Do not let conflicts grow

The Lord Jesus Christ said:

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ (Matthew 5:21 NASB)

People don’t end up committing murder all at once. First there are certain words and deeds that provoke hatred and anger, and these lead to murder. Therefore, the Lord Jesus continued:

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. (Mat 5:22 NASB)

Mocking words and attitudes ruin our relationships with people and lead us to conflicts that will affect our lives on this earth and in eternity. The court was the supreme judgment of the Jews in the time of the Lord Jesus, and when he speaks of the fiery hell, the Savior refers to the punishment that will be after the great day of God’s Judgment.

If our relationship with people breaks down, we can no longer have a good relationship with God. That is why Jesus continues to teach us: 

Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 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. (Matthew 5:23-26 NASB)

Be a wise man, and when you see that a conflict with someone has begun to grow, do all you can to stop the conflict as Christ the Lord teaches us. Is there anyone who has something against you? Or maybe you have something against others? Go to them today to reconcile, or if the distance is too great, call them and resolve the conflict, which being left will not settle itself but will instead cause hatred to increase. 

Translated by Liza Bîrlădeanu