Human beings saw God pouring good upon the dwellers in Sodom and Gomorrah for a limited time, after which He exchanged the blessings for cursing, and the good for evil as He poured upon them the flood of fire and brimstone. If you have not had the opportunity to read the other posts on this subject of God and His character I invite you to click the links below. This verse comes right smack dab in the middle of the most explicitly nonviolent teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5. Why? NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word, NKJV, Abide Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version, NKJV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. M Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Do not even the Gentiles do the same? From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. Summary: This sermon supports the understanding of humility, which use properly is one of the best weapons in a Christians arsenal; by traveling a second mile on a difficult, lonely road; a road Jesus knew and traveled, a road he want us to travel also. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Every child lives by the life of his father. But Jesus said to return love for hate, blessing for cursing, and goodness for evil. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Why did Jesus associate with disreputable people? Following the Beatitudes in Matthew Five, we find Jesus telling the multitude just what kind of people God wants us to be. Lesson: In Jesus' day Roman soldiers could force a Jewish male to carry their heavy backpacks for one mile. Going The Extra Mile When You Have To Grind Your Teeth And Fight, One Small Change Will Energize Tomorrow's Sermon, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. R The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Matthew 16:24, Matthew 5:38-42, Denomination:
T Hospitality is when you open your heart and not just your home. for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. 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. On the contrary, He warned that sin is the act of separating from God, so that there remains no protection from the destructive forces thus set in motion. Yet far too few Christians apply themselves .to this principle. read more, Scripture:
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. The Second Mile and Beyond No ruler in human history is like unto our God. The second mile that Jesus was referring to was not just a nice platitude that he made up on the spot. Jesus gave them
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Listen! Earthly potentates know only one way to deal with such elements in society and that is to meet force with force. Lets make ourselves more valuable as neighbors, employees, citizens and Christians. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord needs them, and he will send them at once. This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, Say to the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Verse 41. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
compels you to go one mile, go with him two. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Its also unfortunate that the historical and cultural weight of this passage is missed. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. 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. The prayers that make up the Mysteries of the Rosary ask us to meditate on a variety of pivotal . By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciples; he becomes a new creature. He does not counsel us to love our enemies except for Satan. For less than $5/mo. Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular, Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. D Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. If He did not, then Christ bore a false witness of His Father. But by offering to exceed the limit, the silenced and oppressed human object would be regaining status as a subject. New Heart English Bible And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. There stood a Roman solider yelling at a young Jewish
He will be trying to lure you off to the side somehow. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 6:7; 1 Pet. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This means that God will never take Satans life but would reach out to save him if possible. There is a song, Those little things mean a lot. Nothing is as: touching as a tear, needed as a hug, rewarding as a kind deed, timely as a friend, appreciated as kindness, needed as love, tender as a touch. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! read more, Scripture:
V Let what you say be simply Yes or No; anything more than this comes from evil. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. For they do not wash their hands when they eat. He answered them, And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? Those who are Gods children have the same character as He has. Israel, during the time of Christ, was under Roman rule. For Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (D)But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. To the person of the world, there is no sense in Christs words. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him. 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? He now taught another new law of the second mile. Christians should be expected to do more than whats expected of them. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This
Do not even the tax collectors do the same? You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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. A 'mile'.
Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? 65:913; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17, Gen. 17:1; Lev. Title: Going the second mile Individuals who return evil for evil, do not turn the other cheek, do not go the second mile, and do not bless those who despitefully use them are not children of God. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. The second mile opens up conversations that would never happen in the first mile. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. (Old) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, (new) let him have thy cloke also. 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.
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. We welcome your thoughts and discussion to our posts. Let's make ourselves " more " valuable as neighbors, employees, citizens and Christians. Matthew 5:38-42 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. Show hospitality as Aquila and Priscilla (1 Cor. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Blog, A read more, Scripture:
Its unfortunate that weve adopted this phrase into our culture and completely misappropriated it. read more, Scripture:
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. Be assured on the strength of Christs witness of His Father that God loves the devil and will therefore only bless and do him good. The time must never come when the children of God ceases to love his or her enemy, blessing them and doing good to them.
