When Compelled to Go a Mile Matthew 5:41

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples if their “righteousness” did not “exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees” they would, “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus then shared about “murder, adultery and swearing”, and He told His disciples, “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.” Jesus went on to say, “You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak also”, and in chapter five and verse forty-one of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples what to do when someone, “shall compel you to go a mile” where we read:

And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him twain.

The verse reads, “And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and whosoever” which means “and whatever person or anyone who” “shall compel you” which means “will press the disciples as a mounted messenger or into public service” “to go a mile” or “to travel, be as a mounted messenger and public service”. Jesus referred to when someone “forced” one of His disciples to carry a load for “a mile”.

The verse continues, “... go with him twain.” Matthew continues with the word, “go” which means “depart and go your way” “with him“ or “with the person who forced the disciple” “twain” which means “two miles”. Jesus told His disciples to go “twice” the amount of miles which were required.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we should understand the times in which Jesus and the disciples lived. Roman rule and law gave authority for a Roman authority to require a person to carry a load for them when told to do so, however, their load was only to be carried for “one mile”. Jesus knew this law would be offensive to anyone who was told to “carry the load”, and His solution was for His disciples to carry the load twice the distance which was required of them. Can we imagine the look that would have been upon the Roman authority's face when they were offered “two times” the amount required? God desires to have a relationship with every person who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus, and when they do, He will give them the ability to “go the extra mile” and give testimony to those who require of them.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “give to him that asks of you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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