Luke 12:59 kjv

I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Luke 12:59 nkjv

I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite."

Luke 12:59 niv

I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

Luke 12:59 esv

I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."

Luke 12:59 nlt

And if that happens, you won't be free again until you have paid the very last penny. "

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 59 Meaning

Luke 12:59 concludes a series of urgent warnings from Jesus, emphasizing the critical importance of immediate spiritual discernment and reconciliation. It states that once the opportunity for reconciliation passes, and one is subject to the just consequences of their actions (symbolized as "imprisonment"), there is no escape or release until every single measure of required justice or "debt"—even the minutest amount—is fully satisfied. It underscores the unyielding and precise nature of divine justice.

Luke 12 59 Context

Luke 12:59 concludes a specific segment (Lk 12:54-59) where Jesus rebukes His audience for their failure to discern the spiritual signs of their time, particularly concerning His presence and the imminent kingdom of God. He criticizes their ability to predict weather but not "interpret this present time." Jesus then presents a parable or analogy comparing the urgency of making peace with an adversary on the way to court with the spiritual imperative to reconcile with God while there is still opportunity. Failure to do so leads to being handed over to justice, facing a metaphorical "prison" from which release is impossible until full restitution is made. The chapter generally highlights themes of spiritual urgency, the dangers of hypocrisy and materialism, God's providence, and the necessity of being prepared for the Lord's return and final judgment. Verse 59 serves as a final, stark warning regarding the meticulous nature of divine accountability.

Luke 12 59 Word analysis

• I tell you: (Λέγω ὑμῖν - Legō hymin) This phrase marks a solemn and authoritative declaration by Jesus. It highlights the absolute truth and weighty significance of His following statement, underscoring its direct relevance to His listeners.
• you will not get out: (οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς - ou mē exelthēs) This employs a strong Greek double negative ("not by any means") rendering the statement absolutely emphatic. "Exelthēs" (from exerchomai) means "to go out," "to come forth," or "to escape." The strong negation implies an irreversible and inescapable situation once a certain point (represented by judgment and imprisonment) is reached. There is no possibility of self-deliverance or acquittal.
• until: (ἕως - heōs) This particle establishes a critical boundary—a conditional time limit. It indicates that the inability to "get out" persists up to the point when a specific condition is met. While a future release is theoretically possible if the condition is fulfilled, it concurrently signifies perpetual confinement unless it is.
• you have paid: (ἀποδῷς - apodōs) From apodidōmi, meaning "to give back," "to pay back," "to restore," or "to render what is due." In the legal metaphor, it refers to satisfying a debt or penalty completely. Spiritually, it implies that the demands of divine justice must be entirely met, either by undergoing the consequences of one's actions or, for believers, through the complete satisfaction provided by Christ.
• the very last: (τὸ ἔσχατον - to eschaton) Signifies "the utmost," "the final," "the last." It emphasizes the absolute completion and exhaustive thoroughness of the required payment. Nothing whatsoever can be left outstanding or unresolved.
• penny/mite: (λεπτόν - lepton) This was the smallest Jewish copper coin, virtually worthless on its own, with two making up a quadrans (about a sixteenth of a denarius). By referencing such an insignificant coin, Jesus stresses the meticulously demanding and uncompromising nature of divine justice. Not even the minutest sin or fraction of outstanding "debt" can be overlooked; the payment must be exhaustive down to the least degree.

Words-group analysis:

• "I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid": This foundational part emphasizes Jesus' authoritative declaration of inescapable consequences. The impossibility of release is contingent upon meeting a strict requirement of full payment. This highlights the seriousness of neglecting the spiritual "debt."
• "the very last penny/mite": This phrase amplifies the unyielding exactness of God's justice. It conveys that divine judgment requires complete satisfaction for every single offense, however minor it may seem. There is no partial payment or overlooked detail; the account must be settled perfectly.

Luke 12 59 Bonus section

The "adversary" in the preceding verse (Lk 12:58), leading to the "judge" and "officer," can be understood not merely as a literal human foe but also as the demands of divine law, justice itself, or God's holiness against which human sin offends. The "way" to court represents the present moment—life itself—as the window of opportunity for repentance and reconciliation with God. This period is limited, and once it ends (symbolized by arriving at the "judge"), the terms of engagement shift from amicable settlement to unavoidable justice. The teaching powerfully conveys that wisdom lies in dealing with the spiritual reality of sin and divine accountability proactively, not reactively, and certainly not procrastinating until it's too late.

Luke 12 59 Commentary

Luke 12:59 delivers a solemn warning about the inescapability of divine judgment for those who fail to reconcile with God in this life. The legal metaphor vividly portrays a person taken before a "judge" (God's justice) who, if finding an unfulfilled "debt," will commit them to "prison"—a state of unavoidable consequence or spiritual bondage. The phrase "until you have paid the very last penny" emphasizes God's perfect and uncompromising justice; every single infraction, no matter how small, requires complete satisfaction.

This verse is not advocating for purgatory, where one's own suffering eventually pays for sins. Instead, it powerfully illustrates the impossibility for human beings, by their own efforts or suffering, to meet the full demand of God's perfect righteousness. For humanity, caught in sin, the "very last penny" is an infinite debt. This highlights the critical necessity of a perfect, external payment. In the Christian faith, Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death, fully paid this infinite "debt" for those who believe in Him, satisfying divine justice on their behalf (Rom 3:25; Heb 10:14). Therefore, the "prison" and its demands are for those who reject or delay genuine repentance and faith in Christ. The urgent call is to "agree with the adversary" (God) while "on the way" (in this life, the time of grace), recognizing the pressing reality of eternal accountability. Delay is perilous.