SOTM Matthew 5:41 Going The Second Mile

Sermon On The Mount Series  Matthew 5:41 "Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two" Originally there was a Roman law allowing soldiers to conscript civilians to carry their armor for one mile... think about the context!  Think about the abuse that Rome inflicted on Israel! Would you obey this? Again, Jesus teaches a fundamentally different approach to dealing with enemies. The Kingdom of God is internal ("within you"), not external. God's Kingdom is not bound by human laws or political systems Christians are called to respond to oppression with love, not violence... This teaching emphasizes the previous verses just in case you wanted to pretend He didn't mean it. Christians are called to go beyond the minimum requirement, and seek redemption for enemies. God's Kingdom cannot be established through legislation, voting, or force.