Luke 12:58 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.

NIV: As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

NASB: For when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

CSB: As you are going with your adversary to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.

NLT: When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

In Luke 12:1—13:9, Jesus teaches the disciples about the priorities they should hold considering God's coming kingdom. In the middle of His address, a man from the crowd interrupts, insisting that Jesus settle a squabble about an inheritance. Jesus refuses and tells a parable about the futility of ignoring God and delighting in worldly riches (Luke 12:13–21). He returns His attention to the crowd a bit later, chastising them for being skilled at predicting worldly weather when they should look up and realize that God's kingdom has come (Luke 12:54–56).

Now, Jesus goes back to the attitude that caused the inheritance issue. The man should have had the wisdom to speak with his brother and resolve the issue together. At least one of the brothers, if not both, is being incredibly foolish. If the man takes his brother to court, it will not go well. He risks imprisonment and bankruptcy (Luke 12:57–59).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains that this is also a spiritual issue. Such animosity can lead to hateful feelings which, spiritually, are akin to actual murder. The person who has wronged another should reconcile not only because he risks being put into prison but because such unrepentant sin stands in the way of his relationship with God (Matthew 5:21–26).

Jesus adds another facet. Shortly before this time, Pilate had killed several Galileans and desecrated their sacrifices with their own blood. In addition, a tower in Siloam fell and killed eighteen people. Violence and accidents can happen without notice. If we do not live in reconciliation with others and with God, we will die in those broken relationships (Luke 13:1–5).

"Effort to settle" means striving to resolve a debt. An "officer" is a government official who deals with finances; in this case, he oversees the debtors' prison. "Drag" includes the idea of force and shame: the man in the parable is ruined.

Luke 12:57–59 expounds on Jesus' message to the disgruntled brother (Luke 12:13–14). He explains an application of the coming of the kingdom of God for the crowds that follow Him. They should know change is coming (Luke 12:54–56). Conflict with one another—especially for those in the wrong—is not helpful. The guilty party needs to make peace with the one he wronged or risk humiliation and destitution. Next, Jesus warns the crowds to repent of their sins and seek reconciliation with God or face eternity in hell (Luke 13:1–9). Matthew covered similar territory in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:25–26).

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.