“Settle matters quickly 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. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
– Matthew 5:25-26
At this point in Matthew we’re in the middle of a bunch of Jesus’ sayings presented in proverb-like fashion. Each proverb builds on the last and yet stands on its own. For this reason I recommend reading the whole chapter before looking at each individual saying. For now I’ll just note that for the above quote, the preceding proverb told us to be reconciled with our sibling before seeking reconciliation with God in worship, and the proverb after it has to do with avoiding adultery or even the thought of it.
What all three of these proverbs have in common is right relationships with our fellow human beings. God cares deeply that we have strong, healthy relationships between ourselves and others, because He cares about us and because to some degree good relationships reflect and share the reality of the Trinity, showing something of the nature of God in us.
In this particular proverb, it seems to be assumed that the “you” in question has actually done something wrong, has broken the law, and belongs in court. The proverb tells us when you know you’re in the wrong it is best to settle the matter before formal charges are made. Make amends, admit your guilt, set things right. Don’t try to make yourself out to be innocent when you’re not, or to be in some way more righteous than you are. If you do, Jesus says, the judge will see through it and impose sentence — and rightfully so.
Or is this the correct assumption? Is Jesus also saying that, even if we’re in the right, we should seek to settle any lawsuit that comes our way? Perhaps. Christianity is certainly a way of peace. And the apostle Paul taught that the secular courts are no place for matters between Christians.
I think this calls for wisdom. Christians are never told to be doormats to other people or to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. On the other hand we are told to be amazingly generous to our brothers and sisters in the faith. Is Jesus saying it’s better to take a loss in order to be at peace with others than to risk being falsely charged and imprisoned?
And where is God in this? Another way to read the proverb might be to say we’re the guilty and God is the judge. And Satan is often described as the accuser of God’s people, our adversary — in which case the proverb could be read as a call to repentance and righteousness. Make peace with God before it’s too late and we’re standing before the judgment seat. Not a bad reminder! And certainly a favorite theme of Jesus. But it doesn’t fit quite right in this context. If this is the correct interpretation then the phrase “you will not get out until you have paid the last penny” seems to support the concept of purgatory, which is not at all found in the overall arc of Scripture.
I think maybe the answer is simpler than all that. Be at peace with each other. Be faithful to each other. Be generous with each other. Do right by each other. The more we do, the more like God we are and the more like the Trinity our relationships become.
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