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Jesus said, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

Matthew 5:41 (NIV)

This teaching comes from the Sermon on the Mount, spoken into a very real and difficult context. At the time, Roman soldiers had the legal right to compel Jewish civilians to carry their burdens for one mile. It was humiliating, inconvenient, and deeply resented. When Jesus spoke these words, He wasn’t ignoring the injustice of the situation—He was inviting His followers to respond in a way that reflected a different kingdom.

Jesus was calling His disciples to do more than what was legally required and to move beyond obligation into love. He was teaching them—and us—that our response to hardship, inconvenience, and even unfairness can be shaped by grace rather than resentment.

In our church, we have a saying displayed on the wall: “When unsure of what to say or do, ask what Love requires of you.” That simple truth carries profound wisdom. God is Love. He sees the full picture—what we need to do, when we need to do it, and how best to do it. When we ask Him, He is faithful to guide us.

Scripture reminds us again and again to ask God, to trust Him, and to lean not on our own understanding. Especially in moments when we feel tired, hurt, or stretched thin, His wisdom steadies us and His love strengthens us.

And if we’re honest, sometimes going the extra mile is the very last thing we want to do. It can feel costly. It can feel unfair. It can feel exhausting. Yet Jesus never asks us to do anything He Himself has not already done. He went far beyond what was required for us—choosing love, humility, and sacrifice even when it hurt.

This verse matters because how we live out our faith truly matters. It matters to God. It matters to one another. And it matters to those who have not yet experienced the transforming love of Christ. When we choose love over convenience and grace over obligation, we reflect the heart of our Savior.

Christ said these words, He meant them, and He lived them. As His followers, we are invited—not forced, but invited—to walk in His footsteps, trusting that every extra mile walked in love is never wasted.