Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 5:25-26

"Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing." — Matthew 5:25-26 (ASV)

Agree with thine adversary quickly, while 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. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

There is nothing like ending disputes at once, before the rancor grows, and your adversary becomes determined to push you to extremes. Oh, for more of that spirit of yielding! You know how people say, "If you tread on a worm: it will turn;" but, brothers and sisters, a worm is not an example for a Christian, even if the poor wounded creature does turn toward you in its agony. If you turn, turn to kiss the hand that strikes you, and to do good to those who do evil to you.

In all disagreements, be eager for peace. Cease from strife before you begin. In lawsuits, seek speedy and peaceful settlements. Often, in our Lord's days, this was the most advantageous way, and usually it is so now.

Better lose your rights than get into the hands of those who will only fleece you in the name of justice and hold you firmly, as long as any semblance of a claim can stand against you or another penny can be extracted from you. In a country where "justice" meant robbery, it was wisdom to be robbed and to make no complaint. Even in our own country, a lean settlement is better than a fat lawsuit.

Many go into court to get wool but come out closely shorn. Carry on no angry lawsuits in the courts, but make peace with the utmost speed.

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily I say to you, You shall by no means come out from there, until you have paid the last farthing.

In all disagreements be eager for peace. Stop strife before you begin. In lawsuits, seek speedy and peaceful settlements.

Often in our Lord's days, this was the most gainful way, and usually it is so now. It is better to lose your rights than to get into the hands of those who will only fleece you in the name of justice. They will hold you fast as long as a semblance of a demand can stand against you, or as long as another penny can be extracted from you.

In a country where "just fee" meant robbery, it was wisdom to be robbed and to make no complaint. Even in our own country, a lean settlement is better than a fat lawsuit. Many go into court to get wool but come out closely shorn.

Carry on no angry suits in courts, but make peace with the utmost promptness.

While you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily I say to you, You shall by no means come out from there, until you have paid the uttermost farthing.

And there are some debts for which we cannot pay the uttermost farthing; and there is a prison from which no one shall come, for the uttermost farthing demanded there shall never be paid. God grant that none of us may ever know what it is to be shut up in that dreadful dungeon!