Mt 5:41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”
Summary Notes
Say What?!
A Roman soldier had authority to press a subject into service such as when Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross in Matthew 27:32. By law a non-citizen could be pressed into carrying a load for a soldier up to one Roman mile. Jesus said if this happens to you then give more and go two miles instead of one. This command is where we get the saying to “Go the extra mile.”
Why would He say this?
I do not think Jesus is telling His followers that they must do whatever anyone tells them to do and more. This command speaks about my personal attitude, highlighting what seems to be a natural
contempt or disdain for authority. I think Jesus is telling me that when I’m told to do something that I don’t want to do by my boss at work or an officer of the law that I need to check my attitude. What might happen if I cheerfully did what I was told to do and more?
Click here for my personal application and your comments link …or Scroll down for my FULL NOTES and references…
COMMAND 17: ”…go with him two.”
Mt 5:41
RECIPIENT: To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain
Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying…
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mt 5:38-40 “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ 39“But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also.”
COMMAND FULL TEXT:
Mt 5:41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.”
RESULT: No stated result except for two chapters later when Jesus came down from the mountain
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
The saying, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH,’ comes from Old Testament Law in the context of judicial investigation and judgment
Ex 21:23-25 “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Lv 24:19-20 ‘If a man injures his neighbor, just as he has done, so it shall be done to him: 20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.
Dt 19:18-21 “The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, 19then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. 20“The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among you. 21“Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Don’t misconstrue this command to think Jesus is telling His followers that they must do whatever anyone tells them to do and more. A Roman soldier had authority to press a subject into service such as when Simon of Cyrene was pressed into service to carry Jesus’ cross in Matthew 27:32. This command speaks about my personal attitude, highlighting what seems to be a natural contempt or disdain for authority.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
(word: Strong’s # Greek pronunciation — definition)
forces: G29 ἀγγαρεύω ang-ar-yew’-ō — properly to be a courier, that is, (by implication) to press into public service
go: G5217 ὑπάγω hoop-ag’-ō — to lead (oneself) under, that is, withdraw or retire (as if sinking out of sight)
mile: G3400 μίλιον mil’-ee-on — a thousand paces
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and please share it in the comments
When someone in legitimate authority tells me to do something that is within their authority, generously do that something. Who knows, maybe something good will come of it.
© 2018 Christopher Carlson
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.