Article March 23, 1940 Issue

"Agree with thine adversary quickly"

KATHERINE SHEPARD WHITNEY

In his great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "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 thou be cast into prison."

The words "agree" and "agreement" are frequently used in business and legal terminology where opposing views are settled, or settlement is reached. One definition of the word "agree" is "to come to terms ... especially in settling a difference." Certainly we must settle with our "adversary" when we first recognize an adversary. How did Jesus settle with the adversary? When he was tempted in the wilderness, how did he meet the adverse suggestions? When he said, "Get thee hence, Satan," the adversary was met, dismissed, and the false claim settled. Jesus was completely freed from the false and erroneous argument, for "angels came and ministered unto him." So too with us. When we dismiss the material thoughts that may be arguing falsely to our consciousness, we find an abundance of angel thoughts ministering to us and meeting our needs. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 390): "'Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him.' Suffer no claim of sin or of sickness to grow upon the thought. Dismiss it with an abiding conviction that it is illegitimate, because you know that God is no more the author of sickness than He is of sin."

Is the adversary ever real or powerful? In that Jesus said, "Get thee hence," he gave no power to Satan. Certainly it was only an erroneous suggestion, which he had but to reject. His firm dismissal was final; and immediately angels were present to minister unto him.

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