What did Jesus say about Lawsuits and Legal Disputes?

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

²² But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

²³ “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

²⁶ Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

²³ Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

²⁴ When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

²⁵ But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

²⁶ The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’

²⁷ The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

²⁹ “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’

³⁰ He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.

³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.

³² Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

³³ Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’

³⁴ His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.

³⁵ So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”

¹ “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

² When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³ He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

⁴ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

⁶ About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’

⁷ “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’

⁸ “When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’

⁹ “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

¹⁰ When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

¹¹ When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

¹² saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’

¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

¹⁴ Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

¹⁵ Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’

¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.

¹⁶ But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.

¹⁸ Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.

¹⁹ Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

¹⁴ “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

¹⁵ “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

¹⁶ “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.

¹⁷ He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’

¹⁸ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

¹⁹ I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’

²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

⁵ “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

⁶ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.

⁷ “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet.

⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them.

¹⁰ The Good News must first be preached to all the nations.

¹¹ When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

¹² “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

¹³ You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.

⁸ “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.

⁹ When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

¹⁰ “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

¹³ It will turn out as a testimony for you.

¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

¹⁶ You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.

¹⁷ You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

¹⁸ And not a hair of your head will perish.

¹⁹ “By your endurance you will win your lives.