Going The Second Mile Matthew 5 38 42

Going The Second Mile Matthew 5: 38 -42

Background Jesus is dealing with personal payback in this section of the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5: 38 -42; Lk. 6: 29 -30) The OT Law legislated a “punishment fits the crime” (Lt. lex taliones) approach to law-breaking (Mt. 5: 38; Ex. 21: 24; Lev. 24: 19 -20; Deut. 19: 21) Its aim was to provide (1) equitable justice and (2) control personal vengeance or vendetta Its execution was by a court of law, not an individual Its punishment was often assessed monetarily, not literally (Ex. 21: 30 -32)

Background Some Jews perverted this legislation to mean that you could personally retaliate against wrong-doing (Mt. 5: 39; Lev. 19: 18) Other Jews perverted this legislation to mean that you should do only what is your duty or what is required, no more (5: 40 -42; note that Roman soldiers had authority at this time to “compel” [Gr. impress] civilians into service (Mt. 5: 41; 27: 37)

Background Jesus is not teaching… that evil, wrong-doing, crimes, or injustices are to go unpunished – Jn. 18: 19 -23; Acts 16: 37; 25: 11; Rom. 13: 3 -4 (law enforcement, etc. ) that sin is to go unpunished (Gal. 2: 11 -14) Jesus is teaching that one must abolish the desire to retaliate or seek vengeance for personal satisfaction Jesus gives three illustrations of personal wrong-doing: insults, assaults on property, and forced labor

Going The Second Mile In our giving (Lk. 6: 38; 2 Cor. 8: 3 -5) In our hospitality (Lk. 10: 30 -35) In our personal injuries (1 Cor. 6: 1 -7) In our personal scruples (Rom. 14: 13 -21; 1 Cor. 8: 13) In our love (Ruth 1: 15 -18; 1 Cor. 13: 7) In our service (Phil. 2: 25 -30) In our employment (Col. 3: 23) In our reconciliation (Philemon 15 -21)

Those Who Don't Go The Second Mile Those who are proud or angry Those who are lazy or afraid Those who are selfish or self-satisfied

Why Go The Second Mile? It keeps us from a bare-minimum, “get by” religion (1 Cor. 15: 58; 2 Cor. 8: 7; 2 Pet. 1: 8) It keeps us from a wrong attitude toward our fellowman (Mt. 22: 39) It keeps us from returning evil for evil or being overcome of evil (Rom. 12: 14, 17 -21) It keeps us traveling with Jesus! He always travels the “second mile” and so should we!