We show up to do something for God and then get angry because not enough showed up so we Soldiers of the Roman Army, who in certain aspects we might consider the Nazis of their day, had the legal right to force any subject of an occupied territory to carry their heavy packs and gear for them. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Anglican. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile (Matt. Or, in the words of the latest English translation: "If a man in authority makes you go one mile, go with him two." Roman soldiers could force citizens of Israel or any foreigner to carry their backpacks for a mile. There is a better way to do things." You have not lied to man but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. This is the third verse of the antithesis on the commandment: "Eye for an eye". If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. The Bible talks about this extra mile. Untie them and bring them to me. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. The Second Mile Until speaking with Columbus megachurch pastor Rich Nathan, I never knew about the gloomiest city in America list. A mile.--The influence of Rome is shown by the use of the Latin word (slightly altered) for the mille passuum, the thousand paces which made up a Roman mile--about 142 yards short of an English statute mile. This revised article originally appeared on Corey Farrs blog. owned by Pastor Lester Bentley unless specifically stated. L It is interesting to note a like illustration of the temper that yields to compulsion of this kind, rather than struggle or resist, in the teaching of the Stoic Epictetus--"Should there be a forced service, and a soldier should lay hold on thee, let him work his will; do not resist or murmur" (Diss. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Edward Hardee, 7/2000) You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.. The second mile makes us better humans and better Christians. He did not say to love them as long as there was any hope of saving them, and then hate them to destruction. People dont care how much you know until they know that your care. Matthew 5:41 is the forty-first verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Be a second miler. Text: Matthew 5:41 For if you walk him the extra mile, it is proof of your willing sacrifice. A touch can mean much. 41And whoever (E)compels you to go one mile, go with him two. To understand the attitude of genuine love that the Father has for His lost son, a distinction must be made between love together with fellowship, and love without it. Rather, Christ desired to convey the idea that there is no time when we are to cease forgiving. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Of foreign origin; properly, to be a courier, i.e. . (verse 22). Every child lives by the life of his father. Rather, it would have struck a very real and painful nerve. There is no turning of the other cheek, no going the second mile, no love for their enemies, and no blessing of those who do them evil. 1:16). Share He will be trying to lure you off to the side somehow. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Deepen your knowledge of Christ's journey to the Cross. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. There is yet another explanation that reveals the character of God in wonderful beauty, shows that Christ was not at variance with the father, and establishes the truth that God has never changed His law in the slightest. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again. But there comes a time when the people reject His way and turn to their own, yet still desire God to be with them. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Report, July 28 2015 Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. It is in these moments that the opportunity for true witness is opened up. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. B. There is a reason the word martyr literally means witness,and there is a reason why the greatest witness to the heart of God was precisely God himself becoming a martyr accepting death at the hands of the oppressors to overturn not only the system of empire, but also sin, death, and oppression everywhere. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Vote Up Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. http://www.thewordministryokc.com Geocoding Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. B The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 4. Text: Matthew 5:41 Share 65:913; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17, Gen. 17:1; Lev. Matthew 5:41, Matthew 5:41-50. E The Pharisees lives were as fine an example as can be found of living the law according to human interpretation of how it should be kept. . A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Can and does God give instructions built upon imperfect sinful foundations? But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. "If anyone forces you to go one mile go also the second mile." 23:23). A distinguishing mark of Gods children is that they do turn the other cheeks, do go the second mile, do love their enemies, and do bless and do good to those who return them only evil. (Mat 5:41 KJV) "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ----Take Another Lap------- Up to seven times: Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. They will then begin to understand and testify with the words of the Bible writers: Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Title: Going the second mile Jesus said, Be perfect as your Father is perfect. Pentecostal. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 3. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Israel, during the time of Christ, was under Roman rule. Q Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 Psalm 119:33-40 For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. read more, Denomination: With the YouVersion Bible App, you can read, watch, listen, and share on your smartphone or tablet, and online at Bible.com. If you are Gods children, begotten by His Spirit, you live by the life of God. Y The words are taken from the Bible. He was also familiar with the view that people took of what God had done. That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Were those laws His perfect will? The relationship is spiritual for it is in this, and not the physical sense, that we are Gods children. No orders will be mailed until March 13, 2023. These words of Jesus would have been profoundly disturbing to his first-century audience. read more, Scripture: Therefore, if doing this makes us the children of God and thus the reproduction of Him, then God loves His enemies, including Satan. Report, January 01 2016 Bring the beauty and truth of the Bible into everyday life. Matthew 5:38-48. Asked July 27 2015 Less than $5/mo! We welcome your thoughts and discussion to our posts. Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. The devil takes all these blessings and uses them to war against God, but for this God is not responsible. Following the Beatitudes in Matthew Five, we find Jesus telling the multitude just what kind of people God wants us to be. When the real nature of Gods righteousness is understood and appreciated, it will call forth from the hearts of those who thus see it a rapture of praise and adoration otherwise impossible. Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines. He wants us to be giving, loving, forgiving, gentle, going-the-extra-mile people. In thirty-seven verses the Lord says, The Law; Moses; ye say; ye have heard; or it hath been said, but I say unto you. Ye have heard that it hath been said, (old) An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, (new) That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? C V While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? Lesson: In Jesus' day Roman soldiers could force a Jewish male to carry their heavy backpacks for one mile. In summary, Jesus is saying we need to be pure inside and out and as accommodating as possible for the sake of a lost world. May you come to see God as Christ New Him. The appearances certainly point to Christ as being at variance with His Father on what the law was and how it should be kept. Community answers are sorted based on votes. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Matthew 5:41. He may use friends. T W 43You have heard that it was said, (H)You shall love your neighbor (I)and hate your enemy. 44[a]But I say to you, (J)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (K)do good to those who hate you, and pray (L)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (M)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. I l, When Worship Is Resistance: Hymn for the 81%, On Thanksgiving: An Honest Home in the Uncomfortable Both, Making Room for Opposing the Death Penalty on the Evangelical Agenda, Abide in Me: Excerpt from Lent Reflection. This particular image, The Second Mile, is one of a collection of 45 thought-provoking photos by Michael Belk, which can be found at Journeys with the Messiah. Show hospitality as Aquila and Priscilla (1 Cor. Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular. What would be some verses from the Bible to save a marriage? This is the great and first commandment. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have. Could it be possible that God loves Satan even to this very day? 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Listen! For added effect, remember that Jesus was a Jew. Go the second mile. Therefore, most people have no disposition to surrender the security provided by their defending and protecting their rights and possessions. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, Cornelius. And he stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Verse 41. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. Can anyone help explain in full the meaning of Matthew 5:38-48? This identification of the children of God is powerfully meaningful. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. R Its unfortunate that weve adopted this phrase into our culture and completely misappropriated it. They had been raised up to know humanitys ways so that their expectation of the Messiahs kingdom was quite different from what it would in fact be. Our next post will be titled: An Eye for an Eye. compels you to go one mile, go with him two. No need for ALL CAPS, bold, or extreme language. I find it is usually the same people over and over again. read more, Scripture: 6:7; 1 Pet. The old, He classified as their way, against which He set forth that which was His way. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Time To Go The Second Mile. Since the grace of God is given to us, we in turn should bestow that same means and measure of grace upon others. Publisher: OpenBible.info. What is meant by, "A body prepared for me" in Hebrews 10:5? Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. O He gives the blessings for their good, but the perversion of them is the responsibility of those who misuse the gift. You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. Lets do what is expected, then do what is unexpected. If the Lord gave one law for the people in given age and situation and subsequently changed this for later generations, then He is no better than changeable men and women who are forever modifying the laws to suit changing circumstances. And even though Jesus is clearly the one without any power at all in the situation, the soldier is captivated by what he has to say, because Jesus speaks from the unique wisdom that exists only in the hearts of the oppressed. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Matthew 14:15-21, Denomination: Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 5:41). And God spoke all these words saying . And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 12:17; 1 Cor. To them, there is no more frightening prospect. Matthew 5:41, KJV: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Does the devil have power to make us sick? M "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' . The hearers evaluation of Christs presentation and position would depend then on their having a spiritual perception of what he was saying. But Jesus said to return love for hate, blessing for cursing, and goodness for evil. He leads me beside still waters. In this discourse, Christ is magnifying the law. Title: Go the Second Mile And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.. And it shall be righteousness for you before the Lord your God. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. The offer of the second mile was actually a way to unmask the power play, to nonviolently subvert the system by playing right into the ridiculousness of it all. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. 12:17; 1 Cor. Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. This command is known by some theologians as:The "Second Mile Principle". You will find them in St. Matthew's Gospel, chapter five, verse 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. What does "going the second mile" mean? P And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. I Peter 2:21-24 " Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was . For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. Baptist. J For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. If He did not, then Christ bore a false witness of His Father. N And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. They were their oppressors, and were hated Christ's urging is like a timid flower within the Sermon on the Mount, but the fragrance it gives can transform your whole life and work wonders . Labs ~Matthew 5:41 When Jesus spoke these words, the audience had a very firm understanding of the background. All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. Judge not, that you be not judged. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.. That whoever believes in him may have eternal life. Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? Having laid out these guidelines for human behavior, Christ confirmed that this was the way in which His Father practiced the law. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. This will greatly impress, impact, and influence others. Thus, the subject was actually turned into an object to be used as a pack mule. Used by permission. August 11 2015 How does cultural context bear upon the way God works with humanity? Withdraw or retire, literally or figuratively. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. Not Helpful "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Let's refresh others as Onesiphorus (2 Tim. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciples; he becomes a new creature. 6:7; 1 Pet. Christians are to know no other way. Thirteen men looked to their left side to see what all the ruckus was all about. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. We all have been known to "go the second mile," even outside of church. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. couragedeathextra mileJewMartyrNaziNonviolenceOppressionPacifismpowersinSubversive. As a firm believer in nonviolence who has spent time in some places of almost Roman-esque oppression, it is exhausting to have people challenge pacifist views over and over again with tired clichs to prove pacifism is pointless, stupid, and even cowardly. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Today's lessons are: Leviticus 19L1-2,9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23; and Matthew 5:38-48 But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. To the human mind, this is the only available solution to the problem. It is not about me but thee. Not ME but WE. Share For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. God is in a position of power from which He can obliterate any opposition by a single word. Go the Second Mile Jesus' first great sermon was a clear statement of what the law really meant, alerting the people to know that that which "was said to them of old," was not the version He had come to bring them. Jesus was/is Extra - Ordinary and 'The Greatest Walker wants us to Walk that extra - mile, but when? A solution to this problem offered in our day is to teach dispensationalism. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Theme: Showing the importance of taking the extra step. For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four scriptures read before the Message. Do not even the Gentiles do the same? How many of us are it must be fair kind of people? As He progressed through His sermon, repeatedly He swept aside the law as they understood it to read and replace it with the law as God intended that it should be read and obeyed. I But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. OpenBible.info Before He began to explain the law as He had given it and would live it, He warned that, even though it might appear so to them, he had not come to do away with the law but to establish it. Here is some important background information concerning this practice: A Roman mile, measuring 1478.5 meters or 5820.9 feet. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. To the person of the world, there is no sense in Christs words. We go beyond what is expected in love and forgiveness. They would be a financial failure. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:13-48, Denomination: In setting out the principles of that law, God has declared what He is and what He will and will not do. God does love His enemies. Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. If you are the children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but be like Him. In those days, it was not unusual for a Roman centurion to approach a Jewish man and tell him to carry the soldier's burden for a mile, and then, as the mile had been accomplished, to tell that Jewish man . They were their oppressors, and were hated by the Jews. Jesus said, you have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you . (Mat 5:38-41) "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? The soldiers attempt to intimidate and humiliate the peasant now leads to uncomfortable embarrassment. 2:23, Job 25:3; Ps. Blog, A Do not even the tax collectors do the same? What the Bible says about Going the Extra Mile ( From Forerunner Commentary ) Matthew 5:38-42 Normally and customarily, self-defense is a legal right in virtually every nation on earth, but in the Christian's case, God says, "No, it is not a right. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. It was Gods perfect love gift to human beings to protect them from themselves and from the possibility of perverting the powers given to them for life and blessing into a cataclysm of destruction. The Second Mile Philosophy is a service that not many Christians apply themselves to today. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles a division of Good News Publishers, All rights reserved. What temple is this? It was the truth and, as such, it had to be accepted. JEWISH UNIQUIE LAW Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. He blesses him as far as it is possible for the blessings to reach him, does him good where he can, and will continue to do so for as long as Satan exits. Disciples Go The Second Mile They obeyed their laws but not the Lord. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Or as the old King Whenever possible, all works created by others will be given credit. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. K Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. 48(O)Therefore you shall be perfect, just (P)as your Father in heaven is perfect. So Christ segregated the teaching of the past from His own. You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. I believe that we as Christians are required to live in the second mile. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. " If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." Matthew 5:41 These words of Jesus would have been profoundly disturbing to his first-century audience. He is explaining the way in which God desires His directives, Thou shalt not kill, steal, and lie, to be understood, consider the difference between humanitys philosophy and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. The "second mile" that Jesus was referring to was not just a nice platitude that he made up on the spot. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. G Episcopal. Z. The Novum Testamentum Graece text is: , ' . Mark 15:21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. Powerpoint at website. They do not see that there is another and infinitely better way to deal with the rebellion than counterforce. Used by permission. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old?
Professional Volunteer Disaster Survey Team,
First Dui Offense In Tennessee,
David Lain Baker Wife Cancer,
Gerrit Cole Stats Before And After Crackdown,
Best Climate In Queensland,
Articles G