What does “first be reconciled to your brother” mean (Matthew 5:24)?

In Matthew 5:23–24, Jesus stresses the importance of right relations with others: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (ESV). Jesus spoke these words during His Sermon on the Mount. Offering a gift to God is good, but there is a higher priority: “First be reconciled to your brother.”

Jesus addresses the problem of anger in Matthew 5:21–26. First, Jesus cites the commandment not to murder (Matthew 5:21; cf. Exodus 20:13). He then explains that the root of murder is unresolved anger: “I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:22, ESV). This higher standard reveals that righteousness is a matter of the heart, not simply behavior. We can commit sin in our thoughts and attitudes, as well as in our words and actions. In this context, Jesus tells us to be reconciled with our brother before worship.

Jesus presents a dramatic example in Matthew 5:23–24. You come to offer a gift at the altar of God, but you remember that your brother has something against you. At that point, it would be easy to continue offering the gift—why interrupt the act of worship? But Jesus says an interruption is called for. You should leave the gift at the altar and “first be reconciled to your brother” (NKJV). Only then should you return to offer your gift to God. Reconciliation with people is connected to reconciliation with God (see Matthew 6:15).

Rituals do not precede relationships, especially when believers are at odds. This was a revolutionary idea in Jesus’ time—and it still is. Jesus’ audience believed sacrifices to God were the most important aspect of worship, and today most people consider external acts of piety to be proof of one’s nearness to God. However, Jesus taught that broken interpersonal relationships prevent people from fully communing with God.

The command to “first be reconciled to your brother” sets a standard: do all you can to settle interpersonal conflict before worship. First emphasizes that conflict should not be overlooked or dismissed. The Greek verb translated “be reconciled” is in the aorist imperative, which means that reconciliation should be pursued immediately and without delay. Reconciliation is the restoration of peace. Reconciliation makes things right.

Interestingly, Jesus does not say, “If you have something against your brother”; rather, He says, “If your brother has something against you.” The onus of reconciliation is upon the worshiper. Reconciliation is not about who is to blame but about the necessity of peace. The apostle Paul writes, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18, ESV). Pursuing reconciliation and peace with our brother is a matter of obedience to God.

This principle aligns with broader biblical teachings on priorities in worship. In Isaiah 1:11–15, God rejects Israel’s sacrifices because of their sinfulness: “Though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15, ESV). The prophet Amos also expressed God’s disfavor with His people’s worship rituals: “Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them” (Amos 5:22). What did God want instead of their sacrifices? “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24; cf. Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13).

Likewise, in 1 John 4:20, the apostle writes, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (ESV). A proper relationship with God cannot be divorced from an appropriate relationship with others.

Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 5:18, Paul declares, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (ESV). If God sought peace with sinners through Christ, how can believers not pursue peace with one another?

Believers should examine their relationships before approaching God in worship. Does a brother or sister have something against us, or do we have something against him or her? If there is an issue, we must attempt to make it right. We must strive to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). In doing so, we demonstrate our love for God and one another.