Sermon Passage: Matthew 5:41
Sermon Commentary Notes
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41).
Jerusalem is a great city. We come here yearly for the Feast of the Passover. This trip is essential for my two boys. We spend a week in religious celebration as a family. We also do some family outings. I must confess; I always schedule a few business appointments on the side to help pay for the trip. By the way I am Simon. We are from Cyrene (Matthew 27:32).
It happened on Friday. I had an early business appointment outside Jerusalem. I promised the boys we would do something special when I returned. Everything went well with the appointment, but trouble began as I returned and entered Jerusalem. The city is always crowded during the Passover week, but something unusual was happening on this day. I should have entered the city from another entrance, but the main entrance was closer to where we were staying. By the time I realized what was happening, the crowd trapped me. I stood back in the shadows of the entrance to one of the shops to wait for the crowd to pass. I remember looking at my watch knowing I would now be late to meet the boys.
It took longer than expected. Finally, the core of the parade passed. There was a man they called “Jesus,” who had been mercilessly beaten. His blood and sweat mixed as He strained to carry His cross. Stumbling, He fell right in front of my hiding place. One of the Roman soldiers began searching for someone to help Him finish the journey to His death. There was no need for me to volunteer. I am not from Jerusalem; I have nothing to do with the politics behind this crucifixion. I knew about Jesus but never heard Him preach. I guess He is a good man; crucifixion is a terrible way for His life to end.
Suddenly, the Roman guard spotted me and thrust his sword in my direction. “You, come here and carry this Man’s cross,” he ordered! I did not have time for this. My boys are waiting for me. I was dressed in a new suit; it would be ruined if I got involved in this blood covered cross. I tried to slip away, but the guard blocked my path. The Persian Royal Post started this practice. They authorized their couriers to press into service any man or animal to guarantee the delivery of the King’s message (Esther 3:13). The Romans adopted their model. Here I am thrust into a situation of service that has nothing to do with me. What an inconvenience this is. But what can I do? The law requires it.
As I look back on that situation, now I must correct my statement. Carrying that cross was the best thing that ever happened to me. I admit at the time it did not seem so. You must understand, this law compelled me to go one mile and brought me face to face with Jesus. Without it, I would have gone on an outing with my boys as planned. I would have finished the celebration of the Passover week and made my way home. However, this encounter changed my family and me. You will find that Mark mentioned my family in his Gospel account. “Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His Cross” (Mark 15:21). This inconvenience brought my family and me into an encounter with Jesus. In fact, in the early church Paul wrote, “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine” (Romans 16:13). I will forever be grateful for a barbarian Roman guard who commandeered my service beyond my will and desire. Redemption happened in me when he compelled me to carry Jesus’ cross!
This is difficult to apply to my life! I have schedules to keep and places that I must go. Everyone thinks they need something from me. Thousands of circumstances interrupt my schedule and interfere with my focus. I cannot be inconvenienced with these things. Beyond all these things, the evil world wants to hinder the ministry I think I must accomplish. But maybe this hindrance is the point of the matter; it was the ministry “I” think “I” need to do! Suppose an inconvenience is not an inconvenience at all but the platform for redemptive embrace.
Providence
Jesus boldly said, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41). Although we have no specific knowledge of how this command was practiced in Roman Palestine, we do know that in Persian times it was customary and legal for those in authority to commandeer people or their animals for temporary service without notice. This practice is well documented. Those who suffered from this practice found this requirement irksome and resented it. If you were hostile to the atmosphere of Roman rule you would find such encounters extremely distasteful.
Jesus addressed this internal aggravation, emotional disturbance, and upset, without making a statement about the right or wrong of the compelling, but He highlighted the redemptive response of the person being compelled. A negative response can be interpreted only as an expression of selfish, self-centeredness. When a person is focused on their schedule, agenda, or pleasures, any disturbance produces a negative response. Impatience is born out of this same frustration. When my expectations, desires, and dreams are not fully met, I react with impatience and negativity.
Jesus described the Kingdom person as the helpless person who recognizes God’s full resource merging with his life. This merger directs the external interferences of typical life patterns. Such divine control brings purpose and meaning to the commandeering imposed on the present situation. Therefore, no longer is it an interruption or inconvenience but the fulfilling of God’s plan, “providence”!
Providence is defined as the protective care of God over a person. It brings meaning to this biblical statement. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). Is Jesus really adequate to resource my life? Can I trust Him in all things? Have I embraced my helplessness completely and relied on Him for all things? When I get upset over the interferences pressed on my life, does that indicate a lack of trust in Him?
The statement Jesus made in our passage is inclusive (Matthew 5:41). For the disciples to apply this to their circumstances was not difficult. Although we find ourselves some two thousand years later, we can grasp this principle and apply it to our lives. “Going the second mile” fits the rich and the poor. We cannot segment this statement to a specific set of circumstances. We cannot say this applies to church board meetings but not the interaction between a husband and wife. This fits everyone everywhere! There are no exceptions.
God interacted in the lives of every biblical character with this truth. Joseph knew the distress of unwanted circumstances in his betrothal to Mary. Yet, those unwanted circumstances placed him in the middle of God’s redemptive plan for a world. The angel said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:42), but that involved great inconvenience and risk. Did she not have to flee with Joseph and her Child into Egypt in exile (Matthew 2:13-15)? Think of the families who experienced the death of baby boys from two and under (Matthew 2:16). When evil men commandeer your life and the lives of your sons, can you trust the providence of God? Is He really in charge? Is there a redemptive plan? John the Baptist experienced great ministry (Matthew 3:5) however, though he was the forerunner of the Messiah, he was imprisoned and beheaded as a part of God’s plan. As we stand on this side and see the complete story, we know God fulfills His providence in every circumstance of life.