When this characteristic of behavior on Gods part is seen, the last problems in understanding His character will disappear. Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. He did not say to love them as long as there was any hope of saving them, and then hate them to destruction. TopicalBible Geocoding Lets do what is expected, then do what is unexpected. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. K
Let not your hearts be troubled. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. 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. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. 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. 41. 4:12; 1 Pet. They prefer to work at being more powerful than their enemy so that they can hit back harder than they can be hit. You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. One. So what do you say? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. You have not lied to man but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. to press into public service. God does not support any of the devils activities, even though he is the recipient of Gods blessings just as the most wicked person receives the outflow of Gods life and love in the seedtime and harvest, the rain and the wind, and the continued protection from total and final disaster. read more, Scripture:
But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. For added effect, remember that Jesus was a Jew. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 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. Clarify ================== We will flag your comment if we feel it is inflammatory. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Share And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 11:44; 19:2; Luke 6:36; [Col. 1:28; 4:12]; James 1:4; 1 Pet. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 3:9], NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NKJV, Chronological Study Bible: Holy Bible, New King James Version. So Christ segregated the teaching of the past from His own. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Special moments make special memories. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. People find safety in this doctrine of deterrence. If you are the children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but be like Him. F In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
For all the saints. IF not, then what would we call them? Title: Going Beyond And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. He restores my soul. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. A Psalm of David. H He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. In great mercy, He provides directives effecting, if obeyed the best conditions possible under humanitys system. Satan would then have the argument he needed to win the controversy. Christ neither knew nor presented a God who had one law for Himself and another for the people. This sermon was delivered at Holy Trinity, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on Sunday the 19th February 2017; Holy Trinity is a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. (Mark 2:15). Share Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. (Matthew 5:17-20). For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 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. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. There is neither time nor place where the law is to be broken in order to assure that it is kept. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Jesus said, "And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two" (Matt. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. Lets refresh others as Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 46(N)For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? They were their oppressors, and were hated
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain--an allusion, probably, to the practice of the Romans and some Eastern nations, who, when government despatches had to be forwarded, obliged the people not only to furnish horses and carriage.s, but to give personal attendance, often at great inconvenience, when required. Untie them and bring them to me. G For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Our goal is that our comment section helps us learn from one another and grow to be more like Christ. 20:22]; Luke 6:29; [Rom. The path was hot and dusty and many of the Jews resented it, until Jesus taught them to "go with him twain.". If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Matthew 5:41. 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. They obeyed their laws but not the Lord. V Could it be possible that He blesses him in return for his curses, does good to him who hates Him so much, and prays for him who is despitefully uses and persecutes Him? A solution to this problem offered in our day is to teach dispensationalism. In doing so, He makes no exception of the devil. He gives the blessings for their good, but the perversion of them is the responsibility of those who misuse the gift. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Matthew 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile (Matt. E Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. Jesus identified the children of God as those who obey the law in the way He declared it should be obeyed.
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. This identification of the children of God is powerfully meaningful. 'But I tell you not to resist an evil person. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away (Matthew 5:39-42). (Mat 5:38-41) "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." The mind, long trained to see the workings of God in a certain light, will swiftly object that the great rebellion demanded that god arise to cleanse the universe of the curse by actively destroying the offenders. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her. Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.. He wants us to be giving, loving, forgiving, gentle, going-the-extra-mile people. 23:23). How many of us are it must be fair kind of people? The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles a division of Good News Publishers, All rights reserved. Upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus to get the best value in digital Bible study. Presbyterian/Reformed. It is impossible to strike back at those who strike first and at the same time manifest a forgiving spirit. The Holy Rosary is already a scripture-rooted prayer. Theme: Showing the importance of taking the extra step. New Revised Standard Version and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.
I have been working with people and Pastoring long enough to observe that all successful people live by the second mile principle. As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.
Theme: Showing the importance of taking the extra step. 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. He simply says, Love your enemies. Therefore, anyone who can be classified as an enemy is to be loved. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. 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. Matthew 5:13-48, Denomination:
4. It is one thing to go the first mile but what about the second (extra) mile.
By this (love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35). Expand. The Second Mile Philosophy is a service that not many Christians apply themselves to today. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. No orders will be mailed until March 13, 2023. [Prov. Report Rather, it would have struck a very real and painful nerve. Such a belief would see one law of the people before the advent of Christ, and another and more beautiful law for the people thereafter. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. May you come to see God as Christ New Him. All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. M Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. It was the truth and, as such, it had to be accepted. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. They were their oppressors, and were hated by the Jews. He presented God as the perfect keeper of the law. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. And if I perish, I perish. If lies are told about you, do not lie in return; if they steal your goods, do not seek to steal them back again; if they seek your life, do not seek theirs. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. It is a character received by the process of spiritual regeneration. Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. But there comes a time when the people reject His way and turn to their own, yet still desire God to be with them. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. He does what is required then both go their separate ways without any positive reactions or relationship from their time together. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. So what do you say? This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Thirteen men looked to their left side to see what all the ruckus was all about. 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. People do not understand the wisdom and power of God as it will be employed to put down the great rebellion. C 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 25:40). See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. This is what I love most about the picture above. B But the angel said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. He would point to the changing of the law as clear proof that it was imperfect and needed to be changed. Therefore, most people have no disposition to surrender the security provided by their defending and protecting their rights and possessions. Dont love things, love people.
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.