If I don’t make peace with someone, will this be judged on Judgment Day?
Question:
The passage that I’m concerned about is Matthew 5:25-26. Is this saying that if I don’t make peace with someone I have hurt, the situation will be judged in court on judgment day?
I am trying my best to clarify what this passage means for me. I know we are all saved by grace, and even on a realistic level, none of us can remember or contact every person we have ever hurt knowingly or unknowingly. No direct passage also says that we must track down every person and ask for their forgiveness, or we won’t be forgiven. Of course, we should strive to do our best to be at peace with everyone, but what about situations like mine, or that person who died or is inaccessible somehow? It scares me to think that this passage may say that my judgment depends on how I make things right. I am deeply remorseful for my actions and have repented and prayed that God would forgive me. I have confessed and reconciled with the one I hurt. I desire more than anything to leave my past behind me and to move forward. But when I read scripture like this, it causes me to be stuck in my guilt and re-examine my past to see if there is anything different I should do. I’m exhausted.
I fully trust that Jesus will save me and that my sins will be forgiven and covered in His blood. But passages like this scare me if I were being sincere.
Thanks for your time, and I look forward to your reply.
Answer:
There are more courts than the final Judgment, so it isn't reasonable to assume that a mention of judgment should reference Judgment Day unless the context indicates this.
"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there 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. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent" (Matthew 5:21-26).
Jesus' topic in this section is anger: anger you may have toward other people and anger that someone might have toward you. Regardless of who is angry with whom, it is a situation that cannot be ignored. The Jews focused on the outward expression of anger. They said that committing murder is wrong, but they ignored the anger that led to someone's murder.
Jesus' first point is that being angry with people is wrong. It is a problem in the world, but it is also something God will judge. Your anger could land you in hell, so you need to resolve your feelings now.
Jesus' second point is that if you know someone is angry with you, you should not act as if it is only their problem. He said that you cannot properly worship God if you are the cause of someone else's anger, so resolve the matter to the best of your ability.
His third point is that leaving anger to fester will cause it to grow. Settle matters quickly before it gets to the point that someone takes you to court. The sooner a matter is resolved, the less damage will be caused. The court here is human, not the divine court of Judgment Day.
Response:
Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply. I understand this passage much better now.
