Why is it important to give "as an offering for the altar"? Verse Under Study “So 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. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24) Why the Altar Matters • The altar is the meeting point between holy God and sinful people (Exodus 29:42). • Blood was shed there for atonement; today Christ’s cross fulfills that role (Hebrews 13:10-12). • Giving at the altar therefore becomes a tangible response to God’s saving work. Reasons Giving Is Important • Obedience: God simply commands it (Deuteronomy 16:16-17). • Gratitude: Offerings declare, “Everything I have came from You” (1 Chronicles 29:14). • Fellowship: Sharing in the altar unites worshipers under the same covenant (1 Corinthians 10:18). • Sanctity: A heart willing to give is one that stays sensitive to sin and quick to reconcile, as Jesus teaches in the verse above. • Provision: Offerings support gospel ministry today just as they sustained priests then (1 Corinthians 9:13-14). The Heart Behind the Gift • Give willingly, never grudgingly (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Give the first and the best, not leftovers (Proverbs 3:9). • Give in love, because love fulfills the law (Romans 13:10). What Happens When We Give • Worship deepens: our treasure follows our heart, and our heart follows our treasure (Matthew 6:21). • Needs are met: God’s house has “food” for ministry (Malachi 3:10). • Faith grows: sowing generously sets us up to reap God’s promised sufficiency (2 Corinthians 9:8). • Reconciliation flourishes: the altar gift demands right relationships, keeping the body of Christ healthy. Living It Out • Set aside a portion first, not last. • Treat giving as part of weekly worship, just like singing and Scripture reading. • Keep short accounts with people so the gift never becomes a cover-up for unresolved sin. Takeaway Offerings for the altar matter because they honor God’s holiness, sustain His work, and shape worshipers into grateful, reconciled, faith-filled disciples. |
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