Luke 12:58 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →On the way to the magistrate with your accuser, make every effort to settle, lest you be handed from judge to officer to prison.
What Does Luke 12:58 Mean?
Jesus closes with a scene from ordinary life: two parties on the road to court, and the verdict likely to go against the debtor. Wisdom says settle in the way — give diligence, exert yourself, while the matter is still in your own hands. Once the court takes over, the chain runs by itself: judge, officer, prison.
Placed where Jesus puts it — right after the call to discern the time — the picture presses the urgency of being reconciled while the road still runs. Now is the season for settling accounts with God and neighbor: repentance, forgiveness sought, wrongs made right. Mercy stands open all along the way; the appointed court lies at the end of it. Settle before arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 12:58
What does Luke 12:58 mean?
On the way to the magistrate with your accuser, make every effort to settle, lest you be handed from judge to officer to prison.