“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:41). The Greek word aggareuein (compel) came to mean to “forcibly impress someone into service,” whether one was willing or not, and it carries the story of a nation’s tragedy.

In Jesus’ day the Romans occupied the land of Palestine. Anyone could be made to carry the baggage of the army for any distance at any time, or any service that the conqueror chose. The only other New Testament usages of this word are the parallel accounts of Simon of Cyrene being compelled to bear the cross of Jesus (Matt. 27:32 and Mk. 15:21). Being compelled was one of the most bitter and constant humiliations that subject peoples had to endure.

In this verse, Jesus is teaching the principle of submitting rather than retaliating. As kingdom citizens we must not return evil for evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). Jesus manifested this teaching in His own life. He uncomplainingly endured evil, persecution, humiliation and contempt during His earthly existence. His life was falsely sworn away and He suffered a cruel death, as a malefactor, without a word of bitter reproach escaping from His lips (I Pet. 2:21-23).

What a challenge it is for us to treat with love those who deal unjustly with us, but the “religion of the second mile” requires it.

Bill Feist