10. And whereas men naturally imagine, that God will excuse their defect in some duties, for their exactness in others, our Lord next takes care to cut off that vain, though common imagination. He shews, That it is impossible for any sinner to _commute_ with God: who will not accept one duty for another, nor take a part of obedience for the whole. He warns us, That the performing our duty to God, will not excuse us from our duty to our neighbour: that works of piety, as they are called, will be so far from commending us to God, if we are wanting in charity, that on the contrary, that want of charity will make all those works an abomination to the Lord.
_Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee_, on account of thy unkind behaviour toward him, of thy calling him, _Raca_, or _Thou fool_; think not that thy gift will atone for thy anger; or that it will find any acceptance with God, so long as thy conscience is defiled with the guilt of unrepented sin. _Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother_, (at least, do all that in thee lies toward being reconciled) _and then come and offer thy gift_, ver. 23, 24.
11. And let there be no delay in what so nearly concerneth thy soul. _Agree with thine adversary quickly_――Now: upon the spot――_while thou art in the way with him_――If it be possible, before he go out of thy sight――_Lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge_――Lest he appeal to God, the judge of all, _and the Judge deliver thee to the officer_, to _Satan_, the executioner of the wrath of God, _and thou be cast into prison_, into hell, there to be reserved to the judgment of the great day. _Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing._ But this it is impossible for thee ever to do; seeing thou hast nothing to pay. Therefore if thou art once in that prison, the smoke of thy torment must _ascend up for ever and ever_.
12. *Mean time _the meek shall inherit the earth_. Such is the foolishness of worldly wisdom! The wise of the world had warned them again and again, “That if they did not resent such treatment, if they would tamely suffer themselves to be thus abused, there would be no living for them upon earth; that they would never be able to procure the common necessaries of life, nor to keep even what they had; that they could expect no peace, no quiet possession, no enjoyment of any thing.” Most true――suppose there were no God in the world; or suppose he did not concern himself with the children of men. But _when_ God _ariseth to judgment, and to help all the meek upon earth_: how doth he laugh all this Heathen wisdom to scorn, and turn the _fierceness of man to his praise_! He takes a peculiar care, to provide them with all things needful for life and godliness. He secures to them the provision he hath made, in spite of the force, fraud, or malice of men. And what he secures, he _gives_ them _richly to enjoy_. It is sweet to them, be it little or much. As _in patience_ they _possess their souls_, so they truly possess whatever God hath given them. They are always content, always pleased with what they have. It pleases them, because it pleases God. So that while their heart, their desire, their joy is in heaven, they may truly be said to _inherit the earth_.