Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-26 | Sabbath: March 1, 2025
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:25
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 3:30
Proverbs 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Introduction: Are forgiveness and reconciliation the same thing? Who forgives? Who reconciles? How?

1. What did one of Jesus’s disciples ask him to teach them? Luke 11:1.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
2. Since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, when we approach God in prayer, what must we ask Him? v 4a.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
3. Under what condition will God grant us the forgiveness we ask Him? Matthew 6:14, 15.
Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
4. How did Christ elsewhere repeat the principles of forgiveness? Mark 11:25, 26.
Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Note: This scripture means, if you have a valid complaint against someone else, forgive them. In our prayers, we must forgive those who have wronged us, and God will forgive us our own sins. Nowhere does the text or any other text tell us to go to the one who has wronged us and say, “I forgive you” and then go and pray to God.
5. What did Christ say can prevent anyone from entering God’s kingdom? Matthew 5:20.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
6. Were the scribes and Pharisees indeed righteous or did they only appear righteous? Matthew 23:28.
Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
7. In the days of Christ, animal sacrifices were still being performed. What did He teach the multitude about making reconciliation with those whom they had wronged? Matthew 5:23, 24.
Matthew 23:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Matthew 23:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Note: “thy brother hath ought against thee” means that your brother has a just complaint against you. In other words, he has been wronged by you. Notice that the reconciliation is initiated by the one who is at fault.
8. Why did he tell the multitude to make reconciliation before offering their sacrifices (gifts)? v 25, 26.
Matthew 23:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Matthew 23:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Note: Animal sacrifices are no more (Hebrews 10:1-4), but the principles of Matthew 5:23, 24 still apply. When we are at fault in a matter, it is up to us to approach the person we have wronged to make a reconciliation.
Conclusion: In our prayers, we forgive those who have offended us. Speaking to our neighbor that we have offended, we reconcile ourselves to them, or suffer the consequences.