640. Agreeing With an Adversary

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

• 1 min. read • grade level: 9

Matthew 5:25²⁵Agree 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). Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge.

According to the Roman law, if a person had a quarrel which he could not settle privately he had the right to order his adversary to accompany him to the praetor. If he refused, the prosecutor took some one present to witness by saying, “May I take you to witness?” If the person consented he offered the tip of his ear, which the prosecutor touched; a form which was observed toward witnesses in some other legal ceremonies among the Romans. Then the plaintiff might drag the defendant to court by force in any way, even by the neck (see Matt. 18:28²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. (Matthew 18:28)), but worthless persons, such as thieves and robbers, might be dragged before a judge without the formality of calling a witness. If on the way to the judge the difficulty was settled, no further legal steps were taken. See Adam's Roman Antiquities, 12Th Ed., p. 98.

To this custom our Saviour refers in the text. When the accused is thus legally seized by the accuser, he is urged to make up his quarrel while on the way to the judge, so that no further legal process be had.

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