The Second Mile

Introduction

How often do we observe someone saying, “If only I could be like that person?” It doesn’t always mean that a person wants to be just like the other, rather, they usually want a particular aspect of their life. They want the freedoms, the wealth, the popularity, the looks, the relationships.

So often someone can see what is on the surface and assume they know what lies underneath. They compare their own desires and strengths against specific attributes of another’s life.

How often do we think we would be this way or be able handle this thing if only we had that one thing or were treated that one way.

So often Satan can spin lies in our lives making us think that our life is less than, when the reality is our life is exactly as God intends it to be. The problems that exist in our life are because we decide to try and take matters into our own hands and force in certain circumstances and situations that were never intended to be there.

If we would trust God and follow his leading through prayer and study, we would find the answers to the problems we think the world, or ourselves, can change.

Body

I want to read in Matthew this morning from chapter 5.

Read Matthew 5:38-42

Matthew 5:38–42 NKJV

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

Physical Retaliation

Here in the Scriptures we read and hear Jesus teaching against physical retaliation. Jesus references an Old Testament Jewish understanding in which a person would exact punishment for an unjust action through personal vengeance.

Jesus is telling His disciples and his hearers instead that they should trust the legal system and not be so quick to retaliate and seek their own personal vindication towards those who wronged them.

It is important for us to understand that taking this Scripture literally would be as dangerous as ignoring it all together. This verse in our passage this morning is going to be similar to the rest in the sense that Jesus is using hyperbole to express His point through His illustration.

We are to trust in God for our vengeance and exacting judgment and justice on our oppressors by following the societal system in place, rather than taking it into our own hands as if we know best.

Personal Retaliation

In the second verse of our passage we hear Jesus talk about being slapped by another. For His contemporaries, being slapped across the face by another would be an outward expression of severe disrespect and would take direct action against the victim’s honor.

People at this time held a high value for their personal reputation and honor and it would have taken great personal sacrifice to stand aside after being slapped by another in public, or in private. To heed the words of Jesus in this passage and not only refrain from retaliating against the offender, but to offer up your other cheek or embrace the potential for an additional blow would have been extremely unusual.

Jesus, again, is not asking for his hearers to sit under abuse and tyrannical rule, rather He is asking His hearers to trust and value their worth in God above all else. We have heard in Scripture that we must pick up our cross and die daily. We have also heard that a servant is not greater than their master and a student is not greater than their teacher.

Jesus was a not a weak individual, however, He had full understanding of His worth to the The Father and understood His reputation here on Earth was far less important than His mission and purpose to advance the Kingdom and be our Savior.

While we are not Christ and are not commissioned to save humanity from destruction and death, it is our commission to further the Kingdom and spread the Gospel. What better way to do so then to show outwardly in public we value our worth in God above all else, even to the point of personal disgrace and humiliation.

Legal Retaliation

Continuing on through our Scripture this morning, we find ourselves at a place where someone is taking legal action. At this time, people would have commonly worn a tunic, or under garment, with a cloak, or outer garment, over top of it. Furthermore, those that were poor or of lesser status would usually have only owned one cloak and it sometimes doubled as their bedding.

That being said, everyone was legally protected against someone taking their outer cloak from them. In this example, Jesus is again using hyperbole to illustrate the point of letting God be the judge. Jesus is telling His hearers that when someone seeks to take your tunic, that you would also offer them your cloak as well, voluntarily giving up the very warmth you had that could not be taken away from you.

This expression of sacrifice would have been incredible for Jesus’ contemporaries. While Jesus is not condoning nudity and personal risk against the elements and potential harm, He is trying to illustrate and act of valuing the Kingdom of God over all else. He is telling His hearers that instead of exacting legal action to retrieve the under garment from someone who stole it or forcably took it, they should voluntarily offer up what the same offender had no right or legal justification to seize.

For me this is an echo of the Scripture that tells us not to worry about tomorrow and that God will provide for our every need. If we trust in Him and focus ourselves fully on advancing His Kingdom, He will make certain we are taken care of and have all we need to survive and fulfill our purpose He has intended for us.

Labor and Time Retaliation

The fourth aspect of fighting back in this passage is one that involves our time and our labor. Jesus is telling His hearers and His disciples that when they are requested to serve another, in this situation most likely referring to a Roman soldier, you should not only oblige the request but go above and beyond.

At this time, taxes that actually made it back to the governing authorities were not enough to supply every need for the Roman army. This allowed soldiers, legally, to request forced labor for one mile from any one person.

Jesus tells His hearers, that if they are asked to walk and carry the soldiers belongings for that mile, they should be willing to offer two miles to show their willingness to extend love and grace even to their enemies.

This is a hard passage, because often times, both then and now, this could be seen as advocating or supporting a cause, rather than showing love to an individual. This in turn, could result in a life-or-death situation for the one who is extending their service above and beyond the minimum obligation.

This example is another hyperbolic illustration which demands our full trust in God and His protection.

Benevolent Retaliation

The last verse in our passage today, may be the hardest one yet. This verse discusses our willingness to give to a cause that never ends and is constantly around us. Up to this point, every circumstance could be avoided by understanding our geographical and societal locations. We could use wisdom and discernment to avoid being in a certain place or within certain company.

This verse, however, instructs us to act in a way that is both personal and constant. Jesus is asking His hearers in this verse to extend benevolence and generosity to anyone who asks, regardless of the amount.

Now obviously, taking this verse literally would result in every believer being completely destitute and unable to live in even the most simple of lifestyles.

I like to read and understand this passage in light of the Acts passage that discusses making all things available and living in unity and understanding with all believers. Furthermore, it discusses the reliance on the leading and guidance of Holy Spirit rather than a personal desire or agenda of success and goodness. It would be easy for us to understand simple lifestyles and generosity through the lens of our direct community, which would result in us living very comfortable lives.

Jesus is asking us to go a step further and rely on Him and trust in Him anytime He asks for us to give. While we are not being asked to give to every single begger and individual who asks of us, we are being asked to relinquish control over our possessions whenever the Holy Spirit directs us to give.

Conclusion

As we begin to close I want to bring together all the various situations Jesus is illustrating in efforts to get us to one simple point, trust in God. All these examples communicate a need to trust fully in God and rely on Him for our all needs, both personal and societal. This passage teaches us the significance of finding our worth and our value is the Lord and forsaking all else. If we try and hold on to what the world thinks and what the world tells us is important, we will find ourselves broken and beaten. We will find ourselves stripped of peace and joy and fighting a vicious cycle of vengeance and self-justification.

The only person who can truly give us fulfillment and hope is God and all else is temporary satisfaction on the road to destruction. A life focused on the Kingdom of God is very difficult and challenging, yet it is also very simple. God does not ask that much of us in light of the world, but He does ask for all of us. We must be willing to give Him all of who we are, trusting that He will lead us in the ways of understanding. It may not always make sense, and it may not always be comfortable, but it will also be good and complete. His promises are always yes and amen and He is always right on time. Say it with me, “God is good,” “All the time,” and “All the time,” “God is good.”

Let us pray!