It all started back in Genesis when Cain killed his brother Abel. After the murder had taken place, God inquired of Cain as to where his brother was?
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4
God did not answer this question in Genesis but the Bible clearly spells out that the answer is YES!
Man has been at odds with his fellow man since then for almost 6,000 years. We have truly demonstrated that we are NOT our brother’s keeper. This philosophy has wreaked havoc on our planet and is still the reason today we cannot forge lasting peace.
Jesus came to be our salvation but also to remind us of the importance of the relationships with one another. In Matthew 5 He instructs us:
whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (or empty headed) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
As exalted as God was, His first command to us was to be reconciled with our fellow man before offering any gifts up to God. The greatest gift you can give God is to love your fellow man (or woman).
It is for our own good! Jesus continues in Matthew 18
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
Eternal life is not bestowed on those who hate or lack forgiveness for their fellow man. John writes:
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3
So here the story of God and His children comes full circle. Yes we are to love our brother and our sisters and be reconciled to them for our future depends on it. Sacrifice and good deeds will not grant us eternal life if we are not forgiving and kind to our fellow man and woman.
As Jesus stated in John 15:
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends
Love and forgive your fellow man and woman and do not speak ill of them to anyone.
And that is the Whole Truth. God Bless
and remember God always answers His kneemail.
