Luke 12:58

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during his journey to Jerusalem, immediately following his challenge to exercise personal discernment in Luke 12:57. He introduces a legal scenario to illustrate the urgency of settling disputes before official judgment occurs.

The words — The supplied Greek highlights ὑπάγεις (hupageis), meaning "you are going," and ἀντιδίκου (antidikou), meaning "adversary." These terms establish the immediate physical and legal movement toward confrontation.

The thread — The warning against delaying resolution until authority intervenes runs through Matthew 5:23, Job 23:7, and Proverbs 25:8. These passages collectively frame reconciliation as a necessary step before facing judicial or divine scrutiny.

Why it lands — The text commands immediate settlement of disputes before reaching a magistrate. It requires readers to act practically and promptly rather than allowing pride or procrastination to escalate consequences.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

Cross-references

Matthew 5:23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Job 23:7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
Proverbs 25:8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Luke 13:24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Genesis 32:3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
1 Samuel 25:18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys
Job 22:21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Psalms 32:6 Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.
Psalms 50:22 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: