English Standard Version
Matthew 5:41
41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Matthew 5:41 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- New International Version (NIV)If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
Context of Matthew 5:41
39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
Read all of Matthew 5Matthew 5:41 word by word
καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει μίλιον ἕν, ὕπαγε μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ δύο.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 5:41
- Matthew 27:32As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.
- Mark 15:21And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
- Luke 23:26And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
Commentaries on Matthew 5:41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 41Shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. - . This word is said to be derived from the Persians, among whom the king's messengers, or posts, were called , or angari . This definition is given both by Hesychius and Suidas. The Persian messengers had the royal authority for pressing horses, ships, and even men, to assist them in the business on which they were employed. These angari are now termed chappars, and serve to carry despatches between the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38-41Verses 38-41 An eye for an eye - This command is found in Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. In these places it was given as a rule to regulate the decisions of judges. They were to take eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, and to inflict burning for burning. As a judicial rule it is not unjust. Christ finds no fault with the rule as applied to magistrates, and does not take upon himself to repeal it. But instead of confining it to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 The plain instruction is, Suffer any injury that can be borne, for the sake of peace, committing your concerns to the Lord's keeping. And the sum of all is, that Christians must avoid disputing and striving. If any say, Flesh and blood cannot pass by such an affront, let them remember, that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God; and those who act upon right principles will have most peace and comfort.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 41Forced labor was a humiliating part of Roman rule (see Matthew 27:32). Jesus transformed it into a chance to joyfully serve God. This saying shows that Jesus opposed Jewish revolutionaries, who called for violent resistance (see 5:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4141. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain--an allusion, probably, to the practice of the Romans and some Eastern nations, who, when government despatches had to be forwarded, obliged the people not only to furnish horses and carriages, but to give personal attendance, often at great inconvenience, when required. But the thing here demanded is a readiness to submit to unreasonable demands of whatever kind, rather than raise…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 5:41
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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