and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- KJV And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- NKJV And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- NASB Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
- NLT If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If forced to go one mile, go two. It calls disciples to respond to imposition with willing, generous service.
Overview
Alluding to the right of soldiers to compel service, Jesus teaches a free, cheerful willingness to do more than required. Rather than resentful compliance, the disciple turns a demand into an opportunity for love. This overcoming of evil with good reflects the gracious spirit of the kingdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Luke 23:26As the soldiers led Him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him to carry behind Jesus.
- Matt 27:32Along the way they found a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
- Mark 15:21Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 5:41 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.