Bible Reading: Luke 12: 54-59

He also said to the crowds; "When you see (a) cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain-and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot-and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

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This speaks for itself and the meaning should be obvious to anyone, even scriptwriters and English majors.

But I will point out something that is not noticed by many who, like I address in the previous post, read for physical truth instead of spiritual truth. Jesus is saying that through the weather observation analogy, people learn how to live among the elements on earth, and build a body of wisdom about reality (where the wind blows from and when clouds are sighted). Notice he's not saying watch Jupiter to be profane fortune tellers. Jesus is pointing out what farmers and shepherds need to know, and people who live day to day in the real world of good or bad weather. He is then saying that how is it that people can learn how to live in the good or bad weather, but cannot work things out among themselves through experience? So the subject of the parable and his opponent are humans, but God is the judge. If people do not settle things in kindness (even as they are on their way to the magistrate) then God will settle their hash for them. (That's one of my favorite country sayings, as I've explained before, to "settle one's hash" is a food term that means someone with authority will resolve a problem and you may not like the outcome so much, and it will be final and usually involve what we call today a 'butt kicking.') If humans do not operate in God's rule then he will have the evil doer seized when they appear before him and "You will not be released until you have paid the last penny."

By the way, Prots like to say that purgatory is never mentioned in the Bible, though they are wrong because purification before being before God is mentioned. This is another reference to the FACT that recompense for sin will be demanded in fullness when one appears before God, for, repeating again, "You will not be released until you have paid the last penny."