Matthew 5:25

Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addresses his disciples and the crowd, moving from the command to reconcile with a brother (v. 24) to a legal illustration that sharpens the urgency.

The words — εὐνοῶν (eunoōn), "agreeing," is a present participle attached to the imperative, marking not a single gesture but a sustained disposition of goodwill. ταχὺ (tachu), "quickly," fixes the window as narrow.

The thread — Luke 12:58 repeats the same scenario in Jesus' teaching; Proverbs 25:8 warns against rushing to court without first seeking resolution.

Why it lands — The verse treats reconciliation as a time-bounded act: delay converts a manageable dispute into an irreversible loss. It asks the reader to identify the "way to court" in their own life and act before the door closes.

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

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.

Cross-references

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.
Proverbs 25:8 do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Luke 14:31 Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
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.
1 Kings 22:26 And the king of Israel declared, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son,
Job 22:21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,