We are on the third and last part of Matthew 5:38-42 – the part about walking a mile:

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Walking Two Miles: A Cultural View

Under Roman law, a Roman solider could impress a civilian to carry his supplies for one mile. Having the civilian carry the goods more then one mile would result in punishment to the solider.

Here again, Jesus is telling the oppressed and downtrodden to engage in a form of non-violence activism.

Matthew 5:38-42 – Personal Reflection [@more@]

Wow!!  Boy does this change the way I read these verses!!  I always wondered by Jesus would tell the people to stand by after someone hit them, but then go on to overturn the money changers tables…  It didn’t make sense…

Now it does. Jesus is still encouraging non-violence – but he is allows starting a social revolution by having the opposed shame their oppressors.

You know, this all makes sense as the Prophets said that Messiah was going to come to free the prisoners, to set free those in bondage, and to bring justice to those oppressed. Jesus not only did this on a Spiritual level, but he did it on an everyday, practical level.