Lexical Summary diallassó: To reconcile, to change thoroughly Original Word: διαλλάσσω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reconcile. From dia and allasso; to change thoroughly, i.e. (mentally) to conciliate -- reconcile. see GREEK dia see GREEK allasso HELPS Word-studies 1259 diallássō (from 1223 /diá, "thoroughly," intensifying 236 /allássō, "experience change") – properly, to reconcile (reach mutual concession), i.e. where people in conflict come together through meaningful change (used only in Mt 5:24). 1259 /diallássō ("be reconciled") ends needless hostility – an idea absent from 2644 /katallássō (so J. B. Lightfoot, Notes, 288). [1259 (diallássō) sometimes appears as 1259 (diallássō).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dia and allassó Definition change, exchange NASB Translation reconciled (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1259: διαλλάσσωδιαλλάσσω: 2 aorist passive διηλλαγην; (see διά, C. 6); 1. to change: τί ἀντί τίνος (cf. Winer's Grammar, 206 (194)). 2. to change the mind of anyone, to reconcile (so from (Aeschylus) Thucydides down): τινα τίνι. Passive to be reconciled, τίνι, to renew friendship with one: Matthew 5:24; (1 Samuel 29:4; 1 Esdr. 4:31). See Fritzsche's learned discussion of this word in his Commentary on Romans, vol. i., p. 276ff (in opposed to Tittmann's view that it implies mutual enmity; see καταλλάσσω, at the end); cf. Winer's De verb. comp. etc. Part v., pp. 7, 10; (Tholuck, Bergrede Christi, p. 171 (on Matthew 5:24)). Strong’s Greek 1259 (διαλλάσσομαι / διαλλάγηθι in Matthew 5:24) appears once in the Greek New Testament. Spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, it is placed inside an ethic that moves from outward compliance with the Law to inward righteousness of the heart. The imperative “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24) is delivered immediately after a warning that unresolved anger already incurs divine judgment. The setting is worship in the Temple: a believer has arrived with a sacrificial gift, yet God Himself halts the ritual until human relationships are set right. Reconciliation is thus portrayed as a divine priority that must precede even sacrificial worship. The Command in the Sermon on the Mount 1. Urgency: “First go” emphasizes immediacy. Worship is interrupted, highlighting that broken fellowship among believers is incompatible with sincere devotion to God. Old Testament Background While διαλλάσσομαι itself is rare in the Septuagint, the idea of fellow-Israelites making peace before presenting offerings resonates with: These passages collectively illuminate the principle that reconciliation is essential preparation for meeting God. Relationship to Other New Testament Terms Another reconciliation verb, καταλλάσσω (Strong’s 2644), describes God’s initiative toward humanity (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 1:20). By contrast, διαλλάσσομαι in Matthew 5 focuses on person-to-person restoration. The two ideas are complementary: vertical reconciliation with God produces and demands horizontal reconciliation among believers (Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 3:12-15). Theological Themes • Holiness and Community: The Lord sanctifies not only individuals but their relationships. Historical Reception in Church Teaching Early Church writings (Didache 14.2) echo Matthew 5:24, urging believers to “be reconciled with your neighbor” before the Eucharist. Patristic commentators such as Chrysostom highlighted the authority of this command over sacrificial acts. Reformation preaching recovered the unity of faith and practice by insisting on reconciled fellowship before Communion, a principle retained in many confessional statements and church discipline practices. Pastoral Applications 1. Communion Preparation: Churches often invite self-examination and reconciliation before the Lord’s Table (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Practical Ministry Implications • Forgiveness Culture: Communities shaped by Matthew 5:24 embody grace, attracting outsiders who “see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Devotional Reflection Matthew 5:24 confronts every believer with a searching question: Is there anyone I must seek out today? The altar may now be a communion table or a personal prayer time, yet the principle remains: “First go.” As the hymn says, “The smile on Thy reconciled face, Thy merciful words we obey.” Reconciled worshipers become reconciling agents, proclaiming in word and deed the gospel of peace. |
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