THE PARABLE OF THE LAWSUIT (Luke 12:57-59; Matthew 5:25-26)

Luke chapter 12

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard[1] to be [2]reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.[3]
59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”[4]

Matthew chapter 5

25 “Settle matters quickly[5] with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or 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.
26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”[6]

GENERAL MEANING: TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO RESOLVE A CRISIS

In this parable about a debtor and a creditor, Jesus advised a person with a difficult lawsuit to settle the matter out of court rather than risk imprisonment. It was a matter of urgency to seek reconciliation as the defendant had a weak case. Once the case came to court, the judge would apply the law, a sentence would be passed, and the defendant handed over to a court official who would put the debtor in prison. Then it would be too late to come to terms with one’s “adversary” and the full penalty would be required. It was very difficult to get out of a debtors’ prison. The lesson of this story: “Make up your quarrel because your opponent has a stronger position. Act now or you may not get another chance.”

There is no need to interpret the details of the parable, as they are not relevant to its main meaning, and do not symbolize anything in particular. The parable teaches the importance of common sense in critical times that require urgent and suitable action. It reinforces the following parable of the fig tree that teaches immediate repentance. Jesus has left each individual to give his own verdict: “Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?” In Luke the context is the coming judgment of God on those who reject the Messiah. Matthew’s account has the context of personal forgiveness as part of the Sermon on the Mount.

PRIMARY APPLICATION: A CRISIS FOR ISRAEL

In Luke’s account Jesus warned the unresponsive and unrepentant generation of his time to make its peace with God before his judgment fell. Jesus knew that Rome would destroy Jerusalem and he advised immediate repentance (Luke 19:41-44). Yet Israel failed to understand the urgency of the situation and rejected Jesus as Lord and Messiah. The nation was blinded by religious formalism and externalism. Israel’s refusal made judgment unavoidable and Rome destroyed Jerusalem in AD70.

SALVATION: THE SINNER HAS A HOPELESS CASE WITH GOD

Jesus encourages us to make our peace with God. Each of us as a sinner has a hopeless case of debt in the law court of God. God is our Creator and Judge and we all have to give him an account of our lives. In Christ, God the Judge offers us an out-of-court settlement in which he takes the punishment. We should be quick to repent and seek reconciliation through the forgiveness offered in Christ before his judgment goes against us.

If we reject Christ’s offer we face an unpayable debt and bring God’s sentence upon ourselves. The image of the debtors’ prison adds force to this idea. As debtors we need to admit our spiritual bankruptcy before God and take urgent action before it is too late. Now is the time to respond to Jesus; one day it will be too late: “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: THE IMPORTANCE OF RECONCILIATION

Matthew has a similar version of this parable as part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus urged haste to restore a broken relationship: “Settle matters quickly while you are still with him on the way.” Other translations have “Agree” (AV); or “Come to terms quickly with” (NLT); or “Make friends quickly with” (RSV; NASB). The need to have a right relationship with God includes a right relationship with our neighbour. It is a condition of true worship. Jesus told us to have a good relationship with our fellow-believers before we stand before God: “First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Verse 24) Christians should aim at reconciliation whether the “innocent” believer or the “offending” believer takes the first step: “Be reconciled to your brother” (Verse 23).

It is a warning that as believers we should not allow unresolved disagreements and quarrels to reach the point where they dominate our lives and damage the fellowship of our churches. We should not seek conflict but, “As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) There is spiritual danger in leaving a wrong unacknowledged and unrepented of as forgiveness is central to our emotional and spiritual growth. Otherwise there remains the prison of bitterness, unforgiveness and resentment. It is a mistake to neglect restoration and restitution.

William Barclay comments:

“It is the experience of life that, if a quarrel, or a difference, or a dispute is not healed immediately, it can go on breeding worse and worse trouble as time goes on. Bitterness breeds bitterness. If ever we are at variance with someone else, we must get the situation put right straight away. It may mean that we must be humble enough to confess that we were wrong and to make an apology; it may mean that, even if we were in the right, we have to take the first step toward healing the breach. When personal relations go wrong, in nine cases out of ten immediate action will mend them; but if that immediate action is not taken, they will continue to deteriorate, and the bitterness will spread in an ever-widening circle.” [7]

FOR REFLECTION

Time ran out for Israel with the catastrophe of AD70 and the destruction of its temple. Is time is running out for your society as well?
People often do not understand the seriousness of the times and the limited opportunity they have to belong to Christ.
Does the sense of urgency that characterized Christ’s ministry exist in our lives?
Reader, have you made your peace with God while there is still time?
Pray for your family and friends who do not belong to Christ.
Are there unreconciled differences and unhealed divisions between you and others?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I ask for forgiveness where my attitude has been wrong towards (name the person concerned). Help me to seek reconciliation and live in peace with that person. Amen.

Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Education.

[1] The Greek word implies hard work and conscientious effort accompanied by pain. It is translated “make diligent effort” (Amplified Bible), “take pains to” (Weymouth), “do your best” (Barclay), and “try hard” (NIV).

[2] The Greek word is a technical term that means, “To be set free in a legal sense, the opponent being appeased and withdrawing the suit.” (Thayer)

[3] Protestant commentators do not find the idea of purgatory in verses 58-59 or anywhere else in the New Testament.

[4] This “penny” was a lepton, the smallest coin available. It was copper or bronze, worth one-half of a quadrans or 1/128 of a denarius.

[5] The Greek word means, “To wish one well, to be well-disposed, of a peaceable spirit towards anyone.” (Thayer)

[6] This “penny” was a quadrans, a Roman copper coin worth 1/64 of a denarius.

[7] The Daily Study Bible, Volume 1, page 145, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, 1975.