Matthew 5:25 KJV
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles 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.
Matthew 5:25 NKJV
“Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Matthew 5:25 MKJV
Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; that the opponent not deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Matthew 5:25 KJV 2000
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.
Interlinear KJV
Agree /isthi/ /eunoeo/ with thine /sou/ adversary /antidikos/ quickly, /tachu/ whiles /heos/ /hotou/ thou art /ei/ in /en/ the way /hodos/ with /meta/ him; /autos/ lest at any time /mepote/ the adversary /antidikos/ deliver /paradidomi/ thee /se/ to the judge, /krites/ and /kai/ the judge /krites/ deliver /paradidomi/ thee /se/ to the officer, /huperetes/ and /kai/ thou be cast /ballo/ into /eis/ prison. /phulake/
Brethren NT Commentary
Agree with thine adversary quickly, — with thy brother who may have aught against thee. Give and forgive (Ro 12:19,20; 1Co 6:7; Col 3:13) until a reconciliation is reached. (Mt 18:21,22; Lu 17:1,2.)
The adversary deliver thee to the judge. This appears to allude to the course given in the law, to put away evil from Israel (see De 17:1-13), as typical of the course given in the Gospel. (Mt 18:15-18; 1Co 5:3-5.) If, in this case, the first party would fail of an agreement, or reconciliation, his opponent would appeal to the assembled body of Christ, the church, of which Christ is the Judge (Jas 5:9), the Chief Shepherd (Heb 13:20; 1Pe 5:4) and the High Priest. (Heb 8:6; compare De 17:9.)
The judge deliver thee to the officer. The Greek word, here translated “officer,” means an inferior or subordinate officer; an underling; a servant. Hence, the most apparent sense of the place is, that the church, under the guidance and control of Christ by his Word and Spirit, would excommunicate such a one, if he should fail to hear the church according to its decision or sentence (Mt 18:17), by the proper officer, the bishop of the church, announcing the decision in the church assembled, and, if it is not complied with, declaring his excommunication from the church. (Compare 1Co 5:4,5; 1Ti 1:20.)
Into prison, — into the prison and bondage of sin. (2Ti 2:26.)
Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Verse Mt 5:25. Agree with thine adversary quickly — Adversary, αντιδικος, properly a plaintiff in law – a perfect law term. Our Lord enforces the exhortation given in the preceding verses, from the consideration of what was deemed prudent in ordinary law-suits. In such cases, men should make up matters with the utmost speed, as running through the whole course of a law-suit must not only be vexatious, but be attended with great expense; and in the end, though the loser may be ruined, yet the gainer has nothing. A good use of this very prudential advice of our Lord is this: Thou art a sinner; God hath a controversy with thee. There is but a step between thee and death. Now is the accepted time. Thou art invited to return to God by Christ Jesus. Come immediately at his call, and he will save thy soul. Delay not! Eternity is at hand; and if thou die in thy sins, where God is thou shalt never come.
Those who make the adversary, God; the judge, Christ; the officer, Death; and the prison, Hell, abuse the passage, and highly dishonour God.