Athanasius377
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Matt. 5:26,18:34; Luke 12:58-59 – Jesus teaches us, “Come to terms with your opponent or you will be handed over to the judge and thrown into prison. You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” The word “opponent” (antidiko) is likely a reference to the devil (see the same word for devil in 1 Pet. 5:8) who is an accuser against man (c.f. Job 1.6-12; Zech. 3.1; Rev. 12.10), and God is the judge. If we have not adequately dealt with satan and sin in this life, we will be held in a temporary state called a prison, and we won’t get out until we have satisfied our entire debt to God. This “prison” is purgatory where we will not get out until the last penny is paid.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 5:21–26). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Lk 12:57–59). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
The word "opponent", while an ok translation of the word ἀντίδικος the better translation would be accuser or even plaintiff as it has a juridical connotation. Which makes sense since both passages are dealing with the Mosaic law. The whole point of the passage in Matthew and the corollary passage in Luke is that it isn't just good enough to not murder someone but also to have unrighteous anger in the heart. Also, the phrase Ισθι εὐνοῶν τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου ταχύ, can also be translated as "Make friends your accuser", so the idea that the accuser is the devil does not work. Moreover the ἀντίδικος described by Jesus here is named a brother, not the devil. Context dictates the definition here and not the context of an unrelated passage. As to the punishment due is incidental to the overall thrust: which is to say that the LORD sees into the heart of man cf 1 Sam 16:7. So those that thought they were pulling off their Law keeping by not committing murder are just as guilty due to of anger in their hearts as the murderer. Furthermore the guilty here is receiving just punishment precisely because he is not reconciled and not because he is forgiven but required to undergo satispassio in purgatory. Lastly the punishment received is in this life not the next.
Matt. 5:48 – Jesus says, “be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” We are only made perfect through purification, and in Catholic teaching, this purification, if not completed on earth, is continued in a transitional state we call purgatory.
The exact quote is :
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 5:48). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
This is a capstone on the proceeding verses that began in verse 17-20.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mt 5:17–20). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
The Pharisees had maintained that there was a written Torah and an equally authoritative oral Torah (Traditions of the Elders). These traditions were kept by the Pharisees as a means to maintain the law which the motivations were good if misguided. What it did was produce a false security with the notion that some were actually pulling off Law keeping. Here Jesus ramps up the Law saying that it is not good enough to simply obey the Law but rather to be Perfect. .Should we strive for perfection? Absolutely. This process is called sanctification not purgatory.