GO the Second Mile

In Matthew, Jesus is teaching that in His Kingdom and under His rule, things are going to be different than they are with the rest of the world. Most of the world (then and now) operates under a system of retaliation, revenge, payback. But Jesus just turns that system upside-down. He teaches that in His Kingdom, with His people, we are not going to live like that. Instead, Jesus is going to enable us to rise above the natural human responses when we are targets of evil and threats and mistreatment. His life in us empowers us to respond with grace, gentleness, and generosity. 

Let's focus on Matthew 5:38-42.