Matt 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

The Lord shared some hard truth in these verses. Most of us have heard the phrase an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” It is so easy to want to retaliate in the same way we are mistreated. The call to turn the other cheek is as familiar to us as it is hard. When someone wants to sue us to take something from us it is not normal for us to just let them have not only our tunic, but, our cloak as well. Giving and loaning to others comes easy for some, but, much harder for others. There is a lot in these verses that we could look closer at today, however, I feel led to focus my thoughts this morning on verse 41 “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.”

The phrase going the second mile has found its way into our modern vernacular. Its roots are found all the way back to the first-century. The Romans had conquered most of the Mediterranean world. One of the marvels of their conquest was a vast system of super highways that they had built for travel to and from their conquered territories. There were more than fifty thousand miles of these Roman roads throughout the Empire. At each single mile was a stone marker. These mile markers pointed directions and determined the distance to the next town as well as to Rome itself. Hence the common phrase “All roads lead to Rome.” By law, a Roman citizen or soldier could compel a subject from one of the conquered lands to carry his load for him for one mile, but, one mile only.

Jesus and His hearers were both very familiar with this mandated mile that was required of the Jews. Jesus called upon His hearers to do what was required of them and then some. The second mile is only made possible by being obedient to the first mile. Think about how this played out in real life. Imagine a first-century Jew working at his trade. A Roman soldier comes by, calls to him and demands that he carry his backpack for one mile down the road. Understand that this command interrupts the man’s whole day, takes him away from his work and he has no choice in the matter. Imagine also that this Jewish man takes up the Lord’s call to be a second miler. He and the Roman soldier approach the one-mile marker and instead of putting down the pack and heading back home in frustration he volunteers to go an extra mile with the soldier. Then along the way he asks about the life of the soldier, his family and his needs so he can pray for him. Here we are reminded that a person who willingly journeys on the second mile with people has an opportunity to lighten the load of those they travel with.

Those who go the extra mile with people have a great opportunity to influence others. It only takes one second miler in a home to change the entire environment. It only takes a few second milers at the factory, office, team, classroom, school or church to do the same. Extra mile people are at their best when motivated by the love of Christ. I suggest to you that going the extra mile with people has a way of brightening our own road as well. It is the road less traveled, but, a worthy road to pursue.

As you reflect on this verse today, I want to encourage you to join me in thanking God for the second milers He put in your life over the years. The extra mile people who did the extra things to make your life better and influence you much in your walk with Christ. Let’s also consider all the ways we can go the extra mile with and for others. Going the second mile when done in the love of Christ has a way of impacting people that few other things do. Commit with me today to be an extra miler for God until He calls us home to heaven.

Tim