Is this why Jesus urges us to “rejoice and be exceedingly glad” amid persecution (Matthew 5:12)? What else could we, who are helpless yet filled with the resource of God, do? Is there anything that can come to our lives that He does not allow and use for His glory? No inconvenience is outside of His Divine plan! There are no exceptions. God orchestrates every encounter to accomplish His divine purpose of redemption! He is intimately involved in our lives. Jesus explained that not one sparrow falls to the ground aside from the will of the Father (Matthew 10:29). Even the hairs of your head are numbered (Matthew 10:30). “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).
Will you embrace your helplessness? Will you allow Jesus to control your life, including all you do, and all done to you? Will you place everything in your life under His caring providence as He works His redemptive plan through your life? Instead of rebelling against the commandeering of your service, the interruption of your schedule, and the interference with your plans, will you allow His redemptive attitude to permeate those around you? Will you see the big picture of His caring providence?
Personal
Jesus said, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41). “Whoever,” “you,”and “him” are specific. Each word is singular. He did not refer to governments or institutions but to people! His reference is to an interaction between you and another person. This interaction is you setting aside your schedule and convenience for the need of someone else. They may be in the wrong and impose on you something unfair. However, through Jesus’ sourcing of your life, He brings you opportunities that give the expression of His heart to that person.
The singularity of this statement is important. I have often heard people say, “The church has hurt me!” On investigation of the situation, I find it was not the church as an institution that produced the hurt. It was a conflict between two people with one imposing something on the other that brought the conflict. Normally, the person with hurt feelings can describe in detail exactly what was imposed on them. They expressed how unfair and intruding it was. They interpreted the motive of hate and ill will that caused the other person to be unfair. Blaming the institution is easier than it is the person, which leaves us without an avenue of reconciliation. However, the real issue is how one person took advantage of the other and how they responded to it. That negative response made them adversaries.
In Jesus’ first illustration in this series (Matthew 5:21-26), He highlighted reconciliation. Although those of old were content with eliminating the act of murder, that was not the Kingdom standard. The focus of the Kingdom is on the attitude generated by the person’s inner nature. Jesus did not suggest we control our anger, but that we eliminate the feeling of anger. He desires to change the demeaning or belittling attitude of the person. We must see every person through the nature of God’s heart; that nature caused Him to offer up His Son’s blood to redeem us all. We are that valuable to Him. Jesus proposed that reconciliation with God could happen only when we have reconciliation with others. The Kingdom person must be reconciled with all people in his or her heart. However, not every person with which you attempt to reconcile may be receptive. If a person will not reconcile with you, they become your adversary. However, you must reconcile with them in your spirit and never be their adversary.
Now in this illustration (Matthew 5:38-42), Jesus proposed the need of reconciliation always. In other words, if we have the right attitude initially, we will not need reconciliation in the end. Therefore, when someone takes advantage of the situation and compels you, you must realize the presence of God’s moving hand. Is the situation merely an inconvenience or is God giving you an opportunity of ministry? Could the opportunity of ministry to this person be possible outside this circumstance? Will you allow God’s nature to flow through you to the person compelling you? Will you be an avenue of redemption in Jesus’ name? This truth applies to each example in this illustration. Amid insult (Matthew 5:39), insecurity (Matthew 5:40), inconvenience (Matthew 5:41), and inclusion (Matthew 5:42), will you look beyond the evil present and embrace the person for redemption?
Pointed
Jesus said, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41). The Greek word “angareuo” is translated “compels to go” and is in the indicative mood, a simple statement of fact. It means “requisition.” The main verb of the sentence is “go.” A translation of the Greek word “hypage,” an imperative, a command! If a person demands from you a service for his benefit, Jesus gives a command that supersedes their demand. The Kingdom person has a compulsion from within that overrides all other demands or requests. The Kingdom person must be redemptive; the indwelling heart of God demands it! How can the Kingdom person be redemptive to the person who is taking advantage?
Kingdom people will find themselves in a unique situation. They will be connected to the person compelling them in a way never before possible. This relational connection could not be except for the compelling. The redemptive heart requires not only complying with the required mile but also extending the opportunity of ministry by going the second mile. In this second mile, the expression of the God’s redemptive heart is expressed. Opportunity is afforded to extend redemptive relationship in a way that could not be done outside of this situation. Is this situation an inconvenience in the believer’s life, or is it a Divine encounter between the Kingdom person and the compelling person?
This response is Divine and is the typical, normal, and spontaneous response of the heart of the Kingdom person, not those extra sensitive to spiritual issues. They are mature in the faith, not the person desiring extra rewards in heaven. The response is the typical, everyday one of the Kingdom person merged with the heart of God. This means it is not forced; one does not do so under pressure. The one merged with the heart of God is watching carefully for such opportunities. He is prepared for such occasions. These are opportunities of redemption, carefully planned by the prevenient grace of God. The one merged with God’s heart gets to be a part of His redemptive plan for another’s life! Nothing could be more thrilling! This participation is the crowning event of knowing Him in the power of His resurrected life and participating in the fellowship of His suffering, bringing us into conformity with His death, the expression of His heart (Philippians 3:10).
This participation only happens when the merger of my helplessness and His nature occurs, the premise of the Sermon on the Mount. The formation of the Kingdom of God may be seen and expressed properly only in the second mile. One may ask, “Do I have to go a third mile?” If you ask, you declare you know nothing about the merger with His heart! You have missed the Truth, Jesus!