Settle matters quickly with God: Matthew 5:25

Many people of ancient Israel believed that keeping the ceremonial laws of Moses was the highest expression of their love for God. But Jesus taught his disciples that to God there are more important things than ceremonies and temple sacrifices: to keep short accounts and “settle matters quickly” with both the people in our lives and with God.

Keeping short accounts

The ancient Jewish people generally assumed that the offerings they made at the temple would be pleasing to God because he had commanded these sacrifices in the Mosaic Law. They were fulfilling their duty as faithful Jews and expressing their love for God. What could be more important than the sacrifices offered to God at the temple? But the ceremonial laws were symbolic and keeping them didn’t actually make one right before God. And Jesus had much to say about this:

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.  (Matthew 5:23-24)

Jesus wasn’t cancelling the commands of the Law. And although the Jewish people could bring their offerings with a pure heart toward God, Jesus was clearly saying that reconciling with their neighbors was more important. Even if they had traveled a long distance to the temple in Jerusalem to offer them.

Hierarchy of commands

Contrary to some popular beliefs, there’s a hierarchy of commands in God’s law. In other words, some are more important than others. Jesus taught that the highest command is to love God (Matthew 22:36-38) and loving our neighbor is the second highest (Matthew 22:39). But most Jews of Jesus’ time firmly believed if they kept the laws of Moses, they were loving God. And to them, nothing could be higher than the sacrificial temple offerings.

But according to Jesus’ teaching, reconciling with our brother or sister is more important than bringing an offering to God. That’s because loving God and loving our neighbor are inseparably linked:

 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20)

If we can’t love others, how can we love God? And if we intentionally refuse to reconcile with our neighbor, our worship is hypocritical.

So, loving others is more important to God than religious ceremonies and worship. When someone has something against us or when we hurt them and we ignore it, our religion doesn’t please God. We’re worshipping God with a tainted heart. We need to settle matters with our brother or sister first before we offer anything to God.

Some sins more harmful

Just as some commands of God are more important than others, the converse is also true. All sins are not equal; some are more grievous and harmful than others. And sins against other people are greater than the sin of delaying or missing an offering to God.

So, Jesus is telling us to keep short accounts with those we live with and the people around us. Obviously, Jesus isn’t telling us to please everyone. Our priority is to please God. But when we have hurt someone or slighted them, then we need to make it right to the best of our ability, as quickly as possible.

Mercy more important than ceremony

During Isaiah’s time many Israelites had forsaken the Lord, turning their backs on him and oppressing their neighbors. And the leaders were denying justice to the fatherless and widows (Isaiah 1:21-23). But the people were still bringing sacrifices to the temple, so God said this to them:

“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. (Isaiah 1:11-13)

This very issue was why Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and teachers of the law of his time:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.  (Matthew 23:23)

These religious leaders were so focused on keeping the minutia of the Mosaic Law. But God’s command to love others by reconciling and keeping short accounts with people was a low priority for them. So, they missed the heart of the law entirely. The more important matters of the law include justice (being fair with people), showing mercy and compassion to the helpless and broken, and faithfulness (keeping your promises to others).

Keeping a short account with God

But Jesus intended an even more important meaning to this teaching: we should all keep short accounts with our Creator. A person who offers a sacrifice to God but whose heart isn’t right with him is offering something that God isn’t interested in. He won’t accept it.

Whatever we offer to God has no meaning or value if our sins are not forgiven and we haven’t reconciled with God. There is no religious ritual or ceremony that can correct that condition or make up for that void. God is interested in a true love relationship with us and not mere offerings or ritual.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.  (Hosea 6:6)

Settle matters quickly when going to court

Immediately after his teaching about keeping short accounts, Jesus followed up with this:

Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:25-26)

This allegory continues the same theme as the previous passage but with a different storyline. In this story, a man is being taken to court, possibly for a large unpaid debt. The man’s future is at risk because he’s in a weak legal position. If he can’t please his accuser, he’ll be taken before the judge and probably be found guilty and go to prison. So, it would be best for him to settle matters quickly with his accuser. The other option of going to court to face the judge would be most undesirable for him.

Settling out of court

In our day, we call this settling out of court. An out of court settlement is sometimes the better alternative instead of going through with a lawsuit. This is when grace and mercy can be offered, and the dispute settled amicably.

But if a dispute goes to court, there is usually only one winner, and the other party loses. In many cases, the winner takes all, and the loser faces a punishing judgment. In a criminal case, the accused is found either guilty or not guilty. After a verdict is reached, what is required is justice—grace and mercy are no longer available. And this isn’t at all favorable for the person who has committed the crime.

The practical wisdom of Jesus’ teaching is obvious to us today. We should all aim to settle our disputes peacefully, especially believers who are representatives of God’s kingdom. Giving up some of our rights is more honorable than fighting to the bitter end:

If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.  (Matthew 5:40)

And giving up our expectations and our pride to preserve peace is much better than losing everything in a dispute.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  (Romans 12:18)

When an agreement can be made, there can be grace and mercy to restore the relationship. But if there’s no agreement, the relationship remains broken.

Settling with God

Most people can see the benefit of settling disputes peacefully. But again, there’s a deeper spiritual meaning and a more important application behind this allegory.

God gives everyone time to live out their life on earth. But we all have only so much time. Life is limited, and then at some point it ends in death. Regardless of culture, language, nationality, gender, or social status, all people have sinned against God. We have done so by ignoring him, rejecting his words and commands, hating people we don’t like or agree with, and living selfishly.

The day of God’s judgment

Whether we lived a normal life or a hard life, we all owe a debt to God for our sin that we can’t pay. We are criminally liable to God. And at the end of our lives, we will all have to stand before God the righteous judge:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Everyone is destined to die once, and after that comes the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  And the Lord is both prosecutor and judge:

 …. because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”  To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.  (Romans 2:5-8)

Only those who seek and accept God’s truth and put their faith in his promise to forgive will survive that day of judgment intact. On the “day of God’s wrath,” if we had not repented of our godless life and turned to God, he will punish us. On that day, it will be all about justice. Grace and mercy will no longer be available.

God’s gracious offer to all

Jesus showed us the importance of reconciling with people we are at odds with. But how much more important is it to settle matters with God?

God offers to all who live on the earth an “out of court settlement.” In this life, he will graciously forgive all who settle matters quickly and come to him in repentance and faith. Through his sacrificial death, Jesus paid the penalty that we deserved for our sins. God put on his Son the fair and just punishment that we deserved.

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.  (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Christ’s death was God’s gracious provision for us, that we might be saved from his anger on that day of judgment. He will now justify those who accept this provision for themselves and thus enter into a right relationship with him. He will forever set them free from guilt and condemnation.

Paying the last penny

But if we squander this opportunity and don’t settle with God, then on that final day of judgment he will haul us into court and bring charges against us. Then we will be left only with justice. The Lord will declare us guilty, and we’ll have to pay the full amount of our penalty. According to Jesus, the penalty for our rebellion and unbelief occurs when God brings his anger upon us and ends our life permanently and eternally:

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  (Matthew 10:28)

This is how we will “pay the last penny.”

Don’t let that happen to you. As long as you are alive you can turn to God and reconcile with him. Settle out of court with God now. There’s no better time than now.

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