“BE RECONCILED.” GEN. 50:15-21; MATT. 5:23-24; C0L. 3: 12-15.
GENESIS 50:15-18, 19-21; MATTHEW 5: 23-24; COLOSSIANS 3: 12-15.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO GENESIS 50.
This fourth lesson titled “Be Reconciled,” deals with Joseph forgiving his brothers, then Jesus’ teachings about seeking reconciliation with someone who has something against you, and closes with the words of Paul about forgiving as the Lord forgave.
Remember that the “Study Theme Life Impact” of this four lessons series is designed to help us be godly peacemakers and help us resolve personal conflicts according to biblical principles.
Many adults never try to be reconciled to people with whom they have had a conflict. Others have an inadequate understanding of reconciliation. They claim to have forgiven someone, but they continue to thing about the conflict and to tell others about it.
They also may allow the conflict to continue and refuse to have fellow ship with the other person. Because they belong to Jesus Christ, believers should seek to be reconciled to those with whom they have been in conflict. Forgiveness and reconciliation should go together. The purpose of forgiveness is to remove the barrier between people so they can relate to each other in love.
In his book the peacemaker, Ken Sande listed some biblical steps for overcoming unforgiveness. One step is to confirm repentance. Evaluate your own claim to have forgiven others, and evaluate the claims of those who say they have forgiven you.
Step 2 is to renounce sinful attitudes and expectations. When someone confesses sin and repents, give the person the benefit of the doubt. Step 3 is to assess your contributions to the conflict situation. To what degree are you guilty? Step 4 is to recognize that God is working for good. He is merciful, forgiving, and good
Step 5 is to remember God’s forgiveness. We are to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. Step
6 is to draw on God’s strength. If you try to forgive on your own, you will be frustrated. If you draw on God’s grace, He will help your to forgive completely.
1.PLEASE READ GENESIS 50: 15-18.
After Jacob died, Joseph, his brothers, and many Egyptians went to Canaan, where they buried Jacob. Joseph’s older brothers were afraid that Joseph had been waiting for Jacob to die before getting even with them for their sins against him. They suspected that Joseph had treated them well for the sake of their father, and now he would unleash his pent-up wrath on them. They were judging Joseph by their own standard of revenge. Therefore, they sent a note from Goshen to Memphis to Joseph, possibly by Benjamin, in which they said what Jacob had said to tell Joseph.
This is the only record of this message. Some are suspicious that Jacob never told them to do this. The brothers’ earlier record of lies raises this suspicion. In either case, it reinforced their plea for forgiveness.
Both the note and the plea used words that showed the sins the brothers committed against Joseph. The note used trespass…sin…evil. The brothers’ plea used the word trespass. Trespass or “transgression” shows the brothers were aware of how evil their actions had been against Joseph. They had stripped him of his coat, debated killing him, and finally sold him as a slave into Egypt. Humanly speaking, Joseph had every reason to get even with them. But he had not only survived, he had prospered in Egypt. Joseph was not eaten up with a desire to get revenge.
Then, after years, his brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. The brothers did not recognize Joseph, and he put them through some severe tests to see if they had changed. When he discovered that they had changed, he revealed himself to them, and eventually they came and settled in Egypt.
Now the death of Jacob caused hem to remember what they had done to Joseph, and they came to ask him to forgive their transgressions against him. The word forgive, means “to lift up and away.” The picture in the word is the forgiving person lifting up the sin of another to take it away.
Several points can be made about the actions of the brothers. For one thing, it shows they had not been reconciled to Joseph. Forgiveness, the removal as sin as a barrier to relationship, is intended to lead to reconciliation, the new or restored relationship.
Another point is that they came to seek the forgiveness they though they had missed. They confessed their evil actions against Joseph and asked for forgiveness. In this they show the depth of their humility, the sincerity of their repentance, and the genuiness of their religion.
If the note really came from Jacob, it shows that he was trying to see his sons in good fellowship. He was a peacemaker and reconciler.
The Bible says the brothers fell down before Joseph’s face. This showed their respect and their fear that he had nursed a grudge against them, they said, “We be thy servants or slaves.”
