Jump Start # 3783

Matthew 5:41 “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.”

I recently preached on this passage that comes from the famous Sermon on the Mount. The statement is about being a servant. It calls for us to do the unexpected. But, in the times Jesus spoke it, how outrageous, radical and even offensive this must have sounded to those listening ears.

There was a law in Judea that was strictly enforced. A Roman soldier could compel a Jew to carry his pack, his shield, his spear, for one mile. One mile was the limit. History tells us that there were one mile markers outside of Jewish villages identifying how far the equipment of a Roman soldier could be carried. One mile.

Rome did that to harass, humiliate, annoy, irritate, bother and oppress the Jews. This was a regular reminder that the Jews were not an independent nation. They were oppressed and they were to serve their oppressors. If you had your arms full of boxes, a Roman soldier would enjoy forcing you to drop those boxes and carry his gear. Would your boxes still be there when you returned? The Roman didn’t care. They would see a Jew walking very fast, as if he was in a hurry, and they’d make that person carry the equipment for a mile. A protesting Jew could be beaten. Worse, he could be arrested for treason. You might be walking one way and a Roman soldier the opposite way, and he would make you carry his stuff the direction he was going. Your anger would build because of how these soldiers treated you and others. But, there was nothing you could do. The Romans could mock and make fun of you as you carried their stuff one mile. Many Jews would look carefully to see if any soldiers were in the area before they tried to make their journey. They would hide, not wanting to walk the mile with the soldier.

This was life for the Jews. And, now Jesus adds to this, if you are forced to go one mile, go two. No one went two miles. No one could make you go two miles. One mile is all that was required. One mile is what was expected and demanded. If a soldier caught you going the wrong direction and made you walk with him one mile, you are now two miles from where you started. With Jesus’ words, you would be four miles from where you started.

The interesting thing about this is that when a disciple got to the one mile marker, he’d keep walking. The soldier might tell him to stop, but the disciple would keep going. He would do this, not complaining. He would not gripe about Roman occupation. In fact, it would shock the soldier. He’d be telling you, that is enough. But, onward you’d keep walking. Walking with a smile. Walking way out of your way. You’d do this because that’s what Jesus did towards us. He always went out of the way for us.

Now some thoughts from this:

First, because I do not have to, is not a reason not to. This is a common thought about attendance. Someone will say, “Wednesday night is not in the Bible, so I don’t have to come.” The point of our passage is just that. You don’t have to walk a second mile. No one can make you walk a second mile. You do it by choice. You do it because you want to.

When we do only what we have to do, that becomes duty. That’s not the heart of a servant. When we only do things if we get paid, that’s called a job. That’s not the heart of a servant. But, when we do things that we do not have to do, and no one asks us to do them, now, we begin to understand a servant.

Second, there are plenty of one mile Christians. They will do their duty. I’ve even heard some pray, “Lord, we pray for those who it is our duty to pray for.” What about those it’s not our duty to pray for. What about praying for Russia’s Putin. We talk about him. We criticize him. We blame him. Have we ever prayed for him? Doing only what is expected and nothing more, sure sucks the air out of a congregation. Paul praised Philemon because he knew he would do even more than what Paul said. The Thessalonians were encouraged to excel still more.

Duty minded Christians seem to be in a hurry to get out of the church building. I’ve seen others, nearly an hour after services talking, some with Bibles opened, engaging and helping one another. Do they have to do that? That’s the point! Second mile people go beyond what they have to do.

Third, second mile Christians don’t wait to be asked. No one would ask a Jew to go two miles. That would never happen. A Roman soldier could not do that. Going the second mile in forgiveness. Going the second mile in fellowship. Going the second mile like the captured servant girl did when she told Naaman’s wife about a prophet in Israel who could heal his leprosy. Going the second mile like Paul did when he gave Mark a second chance. Earlier, Paul got into an argument not wanting to bring Mark. But, later, Paul declared that Mark was useful for him. A second mile. A second mile like David inviting Saul’s grandson to sit at his table.

Matthew five, where our passage comes from, ends with the question, “What do you do more than others?” Back then, anyone could walk one mile. They had to if a Roman soldier demanded it. But, who goes the second mile? Who goes out of his way?

Second mile Christians…I know some of them. They are amazing.

Roger