Roman Soldier Makes a Man Carry His Packby CBPepper
5:41Matthew 5:41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Under Roman rule a person in authority could force another to carry a burden for a mile, and going with him twain means willingly carrying it even farther in a second mile of service. It forbids meeting coercion and oppression with defiance, hatred, revenge, or bitterness, and requires answering a forced demand with willing service beyond what is demanded and with a heart free of personal resentment. Jesus Himself lived this out by never retaliating for insult and persecution, copying a holy God who gives sunshine and rain to the just and the unjust alike, and this spirit marks the children of the Father in heaven and moves toward being perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ set it forth as part of the far-reaching claims and spirit of God's law, laying out the principles of His kingdom of divine grace rather than earthly power and demanding wholehearted love for God and neighbor from the heart. It is to be studied, believed, and acted upon in daily life, so that its divine principles are embedded in the heart and develop Christlike character in words, attitude, and deeds of mercy.
Setting and Wording
The mile is the distance a person could be compelled to go under Roman rule, when a soldier could force another to carry his load or burden for a mile. It was especially Jewish peasants who were thus compelled to carry the burdens of Roman soldiers. Jesus spoke these words while Roman soldiers were forcing Jewish peasants to carry their burdens, at one time up a steep ascent from the shore. The demand was an act of oppression that illustrated a humiliating power imposed upon the Jews and stood as a reminder of their national subjection. It stirred indignation in the crowd who witnessed it. He looked with sadness on the shameful scene because their sins had brought them into such Roman bondage, and He saw hatred on their faces and the desire to crush their oppressors.
The mile is an obligation imposed by people in authority, including Roman soldiers or other authorities who force someone to carry a burden or perform a service. Going with him twain means not stopping at the mile forced upon him but willingly going twice as far. It means willingly carrying the load farther than required and performing a second mile of service. The forced demand is thus to be met with willing service beyond what is demanded rather than with resistance.
Nonresistance and Willing Service
Compulsion and oppression are not to be met with defiance, resistance, hatred or revenge, but with willing service that goes beyond what is forced. When made to go a mile, the requirement is to go willingly twice as far rather than resist evil. When an oppressor compels performance of a task, or persons in authority require a service, the disciple willingly does more than is required and carries the imposed obligation into a second mile of service. Being compelled or wronged gives no excuse for cherishing retaliation, desire for revenge, bitterness or personal resentment, and the heart must be kept free of them. Anger indulged over personal provocation is altogether distinct from righteous indignation at dishonor done to God or at oppression of the innocent.
Even in persecution for the truth, resistance is not to be encouraged though believers face severe punishment, and the call instead is to the meekness of Christ and to prayer for those who do the mistreating. The requirement is Christian courtesy toward all, unfailing deeds of mercy, and a benevolence in answering requests for favors that is superior to the narrow, selfish spirit of the world. Hatred never breaks down malice, while such love and kindness beget love in return and seek by kindness to win injurers away from evil ways. Jesus Himself exemplified this by never retaliating for insult, contumely and persecution, modeling patient and unrevengeful conduct under persecution.
Such forbearance copies a holy God who rewards virtue and punishes guilt yet bestows sunshine and rain and worldly prosperity upon the just and the unjust, the good and the evil, the rebellious and the idolatrous alike. This spirit marks the children of the Father in heaven. It moves toward being perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, which alone fits for companionship with sinless beings in the kingdom of heaven.
Law, Kingdom, and Practice
Matthew 5:41 belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, in which Christ explains the far-reaching claims and spirit of God's law and restores its true meaning from the distorted, rigid presentation of the rabbis. That sermon opposed the doctrines and practices of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees and corrected their misrepresentation of God. It teaches the far-reaching principles of the law and shows that the state of the heart regulates life and character, so that the spirit of the law must be in the heart.
In that sermon He sets out the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace rather than promising earthly power or the restoration of Israel's former glory. The law explained there reaches beyond outward acts and demands perfect obedience, which Christ exemplified in His sinless life. That pure gospel given on the mount requires wholehearted love for God and love for neighbor, and rules out gaining wealth unjustly at another's expense. Its application includes the way people respond to demands made of them, and true followers seek to obey as He did.
The whole fifth chapter in which the verse stands is full of precious instruction laid out in figures, giving a clear, definite expression of God's will. It is to be studied and acted upon, believed and practiced, learned and obeyed, dwelt upon often, and read and written upon the tablets of the soul. Doing the will of God thus made known reveals that the doctrine is of God.
Living by it helps develop Christlike character and embed divine principles in the heart, bringing divine virtues constantly into life. It holds the standard high without spot or wrinkle, and shapes words, attitude, and actions to represent Christ and to break up words that separate friends. It calls to unity, love, and Christian fellowship rather than accusation and faultfinding. Studied and acted upon in cooperation with Christ and union with Him, it shows what can be accomplished and reveals the divine likeness in a life of suffering with those who suffer and helping those in need.
Its lesson is to be exemplified in daily life, since living out Christ's lessons makes a deeper, more lasting impression than preaching alone. Those who instruct new converts in the claims of the law must impress them with these principles, or their labors will be lost.
