²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court^[a] with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.^(A)

⁵⁸ Thus when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to reach a settlement,^[a] or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison.^{(A) 59} I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”^(B)

¹³ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Warning against Unbelief

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

³¹ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he cannot, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.

²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.^{(A) 25} Once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’^(B)

¹⁷ You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing^[a] with tears.^(A)

Practical Admonitions