Luke 12:58 kjv

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

Luke 12:58 nkjv

When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Luke 12:58 niv

As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Luke 12:58 esv

As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.

Luke 12:58 nlt

When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 58 Meaning

Luke 12:58 serves as a warning, utilizing a common legal scenario of its time to convey a spiritual imperative. It emphasizes the urgent necessity of making things right, settling disputes, or repenting of wrongdoing before one faces ultimate judgment. The "accuser," "magistrate," "judge," "officer," and "prison" represent stages of accountability and consequences, underscoring the severe and inescapable repercussions for those who fail to reconcile while there is still time. It is a call to discern the present moment and act proactively to avoid greater condemnation.

Luke 12 58 Context

Luke 12, prior to verse 58, presents a series of teachings by Jesus covering various topics including warning against hypocrisy (v. 1-12), covetousness (v. 13-21) through the parable of the rich fool, and anxiety about earthly provisions (v. 22-34), followed by a call to readiness and vigilance for the coming of the Son of Man (v. 35-48). Jesus then speaks of the division His coming will bring (v. 49-53).

Immediately preceding verse 58, Jesus rebukes the crowds for their inability to "interpret the present time" (v. 54-57). He highlights their skill in discerning weather patterns but their lack of spiritual insight into the urgency of the moment He has brought. Verse 58 flows directly from this rebuke, providing an illustration of what it means to "judge for yourselves what is right" (v. 57) – it means to act with shrewdness and urgency in matters of spiritual reconciliation before it is too late and judgment falls. The passage is part of Jesus' broader discourse on spiritual discernment and the urgency of responding to His message.

Historically, the Jewish legal system had multiple tiers of authority, and people would often attempt to settle disputes before reaching higher, more rigid courts. Roman influence also introduced various magistrates and officials. Debtors' prisons were a grim reality where individuals would be held until debts were paid, sometimes indefinitely. This everyday reality made Jesus' analogy immediately relatable and starkly relevant to His audience.

Luke 12 58 Word analysis

• As you go: (Greek: poreuomai, πορεύομαι - to travel, to proceed). Signifies an ongoing journey or process, not a static situation. This indicates that reconciliation is an active choice during a period of opportunity.
• with your accuser: (Greek: antidikos, ἀντίδικος - an adversary in a lawsuit, an opponent). This term refers to one who has a legal complaint against you. It can be a personal foe, one you have wronged, or symbolically, one's own conscience or even Satan (cf. 1 Pet 5:8).
• to the magistrate: (Greek: archōn, ἄρχων - a ruler, a chief official, a magistrate). Represents the initial stage of legal authority. Settling with the archon avoids escalation. This could be interpreted as an initial level of accountability or judgment, perhaps God's forewarnings or human authorities.
• make every effort: (Greek: didomi ergon, δίδωμι ἔργον - literally "give work" or "give effort"; active diligence, do your utmost). This is an active imperative for strenuous action. It’s not passive waiting, but zealous pursuit of resolution.
• to settle with him: (Greek: diallassomai, διαλλάσσομαι - to change thoroughly, to reconcile, to come to terms, to arrange differences). This term emphasizes complete reconciliation and agreement. It implies an act of resolving the conflict to avoid a judgment against oneself.
• on the way: (Greek: en tē hodō, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ - literally "in the road" or "during the journey"). Crucial temporal and spatial indicator. The opportunity for settlement is during the process, before reaching the final judgment. In spiritual terms, this refers to one's earthly life.
• lest he drag you: (Greek: katischo, κατίσχω - to hold back, hold fast, restrain, compel). Implies forceful apprehension and an inability to resist or escape once the legal process intensifies. It speaks to the inescapable nature of judgment.
• to the judge: (Greek: kritēs, κριτής - a judge, an umpire). The higher, ultimate authority in the legal process. In a spiritual context, this directly points to God as the final and supreme Judge.
• and the judge hand you over: (Greek: paradidomi, παραδίδωμι - to hand over, deliver up). Indicates the formal act of consignment to another's authority. The judge's decision is final and authoritative.
• to the officer: (Greek: praktōr, πράκτωρ - one who does; an exacting officer, a jailer, a revenue collector). This individual is an enforcer of judicial decrees, not one who decides the case. They execute the judgment without appeal.
• and the officer throw you: (Greek: ballō, βάλλω - to throw, cast, cast out). A forceful, decisive action without reprieve.
• into prison: (Greek: phylakē, φυλακή - a guarding, a prison, a watch). A place of confinement, detention, or punishment, often associated with debtors who cannot pay. Symbolically, this represents a state of being utterly bound by one's transgressions, separated, or experiencing severe punitive consequences that last until all demands of justice are met.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "As you go with your accuser to the magistrate, make every effort to settle with him on the way": This phrase highlights the urgency and the active responsibility placed on the individual. The "way" signifies the period of opportunity (life) given to address issues of righteousness and sin before facing the highest authority (God). The setting suggests a legal pre-trial where proactive settlement is still possible.
• "lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison": This sequence graphically depicts escalating consequences. It moves from an initial hearing (magistrate) to the unappealable judgment (judge), and then to the relentless enforcement (officer) culminating in total confinement (prison). This illustrates the grim outcome of inaction, where opportunity is replaced by irreversible punishment.

