Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like apologizing is one thing people dread. Maybe it’s pride, stubbornness, or an infatuation with anger, but people struggle to say “I’m sorry.” It doesn’t take long to develop resistance to apologizing. I work with children periodically, and you usually have to mention punishment to encourage them to apologize. Even biblical characters struggled with apologizing. Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, thought committing suicide was better than apologizing to Jesus.
In today’s passage, however, Jesus reminds us of the importance of reconciling with those we have offended. He thought it was so important that He encouraged the listeners to interrupt their worship to make peace with others. Say what? Yes, we should leave the presence of God to settle our differences with others. And we shouldn’t wait for them to make the first move. Rather, we should take initiative and make peace quickly.
Our relationships with people are a reflection of our relationship with God. John said it like this, “… for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?” (1 John 4:20, New Living Translation). Therefore, whenever you have a disagreement with someone, be sure to make peace with him or her. Those who make peace are the children of God (see Matthew 5:9).