English Standard Version
Matthew 5:25
25Come 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 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of Matthew 5:25
23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 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. 26Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
Read all of Matthew 5Matthew 5:25 word by word
Ἴσθι εὐνοῶν τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου ταχὺ ἕως ὅτου εἶ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, μήποτέ σε παραδῷ ὁ ἀντίδικος τῷ κριτῇ, καὶ ὁ κριτὴς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ, καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν βληθήσῃ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- Agree withεὐνοέωeunoeō · to reconcileG2132
- thineσύsu · youG4771
- adversaryὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- adversaryἀντίδικοςantidikos · opponentG476
- quicklyταχύtachu · quicklyG5035
- ·ἕωςheōs · untilG2193
- whilesὅτουhotou · untilG3755
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- lest at any timeμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
- deliverπαραδίδωμιparadidōmi · to deliverG3860
- to the judgeκριτήςkritēs · judgeG2923
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- to the officerὑπηρέτηςhupēretēs · servantG5257
- thou be castβάλλωballō · to throw: putG906
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- prisonφυλακήphulakē · prison/watch: prisonG5438
Cross-references for Matthew 5:25
- Genesis 32:3And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,
- Genesis 33:3He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
- 1 Samuel 25:17Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him."
- Proverbs 6:1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
- Proverbs 25:8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Luke 12:58As 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 14:31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
- Job 22:21"Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
- Psalms 32:6Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
- Isaiah 55:6"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
- Luke 13:24"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
- Hebrews 3:7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice,
- Hebrews 12:17For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
- 1 Kings 22:26And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,
Commentaries on Matthew 5:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly - Adversary, , properly a plaintiff in law - a perfect law term. Our Lord enforces the exhortation given in the preceding verses, from the consideration of what was deemed prudent in ordinary law-suits. In such cases, men should make up matters with the utmost speed, as running through the whole course of a law-suit must not only be vexatious, but be attended with great expense; and in the end, though the loser may be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly - This is still an illustration of the sixth commandment. To be in hostility, to go to law, to be litigious, is a violation always, on one side or the other, of the law requiring us to love our neighbor, and our Saviour regards it as a violation of the sixth commandment. While you are in the way with him, says he, that is, while you are going to the court, before the trial has taken place, it is your duty, if possible…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-26Verses 21-26 The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we are all made of one blood…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-26Jesus provides two examples of making peace in communities and society.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. Agree with thine adversary--thine opponent in a matter cognizable by law. quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him--"to the magistrate," as in Lu 12:58. lest at any time--here, rather, "lest at all," or simply "lest." the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge--having pronounced thee in the wrong. deliver thee to the officer--the official whose business it is to see the sentence carried into effect.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 5:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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