“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
(Matthew 5: 41)
What is Jesus talking about? Why would someone force you go “go one mile”? I certainly haven’t had someone literally force me to walk a mile, have you? You may already know the context of Jesus’ words: At this time, Israel was occupied by Rome. The Jews weren’t slaves per se, but they were certainly under Rome’s thumb. Any Roman soldier could pick a person off the street and force him to carry that solider’s pack for a mile. Imagine being an innocent bystander, carrying about your business, and you get pointed at and ordered to do this task. Not only would it be frustratingly inconvenient, it would be a painful reminder of how powerless you feel.
The Jews were longing for the Messiah because they thought he would be a powerful military/political leader, they thought he would defeat the Romans and establish a new Kingdom where they would be free from this sort of oppression.
They thought he would come ready to fight for their freedom.
So imagine how perplexing these words would have been to them.
Wait, what?! We’re being unfairly forced to carry the stupid packs of these Roman soldiers, and now you’re telling us to do even MORE than they ask? WHAT?! How is that bringing your Kingdom, Jesus? How is that going to work?
There must be something going on here we’re not understanding.
And there is.
In this last leg of the Second Mile, we’re talking about GENERAL INJUSTICES. Those things in life that feel maddeningly unfair. The ways that those in authority make demands that feel frustrating. The ways we might feel powerless, enslaved to a certain set of circumstances we don’t have the power to change.
Join me for Episode 28 as we talk all things ROME. How did Jesus respond to the governing authorities? What do the Scriptures say? How do we know what the Second Mile looks like in any number of different situations? How do we know when we should actually disobey authorities and when to joyfully go the Second Mile. These are critical questions to wrestle through, so let’s do it! Thanks for listening!
About the Kari Patterson Podcast: We need wisdom, y’all. Like, yesterday. Right?! We need God’s perspective. We need His heart. We need joy, resilience, clarity, and conviction. Feeling this need, author Kari Patterson opens Scripture and shares candidly how God’s Word informs her daily life. Appropriate for all ages, relatable and refreshing, join Kari for conversations on responding to unkindness, emotional freedom, parenting dilemmas, self-pity, forgiveness, and more. (Available most of the places you enjoy podcasts, including those with links above.)
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