Relationships and the Three Rs

Image by Luisella Planeta Leoni from Pixabay

Something I've learned from studying the O.T. is that there were all kinds of offerings the Hebrews made in the Tabernacle (and later the more permanent Temple).  As Christians, we have been taught very little about them, because we are taught that Jesus has fulfilled all of those, as our once-for-all, perfect sacrifice. (See Hebrews 1:3-4 and Hebrews 10). And, that is true!

However, I don't believe this truth means we can learn nothing instructive from that sacrificial system described in Leviticus. 

For example, the Hebrews made a distinction between sinning against God and sinning against one's fellow man.  Of course, all sin is sin; any sin separates us from our holy God.  But, there were two distinct sin offerings for these two types of sin.  The offering for a sin against God was called the hataat, the sin offering; this offering made restitution with God.  The other was called the asham, the guilt offering, and the focus there was on restoring the relationship between other humans, before God.  It was understood that God would not forgive sins against Him while the sinner held back from making right sins against his fellow humans.

Did you ever wonder why, in Matthew 5:23-24 (TLV), Jesus said the following?

23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Jesus, our observant Jewish Messiah, made it clear that just going through the motions, purchasing and offering something on the altar, was meaningless unless the

Repentance 

Restitution and the 

Reconciliation 

were occurring in hearts, along with the outward act of making an altar sacrifice.
(There are your three Rs!)

So, Teshuvah, the season of self-examination and repentance, has a strong emphasis of, not only confessing and repenting of personal, private sins, but also and especially of those against our fellow humans.  "Go and be reconciled to your brother..."  It's easier said than done, isn't it?

I find it interesting that Jesus did not say, "and there remember that you have something against your brother".  It's easy to remember and perseverate on wrongs that have been done to us, but isn't Jesus referring to those wrongs, slights or misunderstandings that others have against us?  Those take some real soul-searching, because they are easier to rationalize away, or to dismiss.  "I didn't do anything wrong; he's just making a big deal out of nothing".... Yet, in the heart of the believer, the Holy Spirit unfailingly convicts.  Is He laying a person or a situation from the past on your heart today?

Tomorrow is the 18th anniversary of what I call "the Pearl Harbor of our time" - - 9/11 - - the September 11th attack on our American homeland.  On that day, over 3000 people died.  Most of them did not have a chance to call their loved ones and say "good-bye"; due to modern cell phone technology, some did.  If there were chasms or breaches in relationships, most were unresolved after that tragic day.  The point is, once "your brother" is gone, there is no chance to "make asham", to make things right.  Regret, and usually sorrow, are the only things remaining.  None of us knows what tomorrow may bring (Proverbs 27:1).

Soft hearts - - that is what our Lord God desires of us at all times, but especially during this season of examination and repentance.