Matthew 5 25

Matthew 5:25 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.

Matthew 5:25 nkjv

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.

Matthew 5:25 niv

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Matthew 5:25 esv

Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Matthew 5:25 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.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 25 Meaning

Matthew 5:25 teaches the profound wisdom of swift reconciliation and proactive peacemaking. It urges believers to resolve disputes quickly with their adversaries while there is still opportunity, lest the conflict escalate to irreversible and dire consequences. This applies to literal disputes, interpersonal relationships, and allegorically, to our standing before divine judgment.

Matthew 5 25 Context

Matthew 5:25 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically within His teachings on the "true righteousness" that surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees. It immediately follows the expanded interpretation of the sixth commandment concerning murder, where Jesus declares that even anger or insulting one's brother can incur judgment (Matt 5:21-22). The preceding verse (Matt 5:23-24) strongly emphasizes the need for reconciliation with one's brother before offering worship to God, highlighting that proper vertical relationship with God depends on right horizontal relationships with others. Verse 25 continues this theme by illustrating the practical, urgent consequences of failing to reconcile. The historical context for the original audience involves Jewish legal practices where a litigant might attempt to settle a dispute en route to the magistrate rather than risk the formal, often harsher, outcome of court.

Matthew 5 25 Word analysis

• "Come to terms quickly" (εὐνοέω - eunoeō - be well-minded, be reconciled, agree with, have goodwill): This phrase emphasizes internal disposition as much as external action. It signifies a proactive choice to reconcile, to develop a favorable attitude toward the other party. The adverb "quickly" (ταχύ - tachu) highlights urgency, stressing that delaying reconciliation increases risk and potential loss.
• "with your accuser" (τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου - tō antidikō sou - your opponent at law, adversary): This term refers to an opposing party in a lawsuit, indicating someone with a legitimate grievance. The teaching applies not merely to perceived wrongs but to actual, recognized claims against oneself.
• "while you are going with him to court" (ἕως ὅτου εἶ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ - heōs hotou ei met' autou en tē hodō - while you are with him on the way): "On the way" suggests a period of opportunity or progression toward judgment. This is the crucial moment to settle, before formal legal processes or ultimate consequences begin. It is the accessible moment for resolution.
• "lest your accuser hand you over" (μήποτέ σε παραδῷ - mēpoté se paradō - lest perhaps he hand you over): "Hand over" signifies being surrendered to legal authority. It implies a loss of control and the inability to dictate the outcome.
• "to the judge" (τῷ κριτῇ - tō kritē - to the judge): Represents the legal authority responsible for determining guilt and administering sentence. In a broader sense, this can refer to ultimate divine judgment.
• "and the judge to the officer" (καὶ ὁ κριτὴς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ - kai ho kritēs tō hypēretē - and the judge to the officer): The officer or bailiff is the executor of the judge's sentence. This marks an escalation from judicial decision to active enforcement, symbolizing inescapable consequences.
• "and you be thrown into prison" (καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν βληθήσῃ - kai eis phylakēn blēthēsei - and you will be thrown into prison): "Prison" signifies confinement and punishment, the ultimate and harsh consequence of unaddressed disputes. It highlights complete loss of freedom and restitution.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Come to terms quickly with your accuser": This phrase underlines personal responsibility for initiating and actively pursuing reconciliation, rather than passively waiting for the conflict to escalate. The promptness reflects spiritual wisdom.
• "while you are going with him to court": This highlights the finite window of opportunity for amicable resolution. Once the formal proceedings (or ultimate judgment) commence, the chance for personal negotiation diminishes, and the outcome is determined by external authority.
• "lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison": This chain of escalation powerfully illustrates the dire, escalating consequences of delaying or refusing to reconcile. Each step removes agency and moves closer to irreversible and severe punishment. It is a stark warning.

Matthew 5 25 Bonus section

The parallel passage in Luke 12:58-59 shares the exact teaching, reinforcing its importance and likely being part of common parabolic material taught by Jesus. Scholars often point to a chiastic structure in the Sermon on the Mount, and this particular pericope (Matt 5:21-26) regarding anger and reconciliation exemplifies Jesus' method of contrasting superficial obedience with a deeper, heart-level righteousness demanded by the Kingdom of Heaven. The phrase "until you have paid the last penny" in the broader context of the parallel passage (Luke 12:59) implies that the "prison" term could be until the entire "debt" (sin or offense) is satisfied, emphasizing the complete and rigorous nature of the consequences of unaddressed conflict. This verse can also be seen as an application of the Lord's Prayer request: "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors," highlighting that our readiness to forgive and reconcile impacts how we ourselves are dealt with.

Matthew 5 25 Commentary

Matthew 5:25, a crucial part of Jesus' teaching on radical righteousness in the Sermon on the Mount, serves as a profound parable illustrating the urgent need for spiritual and relational reconciliation. On a practical level, it is sound counsel against allowing personal grievances to escalate into costly legal battles. Jesus' wisdom advocates for settling disputes amicably and swiftly before they reach a point of no return where consequences become severe and unavoidable, often involving public shame, financial ruin, and loss of liberty.

Beyond literal interpretation, the verse carries significant spiritual weight. It is often understood allegorically, where the "accuser" could represent one's own conscience, the Law highlighting one's sin, or even Satan who is the "accuser of the brethren." The "judge" would then be God Himself, and the "prison" a representation of ultimate spiritual confinement, judgment, or separation from God. In this deeper sense, Jesus is urging us to make peace with God and His righteous demands while we are "on the way"—during our earthly life, before the final judgment. Ignoring sin, unconfessed guilt, or unforgiveness will inevitably lead to an accountability from which there is no escape once divine justice is engaged.

The verse is not just a practical legal tip but a moral and spiritual imperative for immediate peacemaking and personal humility. It encourages introspection to discern our own part in disputes and to be swift in extending or seeking reconciliation. Proactive reconciliation spares one from the inevitable harshness of delayed justice, whether human or divine, emphasizing grace and mercy as paths to resolution before strict law prevails. This aligns perfectly with the overarching theme of the Sermon on the Mount: true righteousness begins in the heart, calling believers to embody transformative peace in their relationships and their walk with God.