Under Roman rule a person in authority could force another to carry a burden for a mile, and going with him twain means willingly carrying it even farther in a second mile of service. It forbids meeting coercion and oppression with defiance, hatred, revenge, or bitterness, and requires answering a forced demand with willing service beyond what is demanded and with a heart free of personal resentment. Jesus Himself lived this out by never retaliating for insult and persecution, copying a holy God who gives sunshine and rain to the just and the unjust alike, and this spirit marks the children of the Father in heaven and moves toward being perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ set it forth as part of the far-reaching claims and spirit of God's law, laying out the principles of His kingdom of divine grace rather than earthly power and demanding wholehearted love for God and neighbor from the heart. It is to be studied, believed, and acted upon in daily life, so that its divine principles are embedded in the heart and develop Christlike character in words, attitude, and deeds of mercy.
Setting and Wording
The mile is the distance a person could be compelled to go under Roman rule, when a soldier could force another to carry his load or burden for a mile. It was especially Jewish peasants who were thus compelled to carry the burdens of Roman soldiers. Jesus spoke these words while Roman soldiers were forcing Jewish peasants to carry their burdens, at one time up a steep ascent from the shore. The demand was an act of oppression that illustrated a humiliating power imposed upon the Jews and stood as a reminder of their national subjection. It stirred indignation in the crowd who witnessed it. He looked with sadness on the shameful scene because their sins had brought them into such Roman bondage, and He saw hatred on their faces and the desire to crush their oppressors.
The mile is an obligation imposed by people in authority, including Roman soldiers or other authorities who force someone to carry a burden or perform a service. Going with him twain means not stopping at the mile forced upon him but willingly going twice as far. It means willingly carrying the load farther than required and performing a second mile of service. The forced demand is thus to be met with willing service beyond what is demanded rather than with resistance.
Nonresistance and Willing Service
Compulsion and oppression are not to be met with defiance, resistance, hatred or revenge, but with willing service that goes beyond what is forced. When made to go a mile, the requirement is to go willingly twice as far rather than resist evil. When an oppressor compels performance of a task, or persons in authority require a service, the disciple willingly does more than is required and carries the imposed obligation into a second mile of service. Being compelled or wronged gives no excuse for cherishing retaliation, desire for revenge, bitterness or personal resentment, and the heart must be kept free of them. Anger indulged over personal provocation is altogether distinct from righteous indignation at dishonor done to God or at oppression of the innocent.
Even in persecution for the truth, resistance is not to be encouraged though believers face severe punishment, and the call instead is to the meekness of Christ and to prayer for those who do the mistreating. The requirement is Christian courtesy toward all, unfailing deeds of mercy, and a benevolence in answering requests for favors that is superior to the narrow, selfish spirit of the world. Hatred never breaks down malice, while such love and kindness beget love in return and seek by kindness to win injurers away from evil ways. Jesus Himself exemplified this by never retaliating for insult, contumely and persecution, modeling patient and unrevengeful conduct under persecution.
Such forbearance copies a holy God who rewards virtue and punishes guilt yet bestows sunshine and rain and worldly prosperity upon the just and the unjust, the good and the evil, the rebellious and the idolatrous alike. This spirit marks the children of the Father in heaven. It moves toward being perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, which alone fits for companionship with sinless beings in the kingdom of heaven.
Law, Kingdom, and Practice
Matthew 5:41 belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, in which Christ explains the far-reaching claims and spirit of God's law and restores its true meaning from the distorted, rigid presentation of the rabbis. That sermon opposed the doctrines and practices of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees and corrected their misrepresentation of God. It teaches the far-reaching principles of the law and shows that the state of the heart regulates life and character, so that the spirit of the law must be in the heart.
In that sermon He sets out the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace rather than promising earthly power or the restoration of Israel's former glory. The law explained there reaches beyond outward acts and demands perfect obedience, which Christ exemplified in His sinless life. That pure gospel given on the mount requires wholehearted love for God and love for neighbor, and rules out gaining wealth unjustly at another's expense. Its application includes the way people respond to demands made of them, and true followers seek to obey as He did.
The whole fifth chapter in which the verse stands is full of precious instruction laid out in figures, giving a clear, definite expression of God's will. It is to be studied and acted upon, believed and practiced, learned and obeyed, dwelt upon often, and read and written upon the tablets of the soul. Doing the will of God thus made known reveals that the doctrine is of God.
Living by it helps develop Christlike character and embed divine principles in the heart, bringing divine virtues constantly into life. It holds the standard high without spot or wrinkle, and shapes words, attitude, and actions to represent Christ and to break up words that separate friends. It calls to unity, love, and Christian fellowship rather than accusation and faultfinding. Studied and acted upon in cooperation with Christ and union with Him, it shows what can be accomplished and reveals the divine likeness in a life of suffering with those who suffer and helping those in need.
Its lesson is to be exemplified in daily life, since living out Christ's lessons makes a deeper, more lasting impression than preaching alone. Those who instruct new converts in the claims of the law must impress them with these principles, or their labors will be lost.