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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is using a legal metaphor to highlight how urgently we need to settle disputes with others. The key isn't just avoiding a harsh earthly judge, but recognizing that delaying reconciliation is like leaving a debt unpaid, and God, the ultimate Judge, will hold us accountable for that spiritual debt if we refuse to make amends.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is deepening the understanding of the commandment against murder, moving beyond just the physical act to the anger and contempt that fuel it. He's explaining that harboring resentment and engaging in disputes, even with harsh words, is a violation of God's heart for reconciliation and peace. This verse serves as a stark, practical warning about the consequences of refusing to settle disagreements, illustrating the escalating seriousness of legal and spiritual judgment if matters are left unresolved.
Jesus uses a vivid legal image to warn against holding onto grudges. What are the true consequences of letting disputes fester?
Jesus paints a stark picture of escalating consequences. If you're in a dispute, the natural progression is:
This isn't just about literal court cases. It's about how unforgiveness and unresolved conflict can spiral, leading to increasingly severe spiritual, emotional, and even relational consequences. The 'prison' represents a place of severe restriction and suffering, a direct result of refusing to seek reconciliation.
Jesus urges immediate action, not just for the wronged, but for the one in the wrong. Why is 'quick agreement' so crucial?
The key word here is 'quickly' (or 'be well-minded toward'). Jesus isn't just saying 'try to agree.' He's urging an active, positive effort towards peace, especially for the one who has caused the offense or is responsible for the debt.
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Understand the original words
antidikos · Greek Noun
One who brings a legal charge or claim against another; in a broader sense, it can refer to a spiritual adversary.
kritēs · Greek Noun
An official authorized to hear legal cases and render a verdict; biblically, God is acknowledged as the supreme and righteous Judge of all.
hypēretēs · Greek Noun
An officer or assistant responsible for carrying out the orders of a judge or court, often involving the detention of individuals.
phylakē · Greek Noun
A place of confinement for those awaiting trial or serving a sentence, often used as a metaphor for spiritual bondage or divine judgment.
Jesus' teaching here draws on the familiar imagery of Roman and Jewish legal proceedings to underscore the urgency of reconciliation, warning that delaying this can lead to severe, inescapable consequences.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Life of Jesus
Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, teaching on discipleship, righteousness, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
c. 27 BC - AD 14
Reign of Augustus Caesar
The Roman Empire is firmly established under its first emperor, Augustus, bringing a period of relative peace (Pax Romana) but also imposing Roman law and taxation across occupied territories.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
The Apostle Paul is imprisoned in Rome, during which time he writes letters such as Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians, contextualizing Christian life within the Roman legal and social framework.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army, under Titus, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, marking a catastrophic event for Jewish society and religious life.
This passage offers a very similar illustration of coming to terms with an adversary quickly to avoid severe consequences, highlighting the practical wisdom of resolving disputes swiftly.
1 Corinthians 6:1-8Paul directly addresses the issue of believers taking each other to secular courts, strongly discouraging it and pointing out the shame it brings, reinforcing the principle behind Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:25.
Proverbs 25:8-10This proverb echoes the idea of not rushing into disputes and seeking reconciliation before a conflict escalates to a point where it becomes publicly shameful and irreconcilable.
Romans 12:18This verse provides the ideal disposition for followers of Christ, urging them to live peaceably with all, which is the very foundation for avoiding the 'adversary' situation Jesus describes.
vincentMatthew 5:25: "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."
Agree with (ἴσθι εὐνοῶν)Lit., be well-minded toward; inclined to satisfy by paying or compromising. Wyc., Be thou consenting to.Officer (ὑπηρέτῃ)Denoting a subordinate official, as a herald or an orderly, and in this sense applied to Mark as the "minister" or attendant of…
calvinMatthew 5:23-26: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;"
- Therefore, if thou shalt bring thy gift to the altar, and there shalt remember that thy brother hath anything against thee, 24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go away: first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer [400] thy gift. 25. Be agreed with thy adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him: lest at any time the adversary…
Jesus is using a legal metaphor to highlight how urgently we need to settle disputes with others. The key isn't just avoiding a harsh earthly judge, but recognizing that delaying reconciliation is like leaving a debt unpaid, and God, the ultimate Judge, will hold us accountable for that spiritual debt if we refuse to make amends.
Jesus is deepening the understanding of the commandment against murder, moving beyond just the physical act to the anger and contempt that fuel it. He's explaining that harboring resentment and engaging in disputes, even with harsh words, is a violation of God's heart for reconciliation and peace. This verse serves as a stark, practical warning about the consequences of refusing to settle disagreements, illustrating the escalating seriousness of legal and spiritual judgment if matters are left unresolved.
Jesus is deepening the understanding of the commandment against murder, moving beyond just the physical act to the anger and contempt that fuel it. He's explaining that harboring resentment and engaging in disputes, even with harsh words, is a violation of God's heart for reconciliation and peace. This verse serves as a stark, practical warning about the consequences of refusing to settle disagreements, illustrating the escalating seriousness of legal and spiritual judgment if matters are left unresolved.
"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." — Jesus is using a legal metaphor to highlight how urgently we need to settle disputes with others. The key isn't just avoiding a harsh earthly judge, but recognizing that delaying reconciliation is li…
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Last reviewed October 2026