No commuting with God
And whereas people naturally imagine that God will excuse their failure in some duties because of their exactness in others, our Lord next takes care to cut off that vain, though common, imagination. He shows that it is impossible for any sinner to bargain with God, who will not accept one duty in place of another, or take a part of obedience for the whole. He warns us that doing our duty to God will not excuse us from our duty to our neighbor, that works of piety, as they are called, will be so far from commending us to God if we are lacking in love, that on the contrary that lack of love will make all those works an abomination to the Lord.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, because of your unkind behavior toward him, because of your calling him Raca, or You fool, do not think that your gift will atone for your anger, or that it will find any acceptance with God, so long as your conscience is stained with the guilt of unrepented sin. Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, or at least do all that lies in you toward being reconciled, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23. Matthew 5:24.
1771 text
10. And whereas men naturally imagine, that God will excuse their defect in some duties, for their exactness in others, our Lord next takes care to cut off that vain, though common imagination. He shews, That it is impossible for any sinner to commute with God: who will not accept one duty for another, nor take a part of obedience for the whole. He warns us, That the performing our duty to God, will not excuse us from our duty to our neighbour: that works of piety, as they are called, will be so far from commending us to God, if we are wanting in charity, that on the contrary, that want of charity will make all those works an abomination to the Lord.
Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee, on account of thy unkind behaviour toward him, of thy calling him, Raca, or Thou fool; think not that thy gift will atone for thy anger; or that it will find any acceptance with God, so long as thy conscience is defiled with the guilt of unrepented sin. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, (at least, do all that in thee lies toward being reconciled) and then come and offer thy gift, ver. 23, 24.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 22 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:5-7.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.