Matthew 5:25,26
“Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans.”
I’ve heard some use this passage as a proof text for purgatory. No. Scripture doesn’t support it. Jesus is giving a reason for making things right with one’s brother in Christ. There are several reasons, this is one. If we have a good conscience and have no issues, then we’ve got nothing to worry about. That is a good place to be. It limits our worries.
Another reason to make things right is that it clears up any issues we have with God. He still loves us it’s just that there is baggage that needs attending to. He’ll wait.
I get bothered by my conscience until this is resolved. My conscience was merciless in my days as a young christian. At times it could be God, but not always, I John 3:20 says, “Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. This passage is making a difference between God and our conscience. This verse was a comfort to me in my early days.
Condemnation of one’s conscience is a big tool of the evil one. I Timothy 3:6 says, “and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into condemnation incurred by the devil.” He has ruined many of my days with this weapon. I would say 70% of the things that condemned me weren’t issues with God. I didn’t understand His love and grace. I also didn’t understand my freedom in Christ.
Some blame it on particular churches that heap guilt on people. I wouldn’t argue with that. I was raised in one. It gave me a foundation of condemnation.
Back to our topic of making things right with others. It’s a great idea. It keeps our channel with the Lord open and uncluttered, it also is good for our relationships.
Another benefit that was touched on some was eliminating worry. When we worry we aren’t demonstrating faith. If we believed we wouldn’t worry. Jesus says in Matthew 6:26,27, “Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span?” He cares about the birds and all creatures. He makes clear in this passage that we are far more valuable than they. That’s cool. He loves us so. We get in Him much that we’ve craved for all our lives. That attention, the focus and care. He loves us. We should trust that He’s got us.
Lord, thank You for this advice. Help us to follow it and keep short accounts with others. Help us to keep our relationship with You open.