2. PLEASE READ GENESIS 50: 19-21.
Joseph recognized that his captivity had been part of God’s gracious plan to save the covenant family of Jacob; it was not Joseph’s place to question God’s wisdom. Joseph had been compensated for the wrongs done to him by the good he had been the means of doing.
In vs. 20 Joseph makes a classic statement of God’s sovereign overruling of human history to accomplish His gracious purposes to save many people alive in Egypt, Canaan, and elsewhere.
Each sentence of his threefold reply is a pinnacle of O.T. and N.T. faith. To leave the righting of one’s wrongs to God: to see His providence in Man’s malice and to repay evil not only with forgiveness but also with practical affection, are attitudes which anticipate the adjective ‘Christian’ and even ‘Christ like.’
Let us look at each of these principles. Joseph told them not to be afraid. He asked, “Am I in the place of God?” This was one way of saying that he did not seek revenge, for that is the work of God. Paul wrote in Rom. 12: 17-19, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.”
Friends, do not avenge yourselves: instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written in Rom. 12: 17-19, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
During the years in Egypt when he remembered what his brothers did, Joseph left the matter in God’s hands.
Vs. 20 is a clear statement of the providence of God. When Joseph first made himself know to his brothers, he told them that their purpose in selling him was evil but God used their evil action to bring good. Joseph elaborated on this in Gen. 50: 20. They intended to do him harm, but God intended it for good. What was the good that God brought out of their evil actions? It was that He used Joseph to help many people------including his own family to survive the famine.
Joseph had foreseen the famine in Pharaoh’s dream, he proposed a process for enduring the famine, and he administered the process in Ch. 41. Rom. 8: 28 is a key N.T. text on God’s providence: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This does not minimize the evil for the brothers’ actions toward Joseph, but it does mean that God is at work to bring good results from bad experiences.
Vs. 21 describes Joseph’s words of reassurance to his brothers. For the second time in vs. 19-21 Joseph told them to fear not. He promised to nourish them and their children. Then he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them:
Vs. 21 teaches the principle of giving good back for evil. The worst people repay goodness with evil. Most people give back good for good and evil for evil. The Bible calls us to do good even to those who do us wrong. This was what Joseph did, and it is one of the features of his life that reflects Jesus, who taught in Luke 6:27-28, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Joseph is one of the best people in the Bible. He is an example of the right way to resolve conflict by forgiveness and reconciliation. His brothers did him great harm, but he held no grudges. Instead, he set aside what they had done so he could have a right relationship with those who hurt him. Joseph is a living example of the only way to forgive others. He absorbed the hurt and pain inflicted on him by his brothers.
So the lasting truths in Gen. 50: 15-21 are, forgiveness is intended to lead to reconciliation. It is possible if the forgiving person absorbs the hurt without striking back. We are to leave any and all vengeance to God. God can bring good out of evil. So as believers, we are to give back good for evil to please God and produce reconciliation.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO MATTHEW 5.
3. PLEASE READ MATTHEW 5: 23-24.
This section of the teaching of Jesus is one of the most important in the whole N.T. In it Jesus speaks with an authority, which no other man had ever dreamed of assuming. The authority which Jesus assumed, always amazed those who came into contact with Him.
Mark 1: 22 points out that right at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, after He had been teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, it is said of His hearers: ”They were astonished at His teaching: for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the Scribes.”
Matthew concluded his account of the Sermon on the Mount in Matt 7: 28-19 with the words: “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching for He taught them as one who had authority and not as the Scribes.”
But startling as was Jesus’ accent of authority, the standard which He put before them was more startling.
In vs. 21-48 of Matt. 5 Jesus gave a positive interpretation of the Law of Moses. He exalted the prohibitions of the Law by demanding a positive spiritual obedience motivated by love in the hidden chambers of the heart. Love in the heart is the only true guide.
A father and his son waged a perpetual war of words. One night both of them spoke more angry and abusive words than ever before. The son stormed out of the house and drove away in his car. At the time neither knew those were their last words. The son died that night in an accident.
This story illustrates two lessons from Matt. 5:21-26. One is the folly of uncontrolled anger; the other is the urgency of reconciliation. This is the first of six ways that Jesus’ righteousness was superior to that of the Pharisees.
