So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus highlights that the critical moment isn't just doing religious acts, but remembering your heart condition while doing them. He shows that even as you're about to offer a gift, a sudden realization of a grievance you've caused your brother demands immediate attention, pausing your devotion to seek reconciliation first. This isn't about a rule; it's about how deeply our relationships with others are tied to our relationship with God.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking within the context of His Sermon on the Mount, directly after defining murder not just as the act, but also as angry thoughts and hateful words. He emphasizes that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions and delves into the heart's disposition. Therefore, when approaching God's altar for worship, even the most sacred duty must be set aside if one remembers a grievance against a fellow believer, highlighting the priority of relational peace over ritual.
You're at the altar, gift in hand, ready to worship. But a sudden memory surfaces: your brother is wronged by you. What now?
Jesus doesn't mince words here. He's saying that our pursuit of reconciliation with others is so crucial, it can interrupt even the most sacred acts of worship.
The Interruption
Imagine being in the middle of offering a sacrifice – the highest form of worship in ancient Israel. It's a serious, intentional act. But if, in that moment, you remember a grievance your brother holds against you, Jesus says, 'Leave your gift there before the altar. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.'
Worship with a Clear Conscience
This isn't about making sacrifice or offering unimportant. It's about how we approach God. True worship, in God's eyes, requires a heart at peace, not just with Him, but with our fellow humans. If we've wronged someone and haven't made it right, our offerings are not only unacceptable, they're an abomination. God desires genuine love and right relationships more than ritual alone.
The memory hits: your brother has something against you. Do you file it away for later, or act now?
Jesus' command to 'go first be reconciled' is an urgent call to action. It's not a passive waiting game.
The Urgency
Ask a follow-up
The phrase 'leave your gift there' emphasizes the immediate need. You don't just intend to reconcile later; you stop your current activity and pursue it. The context suggests that the memory of the grievance arises during the worship preparation, implying that any delay is problematic.
Active Steps
Being reconciled isn't just about having a peaceful feeling. It involves active steps. As the commentators suggest, this could mean confessing a wrong, making restitution, explaining misunderstandings, or doing whatever is necessary to mend the relationship. It’s about taking initiative, especially when you are the one at fault.
Understand the original words
dōron · Greek Noun
An offering or sacrifice brought to God as an act of worship, gratitude, or atonement within the sacrificial system.
thysiastērion · Greek Noun
A structure designated for sacrifice and worship, serving as the meeting point between a holy God and humanity.
Jesus' teaching here, while spoken during the era of Temple sacrifice, challenges the very heart of worship. He emphasizes that true devotion isn't just about rituals, but about right relationships with others. The early church grappled with how Jewish law and Christian freedom interacted, but the core principle Jesus taught—that reconciliation with others is a prerequisite for acceptable worship—remained central.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches Sermon on the Mount
Jesus delivers a foundational teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven, including a radical interpretation of the Law, to his disciples and a large crowd in Galilee.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Institutes Lord's Supper
During the Last Supper, Jesus shares a meal with his disciples, establishing a new covenant and ordaining a ritual meal to remember his sacrifice.
c. 33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, and Christians believe he is resurrected three days later, marking the central event of their faith and the establishment of the New Covenant.
c. 48-50 AD
Council of Jerusalem
The early Church leaders convene to address questions about the inclusion of Gentiles and the necessity of adhering to Jewish law, affirming that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not ritual observance.
c. 60-62 AD
Paul writes to the Romans
The Apostle Paul, while imprisoned, writes his letter to the church in Rome, further expounding on themes of justification by faith, the nature of sin, and holy living.
This passage echoes Jesus' point, stating that obedience and right relationship with God are more valued than outward sacrifice, highlighting the priority of internal disposition over ritual action.
Micah 6:6-8These verses powerfully emphasize that God desires justice and mercy, and a humble walk with Him, over burnt offerings, underscoring that our actions towards others are intrinsically linked to our worship.
Luke 12:58-59This parallel passage from Luke uses the imagery of an adversary and a judge to urge swift reconciliation, reinforcing the urgency of settling disputes before facing divine judgment.
Romans 12:18This verse directly advises believers to 'live peaceably with all' as much as possible, aligning with Jesus' command to actively seek reconciliation before approaching God.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29The Apostle Paul warns against partaking in the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, specifically mentioning a lack of discernment about one's own spiritual state, which resonates with Jesus' call to examine oneself before offering a gift.
bensonMatthew 5:23: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;"
Matthew 5:23 . Therefore, &c. — “Because men are very apt to fall into rash anger, and to express their anger by contemptuous speeches and abusive names, fancying that there is no sin in these things, or but little, and that the compensation may easily be made for them by acts of devotion, Jesus declares that atonement is not to be made for these offences by any offerin…
calvinMatthew 5:23-26: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;"
- Therefore, if thou shalt bring thy gift to the altar, and there shalt remember that thy brother hath anything against thee, 24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go away: first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer [400] thy gift. 25. Be agreed with thy adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him: lest at any time the adversary…
Jesus highlights that the critical moment isn't just doing religious acts, but remembering your heart condition while doing them. He shows that even as you're about to offer a gift, a sudden realization of a grievance you've caused your brother demands immediate attention, pausing your devotion to seek reconciliation first. This isn't about a rule; it's about how deeply our relationships with others are tied to our relationship with God.
Jesus is speaking within the context of His Sermon on the Mount, directly after defining murder not just as the act, but also as angry thoughts and hateful words. He emphasizes that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions and delves into the heart's disposition. Therefore, when approaching God's altar for worship, even the most sacred duty must be set aside if one remembers a grievance against a fellow believer, highlighting the priority of relational peace over ritual.
Jesus is speaking within the context of His Sermon on the Mount, directly after defining murder not just as the act, but also as angry thoughts and hateful words. He emphasizes that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions and delves into the heart's disposition. Therefore, when approaching God's altar for worship, even the most sacred duty must be set aside if one remembers a grievance against a fellow believer, highlighting the priority of relational peace over ritual.
"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you," — Jesus highlights that the critical moment isn't just doing religious acts, but remembering your heart condition while doing them. He shows that even as you're about to offer a gift, a sudden realiz…
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Last reviewed October 2026