The Meaning of Matthew 5:41 Explained

Matthew 5:41

KJV: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

YLT: 'And whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two,

Darby: And whoever will compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.

ASV: And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  whosoever  shall compel  thee  to go  a  mile,  go  with  him  twain. 

What does Matthew 5:41 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 5:38-48 - Brotherly Relationship
In mentioning the second mile, our Lord refers to a well-known Eastern custom of forwarding messages by relays of forced labor. We leave our homes on a given morning, anticipating no evil. Suddenly and unexpectedly there are sounds of horses' hoofs and a great demand is thrust upon us. We are sent off in a direction we never contemplated and are compelled to go one mile. It is the second that tests character; and your actions with respect to it will determine whether you have entered into the spirit of Christ and are willing to serve others for love's sake and at cost of peril and inconvenience to yourself.
Love to one's neighbor appears in many passages in the Old Testament. See Exodus 23:4-5. But we have to love enemies and resemble God's sun and rain, Matthew 5:45. You say that it is impossible! Remember those sweet old words: "I taught Ephraim to go," Hosea 11:1-4. Ask your Heavenly Father to teach you to love. Remember Galatians 5:22. Dare to believe that He will perfect what concerneth you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 5

1  Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3  The Beattitudes;
13  the salt of the earth;
14  the light of the world
17  He came to fulfill the law
21  What it is to kill;
27  to commit adultery;
33  to swear
38  He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43  to love our enemies;
48  and to labor after perfection

Greek Commentary for Matthew 5:41

Shall compel thee [αγγαρευσει]
The Vulgate has angariaverit. The word is of Persian origin and means public couriers or mounted messengers (αγγαροι — aggaroi) who were stationed by the King of Persia at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to send royal messages from one to another. So if a man is passing such a post-station, an official may rush out and compel him to go back to another station to do an errand for the king. This was called impressment into service. This very thing was done to Simon of Cyrene who was thus compelled to carry the cross of Christ (Matthew 27:32, ηγγαρευσαν — ēggareusan). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 5:41

Matthew 27:32 Compelled to go [ἠγγάρευσαν]
See on Matthew 5:41. Rev. has impressed in margin. [source]
Matthew 27:32 Compelled [ηγγαρευσαν]
This word of Persian origin was used in Matthew 5:41, which see. There are numerous papyri examples of Ptolemaic date and it survives in modern Greek vernacular. So the soldiers treat Simon of Cyrene (a town of Libya) as a Persian courier Yes, and the burden of sin of the world that was breaking his heart. [source]
Matthew 5:27 Thou shalt not commit adultery [ου μοιχευσεις]
These quotations (Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:33) from the Decalogue (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) are from the Septuagint and use ου — ou and the future indicative (volitive future, common Greek idiom). In Matthew 5:43 the positive form, volitive future, occurs In Matthew 5:41 the third person (δοτω — dotō) singular second aorist active imperative is used. In Matthew 5:38 no verb occurs. [source]
Mark 15:21 Compel []
Better impress, as Rev. See on in margin. Matthew 5:41. Note the accuracy in designating Simon. [source]
Mark 15:21 They compel [αγγαρευουσιν]
Dramatic present indicative again where Matthew 27:32 has the aorist. For this Persian word see Matthew 5:41; Matthew 27:32. [source]
Luke 23:26 Laid hold on [ἐπιλαβόμενοι]
Compare the peculiar word used by Matthew and Mark. See on sa40" translation="">Matthew 5:41.sa40 [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 5:41 mean?

and whoever you shall compel to go mile one go with him two
καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει μίλιον ἕν ὕπαγε μετ’ αὐτοῦ δύο

ὅστις  whoever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅστις  
Sense: whoever, whatever, who.
ἀγγαρεύσει  shall  compel  to  go 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀγγαρεύω  
Sense: to employ a courier, dispatch a mounted messenger, press into public service, compel to go.
μίλιον  mile 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μίλιον  
Sense: a mile, among the Romans the distance of a thousand paces or eight stadia, about .
ἕν  one 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
ὕπαγε  go 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ὑπάγω  
Sense: to lead under, bring under.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.

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