Reconciliation

Matthew 5:23-24 says that, “If, when you are bringing your gift to the altar, you suddenly remember that your brother has a grievance against you, leave your gift where it is before the altar. First go and make your peace with your brother, and only then come back and offer your gift” (NEB).
“As a general principle, God requires us, so far as it is in our power, to live at all times in a right relationship with our fellow men (see Romans 12:18). Therefore, so long as we tolerate wrong relationships, which it is in our power to avoid or to heal, our lives are not fully pleasing to God. Specifically, when we bring our gift to God’s altar, we are asking for His acceptance and approval. Therefore, it is at this point that God raises the issue of any wrong relationships and requires us to take the appropriate action, before He sets His seal of approval upon our gift. This is a clear in the case of Cain and Abel. It was when they presented their gifts to God, that God bestowed His approval upon Abel and withheld His approval from Cain. This in turn brought out into the open Cain’s wrong attitude toward Abel (see Genesis 4:2-15; Hebrews 11:4).” ~~ Derek Prince