Correspondence: Who Is the Adversary?
Matthew 5:25‑26; Luke 12:58‑59 • 2 min. read • grade level: 8
Question: What does Matthew 5:25-2625Agree 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. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:25‑26); and Luke 12:58-5958When 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. 59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke 12:58‑59) apply to? Who is the adversary?
Answer: Primarily this applies to Israel, who had broken God’s covenant, and when God sent His Son to them, they rejected Him also. They are now cast into prison because of their treatment of Christ, and there they will remain till the time of their restoration through the death of Christ (Isa. 40:1-21Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:1‑2)).
But we can also apply these scriptures to each Jew and Gentile now, for all have sinned against God, making God their adversary. But God loves them, and beseeches them to be reconciled to Him, and calls to them, “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” And to those who believe on the Son, He gives full pardon for all their sins, and makes them children of God, accepted in the Beloved One, made meet to be partakers of the portion of the saints in light (Col. 1:1212Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12)). They are perfected forever by the one great atoning sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)). and so have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)).
There is also a modified way in which we might apply this scripture. If a Christian, a real child of God, sows to the flesh, and will not judge himself and confess his sin, he will reap corruption. The Lord has a contention with him; the Holy Spirit in him is grieved, and unless he confesses his sin, he is unhappy and his communion is broken. The Lord may need to chasten him, that he may be restored, but before doing so, He beseeches His loved one to hearken to Him, to open the door and let Him come in again into his life, that the Saviour and he may again sup, together (Rev. 3:19-2019As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:19‑20); Heb. 12:5-65And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:5‑6); Eph. 5:1414Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (Ephesians 5:14)).