Matthew 5:25
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.
Cross-references
Matthew 18:34 depicts the master handing the unforgiving servant to tormentors — the same image of being delivered to jailers until the debt is paid.
In Genesis 32:13-22, Jacob sends gifts ahead to appease Esau — a concrete strategy for settling a dispute before meeting, as Jesus counsels.
In Genesis 32:3-8, Jacob urgently seeks reconciliation with Esau — a direct example of making peace before an encounter as Jesus advises.
In 1 Samuel 25:17-35, Abigail urgently brings gifts and pleads with David to avert bloodshed, exemplifying quick settlement to avoid disaster.
Luke 14:32 describes a king sending a delegation to ask for peace while the enemy is still far — exactly mirroring settling on the way.
Proverbs 25:8 advises against rushing to court, suggesting it's better to settle out of court — a direct parallel to settling on the way.
Luke 12:59 continues the same teaching, emphasizing the consequence of not settling: imprisonment until the last penny is paid.
Luke 12:58 is the parallel account, using the same imagery of settling with an adversary on the way to the magistrate.
In 1 Samuel 25:18, Abigail quickly brings gifts to David to avert his wrath — a practical example of agreeing with an adversary before it's too late.
Hebrews 12:17 describes Esau finding no repentance though he sought it — parallels the irreversible loss when the chance is missed.
Hebrews 3:13 urges daily exhortation 'while it is called Today' — same emphasis on immediate action to prevent hardening.
Luke 13:25 shows the door shut and late knockers rejected — parallels the irreversible consequence of failing to settle in time.
Isaiah 55:6 urges seeking God while He may be found — the same urgency to act before the opportunity passes, parallel to settling quickly.
In 2 Samuel 19:16, Shimei hurries to meet David seeking forgiveness — another model of hastening to make peace with an offended party.
In Genesis 33:3-11, Jacob proactively bows and offers gifts to Esau, modeling reconciliation with a wronged adversary before meeting.
Isaiah 55:7 calls the wicked to forsake their ways for pardon — like Matthew's call to reconcile before judgment, both require immediate repentance.
Luke 13:24 urges striving to enter the narrow gate before it shuts — same theme of urgent action to avoid being locked out.
Proverbs 6:1-5 urges immediate action to escape a financial trap, paralleling the urgency of settling with an adversary before it's too late.
2 Corinthians 6:2 declares 'now is the day of salvation' — mirrors the urgency to act immediately before the opportunity ends.
Hebrews 3:7 quotes 'Today if you hear his voice' — echoes the call to respond now before it's too late.
Job 22:21 calls to agree with God and be at peace, applying the principle of reconciliation to one's relationship with God.