Jesus reminded the disciples of the Sixth Commandment, but He warned that the commandment was broader than murder. In vs. 22 He warned against uncontrolled anger and abusive speech. Then He gave two examples of applications: one to a brother in vs. 23-24 and the other to an adversary in vs. 25-26. This lesson focuses on vs. 23-24.
Reconciliation between brothers must be accomplished whether the “innocent” or the “offending” brother takes the first step.
The law forbade murder. Jesus shows that unreasonable anger is, in itself, a violation of the spirit of the commandment. “Thou shalt not kill.”
To profess to be a worshiper of God while willfully wronging another or cherishing malice in the heart is obnoxious to God. Let him who comes to His altar with a gift first seek out the brother he has wronged and then draw near to sacrifice.
Nor should one permit as spirit of antagonism toward another to continue if it is within his power to come to agreement; for sin never dies of old age, but become worse as time goes on.
Many a one has suffered severely because of what might easily have been cleared up if he had given heed to these words.
If any sacrifice was to be valid, confession and restoration were involved. The picture, which Jesus is painting, is very vivid. The worshipper, of course, did not make his own sacrifice: he brought it to the priest who offered it on his behalf.
The worshipper has entered the Temple; he has passed through its series of courts, the Court of the Gentiles, the Court of the Women, The Court of the men. Beyond that there lay the Court of the Priests into which the layman could not go.
The worshipper is standing at the rail, ready to hand over his victim to the priest; his hands are on it to confess; and then he remembers his breach with his brother, the wrong done to his brother; if his sacrifice is to avail, he must go back and mend that breach and undo that wrong, or nothing can happen.
Jesus is quite clear about this basic fact---we cannot be right with God until we are right with men; we cannot hope for forgiveness until we have confessed our sin, not only to God, but also to men, and until we have done our best to remove the practical consequences of it.
We sometimes wonder why there is a barrier between us, and God; we sometimes wonder why our prayers seem unavailing. The reason may well be that we ourselves have erected that barrier, through being at variance with our fellow-men, or because we have wronged some one and have done nothing to put things right.
Jesus told of a believer at worship. He was in the process of bringing his gift to the altar. As he did, he remembers his brother had “something against” him. This is a different situation than in Matt. 18: 15, in which a brother has sinned against you.
In this case, the brother’s anger with you is over “something” he has “against you.” You see his complaint----as small and unimportant. Therefore, up to this point, you have ignored the issue.
How serious was the offense? Whose fault was it? To the accused one, it has seemed small and unimportant: but it may seem large and important to the other person.
It may even have been the fault of the would-be worshiper with his gift before the altar. He should respect the feelings of the other person. If either one breaks fellowship, the issue is large and important. This new insight came to the person at the altar.
The hard feelings could only get worse if nothing was done to be reconciled. The hard feelings could even lead to the explosions described in vs. 22. Under this conviction, Jesus told this person, “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way: first be reconciled to thy brother.” This shows the urgency and priority of reconciliation. We cannot really worship God if such a rift in fellowship is allowed to fester and grow.
Jesus did not in this passage give instruction about how to do this, but He provided guidance in other passages. Taking the initiative is necessary. Confessing our own sins and asking forgiveness are involved. You have no promise of success, but there is no excuse for not trying. Reconciliation is your goal if at all possible.
Ken Sande told this personal illustration: “I recall one Sunday when I visited a small ranching community and preached a message on Matt. 5:21-24. After church a friend took me out to lunch. Part way through our meal, a man I had seen church that morning walked into the restaurant. Seeing me, he came over to our table, smiling with delight.
“I have to tell you what happened,” he said. “Your sermon really shook me up, because I’ve got a neighbor who hasn’t talked to me for two years. We had an argument about where to run the fence.
When I wouldn’t move it to where he thought it should be, he just turned his back on me and stomped away. Since I thought I was in the right, I’ve always figured it was up to him to make the first move at being friends again. This morning I saw that the Lord wants me to be the one to seek reconciliation, so right after church I drove over to his house to talk with him. I told him I was sorry for being so stubborn two years ago and that I wanted to be friends again. He just fell over. He said he felt bad all along for stomping away that day, but he didn’t know how to come talk with me. Man, was he glad I came to talk with him.”
The Bible shows that sin separates the sinner from God and others. Reconciliation is the restoration of a good relation with God and with others. Thus in order to truly worship God, both relations are involved.
