Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Parallel translations
- WEB Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
- KJV Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
- BSB Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
- NASB Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison.
- NLT “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Settle quickly with an adversary on the way to court, lest you be handed over to the judge and imprisoned. It urges prompt reconciliation before matters escalate.
Overview
Using a legal illustration, Jesus presses the urgency of resolving conflict without delay. Beyond practical wisdom, the picture carries a sober warning about facing judgment with unresolved guilt. Disciples are to pursue peace earnestly while there is still opportunity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Luke 12:58–59For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
- Prov 25:8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
- Heb 3:13but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
- Isa 55:6–7Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Luke 14:31–32Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
- Heb 3:7Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice,
- Luke 13:24–25“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.
- Job 22:21“Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
- Heb 12:17For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
- 1 Kgs 22:26–27The king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son.
- Prov 6:1–5My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;
- Gen 32:3–8Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.
- Ps 32:6For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.
- Gen 33:3–11He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- 2 Cor 6:2for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
- Gen 32:13–22He stayed there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:
- 1 Sam 25:17–35Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 5:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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