What does Matthew 5:24 mean?

Matthew 5:24 KJV
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Matthew 5:24 NKJV
“leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:24 MKJV
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:24 KJV 2000
Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Interlinear KJV

Leave /aphiemi/ there /ekei/ thy /sou/ gift /doron/ before /emprosthen/ the altar, /thusiasterion/ and /kai/ go thy way; /hupago/ first /proton/ be reconciled /diallasso/ to thy /sou/ brother, /adelphos/ and /kai/ then /tote/ come /erchomai/ and offer /prosphero/ thy /sou/ gift. /doron/

Albert Barnes’ Commentary

Verse 24. No specific Barnes text on this verse. See Barnes for Mt 5:23-24

British Family Bible

first be reconciled to thy brother, Till the duty of forgiveness be discharged by ourselves, God will accept of no service or sacrifice at our hands. And therefore our Liturgy does with great reason declare it to be a necessary qualification for our worthy receiving the sacrament, that we be in love and charity with our neighbours, because in the blessed Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, we hope to have the forgiveness of our sins ratified and confirmed to us; and how can we hope for this from God, if we ourselves be not ready to forgive one another? Abp. Tillotson.

Ripley 4 Gospel

Go thy way; that is, to the person wronged. Wait not to make the offering; for it will be unacceptable to God, if presented in a spirit of unkindness towards any man.

Be reconciled; prevail on him, by suitable acknowledgments, and whatever else is necessary, to be reconciled to thee; regain his favor. A very common meaning of the word reconcile in the Bible is, to procure favor.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary

Leave there thy gift before the altar — This is as much as to say, “Do not attempt to bring any offering to God while thou art in a spirit of enmity against any person; or hast any difference with thy neighbour, which thou hast not used thy diligence to get adjusted.” It is our duty and interest, both to bring our gift, and offer it too; but God will not accept of any act of religious worship from us, while any enmity subsists in our hearts towards any soul of man; or while any subsists in our neighbour’s heart towards us, which we have not used the proper means to remove. A religion, the very essence of which is love, cannot suffer at its altars a heart that is revengeful and uncharitable, or which does not use its utmost endeavours to revive love in the heart of another. The original word, δωρον, which we translate gift, is used by the rabbins in Hebrew letters דורון doron, which signifies not only a gift, but a sacrifice offered to God. See several proofs in Schoettgen.

Then come and offer thy gift.Then, when either thy brother is reconciled to thee, or thou hast done all in thy power to effect this reconciliation. My own obstinacy and uncharitableness must render me utterly unfit to receive any good from God’s hands, or to worship him in an acceptable manner; bat the wickedness of another can be no hinderance to me, when I have endeavoured earnestly to get it removed, though without effect.