Does this parable substantiate the doctrine of purgatory, as Roman Catholic scholars claim?
MISINTERPRETATION: In this parable the judge would not release his prisoner until he paid the last farthing. Roman Catholic authority Ludwig Ott believes this lends support to the doctrine of purgatory, for through further interpretation of the parable, a time-limited condition of punishment in the other world began to be seen expressed in the time-limited punishment of the prison (Ott, 1960, 484). CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: Purgatory is not envisioned in this text. Such an interpretation goes well beyond the context. Jesus is not speaking about a spiritual prison after death but a physical prison before death. The previous verse makes the context clear: Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge . . . and you may be thrown in prison (v. 25 niv). To be sure, Jesus was not speaking of mere external things here but of the spiritual matters of the heart (cf. vv. 21 22). H
