Jesus looks on the heart
If we come before Him with an unclean heart,
He is wanting us to make things right
His blood was shed for us, yes,
to cleanse us from sin,
yet, He tells us:
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,
and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the altar,
and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother,
and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24
It seems if someone has ought against you,
how are you to blame? That’s their heart problem, not yours, right?
While that may be true, Jesus wants us to extend His love,
to do our best to rectify the situation.
Jesus knows whether or not we have done our best to make a situation right,
to extend forgiveness and love to that person.
We cannot be responsible for the condition of others’ hearts,
but we can allow the Lord to work in the situation
and do the best we can to allow reconciliation.
Clean hands and a pure heart.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?
or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,
nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the Lord,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:3-5
Think of where Peter reminds husbands:
treat your wives with honor so that your prayers are not hindered:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge,
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life;
that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7
There are no good excuses we can give Jesus
for being at ought with another.
He tells us to love and forgive our fellow humans:
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21
We should consider how He exhorts us to pray
for those who abuse us and persecute us when we have done no wrong
But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44
So leave your gift at the altar, be reconciled to your brother
and then offer your gift to Him
With clean hands and pure heart, He will hear you