<p>5:23&nbsp;<em>If therefore</em>- The link with :22 is not immediately apparent. The idea seems to be that we should reconcile with our brother in order to avoid the temptation to unwarranted anger with our brother, muttering 'raca' about him, or pronouncing him a condemned fool. If we are unreconciled, even if the situation is our brother's fault because&nbsp;<em>he</em>&nbsp;has something against&nbsp;<em>us</em>, then we are liable to the temptation to become wrongly aggressive and condemnatory towards him. And this is a significant part of spiritual life- getting ourselves into an environment of thought and situation with others where temptation will not press so strongly upon us. It's easy to leave situations unreconciled, but time does not actually heal them, and the situations lead to temptations towards aggression and judgmental attitudes which may lead to our condemnation.</p>
<p><em>You are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you-&nbsp;</em>I&rsquo;d always read this, or perhaps glanced over it, as saying that I shouldn&rsquo;t offer my gift on the altar if&nbsp;<em>I</em>&nbsp;had something against my brother, but I should reconcile with him; but seeing&nbsp;<em>I</em> have nothing against anyone, well I can just go on in serving the Lord. There may be others who have a problem with me, but then, that is for them to sort out with me. But no. The Lord is saying: &lsquo;If your brother has something&nbsp;<em>against you</em>; if the fault is&nbsp;<em>his</em>... then&nbsp;<em>you</em>&nbsp;take the initiative and try to reconcile it, before doing anything else&rsquo;.</p>