It is like a two way street. Both worship and reconciliation with others are important. We cannot worship God if we are alienated from others----whoever is at fault. Therefore if a fellow Christian has a complaint against you, being reconciled is important. After two alienated believers are reconciled, worship is possible. After being reconciled, then come and offer thy gift.
PLEASE TURN IN YOUR BIBLE TO COLOSSIANS 3.
4. PLEASE READ COLOSSIANS 3: 12-15.
The Colossian church was facing false teachings. One result of this heresy was that it undercut the biblical view of Jesus Christ, and another related result was that it undercut the qualities of Christians living. Thus Paul exalted Jesus Christ and emphasized the newness of life in Christ.
In Ch. 3 Paul used the analogy of taking off dirty clothes and putting on clean clothes. Among the sins to put off were some that deal with distorted human relations: anger, wrath, malice, slander and lying.
Vs. 12 lists some qualities that are the opposites of the sins: bowels of mercies or heartfelt compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind or humility, meekness or gentleness, and long-suffering or patience. These should be practiced by Christians, in all human relations, but the church should be a model of these qualities.
Vs. 13 is a key verse in this lesson. It deals with situations “if any-one has a complaint against another.” This would include both sides in a disagreement. It applies if you have a complaint against a fellow believer or if your fellow believer has a complaint against you. Paul admonished church people to practice forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.
Forbearing means “endure,” “bear with,” or “put up with someone or something.” When it applies to someone, forbearance is being able to remain in relationship with someone or someones. This is not because either person is perfect but because both have learned to ignore the small faults and idiosyncrasies of the other.
This quality is necessary in any close human relationship. We all have faults that are most familiar to those close to us. This applies especially to marriage. Some newlyweds have an idealized view of their spouse, but in time the reality of his or her faults becomes all too evident. Someone has said that on the honeymoon, each says to the other, “Darling, you are perfect.” Years later, they begin many conversations with these words, “The trouble with you is…” In other words, forbearance involves maintaining a relationship in spite of recognizing differences. This is a crucial quality for a church, where we meet people who are not perfect, and some say and do things that annoy us.
Forgiving deals with sins that have hurt others in ways that strain or break relationships. We sinful humans at times hurt others in ways that are serious enough to cause alienation and to call for the alienating factor to be dealt with before reconciliation.
In a marriage, forbearance deals with bearable faults but forgiveness is necessary for serious hurts inflicted by one on the other. In vs. 13 the Greek word forgiving comes from the word for grace. The usual word for forgive means “to take away sins.” One word focuses on what forgiveness does---takes away sin; the other word focuses on the motivation and spirit of forgiveness---grace.
Consistent with this word, Paul said the forgiveness should be ”just as the Lord has forgiven you.” Jesus the One who forgives us is also our model for forgiving others. How does Jesus forgive? He took the initiative in offering forgiveness. He forgave at the cost of His life.
Forgiveness hurts, and forgiveness must absorb that hurt. Jesus paid the price and absorbed the hurt of our sin at Calvary. Jesus forgives full and completely. When we are deeply hurt, being forgiving is not condoning the hurt. In order to forgive, you must suffer the hurt and be willing to be reconciled with the one who hurt you.
Ken Sande suggested four helpful promises we need to make in any decision to forgive. “I will not dwell on this incident.” “I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.” “I will not talk to others about this incident.” “ I will not let this incident stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.”
Vs. 14 says that the new life is to be predominantly expressed in agape love (charity). Christ loved us and we are to love one another. This is the foundation for the peace of God ruling in our hearts.
The qualities Paul named in these verses are absolutely essential for the kind of harmony that should prevail among believers. Gratitude or thankfulness will also mark the lives of those who know the Lord and love one another.
THE LESSONS FOR JUNE ARE WRITTEN BY DR. FRED WOOD, WHO PASTORED THE ENDORA BAPTIST CHURCH, MEMPHIS, TENN. FOR 31 YEARS. OUR STUDY THEME FOR JUNE IS “PUTTING PASSION IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.” OUR JUNE 3 LESSON IS “ADMIT YOUR STRUGGLE WITH SIN,” AND IS TAKEN FROM DEUT. 1
A.V. DAUGHERTY altav@swbell.net http://www.theweeks.org/av/