthering yourself in the knowledge of your past is all the forgiveness you need. God will forgive you once you understand and are sorry for your past mistakes.
2006-08-19 12:34:17 · answer #5 · answered by computerqfl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True. Many people do not know that when a Catholic goes to confession their sins are not automatically forgiven with prayers for penance. If I have offended someone or broken the law I must confess to the person offended and/or the law and either make restitution or face the legal penalties for what I have done. Only then can my sins be absolved.
2006-08-19 14:08:54 · answer #6 · answered by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. whats funny is thatpeople who follow Paulisms do not ask others for forgiveness, and their kinda right, scriptures do show that God blesses those who only ask for his forgiveness. This may be the reason that Pauls theology is favored over that which Jesus teaches.
2006-08-19 12:41:02 · answer #7 · answered by Marcus R. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simply put, and you don't have to be religious to get THIS message - If you don't admit you did something wrong and apologize to the person - why in the heck would anyone give you the same respect? Do unto others as you want done unto you.
2006-08-19 12:34:37 · answer #8 · answered by arvecar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if you kill someone, it is OK after you say "sorry god". But given that, you don't go to heaven if you made the person you killed mad. Guess Jesus does not hold the power to forgive.
2006-08-19 12:33:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no ur not rite, god will 4give u whether u 4give da one who sinned against u or not 4 dat is part of his amazing grace. BUT he would rather u 4give da one who sinned u 1st. u see in da lord's prayer it sayz "4give our debts as we 4give our debters" meaning he will 4give us as we 4give others
2006-08-19 12:33:38 · answer #10 · answered by lizzy 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