Daily Bible Verse - 12/9/2007 - Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

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.

Matthew 5:23-24

Commentary
If a person offends another, whether by anger or any other cause, there is no use in his bringing a gift to God. The Lord will not be pleased with it. The offender should first go and make the wrong right. Only then will the gift be acceptable.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Mt 5:23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
Bringing a gift to the temple altar was a special form of Old Testament prayer: thanksgiving. The worshiper who wanted to express his or her thanks could bring an animal sacrifice. Even the poor could express thanks to God by bringing two doves, which cost only a penny. But in Matthew 5, Jesus tells His listeners that, if a person who comes to thank God is aware that a brother "has something against you," something more important than prayer has priority!

Richards, L. (1998). Every prayer in the Bible. Includes indexes. (171). Nashville: T. Nelson.

Daily Bible Verse - 12/8/2007 - Genesis 4:9

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:9

Commentary
Cain's evil attitude of jealous rage was soon translated into evil action, the murder of his brother. Though Abel is dead, he still witnesses to us that the life of faith is the life that counts (Heb. 11:4). When the Lord's loving question was met by an unrepentant, insolent reply, He pronounced Cain's judgment-he would no longer be able to make a living from the soil, but would wander as a fugitive in the desert.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ge 4:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"Am I my brother's keeper?"
Cain's sarcasm was a play on words, based on the fact that Abel was the "keeper" of sheep.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ge 4:9). Nashville: Word Pub.