Matthew 5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge… 1. Man by his sin has made God his adversary. 2. God has opened a way by which sinners, though they have thus grossly offended, may be brought back into a state of reconciliation with Him. 3. To show you that it is man's duty and interest to avail himself of the opportunity of coming into agreement with God. I. WHO ARE THE PERSONS THAT MAY RIGHTLY APPLY TO THEMSELVES THE MOTIVES BY WHICH I SHALL URGE THE BUSINESS OF AGREEMENT WITH GOD. God is the adversary of any child of Adam who has not availed himself of pardon, the man of private virtue as well as his profligate neighbour. II. MOTIVES BY WHICH THIS BUSINESS IS URGED WON YOU. 1. Consider what it is I am endeavouring to enforce upon your attention. No trifle, agreement with God. 2. What would be the blessings that would result if you were thus reconciled to God. 3. What will be the consequences if you are not reconciled? 4. Let me remind you of the interest others take in your reconciliation with God. III. BEGIN THAT RECONCILIATION IMMEDIATELY "Whiles thou art in the way." 1. God is now waiting to come to agreement with you. 2. What reason have you to advance why you should not. 3. Consider the uncertainty of life. 4. All the opportunities of agreement are confined to this present life. 5. The results that in another world will follow a want of reconciliation with God in this, are indescribably dreadful. 6. The punishment will be inevitable and eternal. (J. A. James, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
    |