Going with Your Adversary to the Magistrate - Luke 12:58

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time? Yes, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right?”, and in chapter twelve and verse fifty-eight of his book Luke shared how Jesus told the people what to do, “when you go with your adversary to the magistrate” where we read:

When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.

The verse reads, “When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him;” Luke began with the words, “when you go with your adversary” or “at the time the people listening to Jesus depart and go alongside their opponents in a suit of law” “to the magistrate” which means “to the ruler, commander, chief, leader or judge”, “as you are in the way” or “while the person is traveling with and journeying along the traveled road”, “give diligence” which means “bestow, grant, furnish and supply working, performance, business and profit” “that you may be delivered from him” or “so the person might be released, removed and set free from the one who is suing him”. Luke shared how Jesus instructed the people listening to Him to attempt to make an agreement with someone who was “suing” them as they were going to the “magistrate” who would rule on their case.

The verse continues, “lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.” Luke added the words, “lest he hale you” or “whether perhaps the person suing draw and drag the one being sued” “to the judge” which means “to the arbiter, Roman procurator or administering justice”, “and the judge deliver you” or “and the arbiter, Roman procurator or administering justice give up treacherously the person being sued” “to the officer” which refers to “to the avenger or exactor of a monetary fine”, “and the officer cast you” or “and the avenger or exactor of a monetary fine throw and scatter the one being sued” “into prison” which means “into the guard, watch, sentinel and place where captives are kept”. Luke shared how Jesus declared there was advantage of making an agreement with someone suing them because it would save them from being lead to the “judge, officer and prison”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus gave instructions to the people listening to Him concerning taking measures to ameliorate times when they are sued. Jesus said they should attempt to make an agreement with whoever was suing them before they are “dragged” to the “arbiter and avenger” and eventually thrown into “prison”. The idea is to try to settle the account before the day of reckoning occurs. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will submit themselves to Him well in advance of the “day of judgment”. Let all who read these words understand now is the time to yield to the Lord and agree with Him well in advance of when all people shall give an account to God.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “I tell you, you shall not depart from there, till you have paid the very last mite”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".