God’s Word Translation
Matthew 5:25
25“Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into 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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- 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.
Context of Matthew 5:25
23“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, 24leave your gift at the altar. First go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift. “Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 26I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine. 27“You have heard that it was said, ‘Never 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 32:3Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in Seir, the country of Edom.
- Genesis 33:3He went on ahead of them and bowed seven times with his face touching the ground as he came near his brother.
- 1 Samuel 25:17Now, consider what you should do because our master and his whole household are doomed. And he’s such a worthless man that it’s useless to talk to him.”
- Proverbs 6:1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,
- Proverbs 25:8Do not be in a hurry to go to court. What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?
- Luke 12:58For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison.
- Luke 14:31“Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He would first sit down and think things through. Can he and his 10,000 soldiers fight against a king with 20,000 soldiers?
- Job 22:21“Be in harmony and at peace with God. In this way you will have prosperity.
- Psalms 32:6For this reason let all godly people pray to you when you may be found. Then raging floodwater will not reach them.
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
- Luke 13:24“Try hard to enter through the narrow door. I can guarantee that many will try to enter, but they won’t succeed.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2God says, “At the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.” Listen, now is God’s acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
- Hebrews 3:7As the Holy Spirit says, “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.
- Hebrews 12:17You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn’t do anything to change what had happened.
- 1 Kings 22:26The king of Israel then said, “Send Micaiah back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the prince.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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