Luke 12 58 Bonus section

• The passage, along with its Matthean parallel (Matt 5:25-26), stands within a larger discourse by Jesus on true righteousness that transcends mere external observance. It emphasizes inward attitudes of reconciliation and mercy as prerequisite for peace with God.
• The urgency presented by "make every effort to settle... on the way" directly links to the concept of discerning the "present time" (Luke 12:57). Failure to discern the significance of Christ's presence and the impending judgment results in procrastination with dire spiritual consequences.
• While using the language of debt and payment, this parable should not be misconstrued to imply that human beings can earn salvation or "pay off" their sins in a legalistic sense. Rather, it underscores the completeness of God's justice, and highlights that the "debt" of sin can only be paid through the means God has provided – repentance and faith in Christ. The "settling" spoken of is embracing the means of grace now.
• The identity of the "accuser" can vary based on the specific context: it could be a literal person one has wronged, or a representation of divine justice, or even Satan who is the ultimate "accuser of the brethren" (Rev 12:10). The message remains consistent: deal with your liabilities and adversaries proactively.

Luke 12 58 Commentary

Luke 12:58 serves as a potent spiritual allegory, using the tangible reality of ancient legal processes to impress upon listeners the vital importance of prompt reconciliation and spiritual preparedness. Jesus is not giving legal advice but a stark warning about God's coming judgment. The "accuser" can be anyone wronged by us, or our own unaddressed conscience, or even the evil one who justly points to our sins before God. The "way" symbolizes the present lifetime, a limited window during which grace and forgiveness are accessible through repentance and faith. Once this earthly "way" is concluded, the "judge" (God) delivers His verdict.

The progression from "magistrate" to "judge" and then to "officer" leading to "prison" vividly portrays the escalating severity and inevitability of divine justice for those who squander the opportunity to reconcile. The "prison" is a metaphor for a state of severe consequence, bondage, and isolation from God, often interpreted as the inescapable outcome of unforgiven sin. The idea of "paying the last penny" (as mentioned in its Matthean parallel, 5:26) underscores that full justice will be meted out for unrepentant transgression, emphasizing the absolute completeness of the penalty. The call is for spiritual wisdom and proactive action, to address spiritual debts and strained relationships with both God and man now, to avoid the future, greater condemnation that awaits the unready. This parable is an appeal to respond with urgency to the divine truths being revealed and to choose righteousness before the door of opportunity closes.

• Example: Imagine a person holding a long-standing grudge or refusing to confess a hidden sin. This verse urges them to reconcile and confess now, during their earthly life ("on the way"), rather than wait for God's judgment, when there will be no more opportunity for forgiveness and the consequences will be severe and inescapable ("prison").
• Example: A Christian community facing internal strife is exhorted to proactively seek peace and mend relationships among themselves while there's time, before their unrighteousness comes to the Lord's scrutiny.