When Jesus was teaching His righteousness to His disciples, He said, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Matthew 5:41

This went beyond the Ten Commandments. The first mile was fulfilled by keeping the Ten Commandments, but Jesus went beyond it. Coming down from heaven and shedding His blood for guilty sinners went far beyond the law. This was the lesson of righteousness He was teaching by His words and example.

The rich young man came to Jesus asking, “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16. He had kept the Ten Commandments. He had not stolen anything, he had not killed anyone. He had kept the Sabbath faithfully. Then he said to Jesus, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Matthew 19:20. Was he yet lacking something? He was lacking the second mile. Jesus said to him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Matthew 19:21

The second mile means sacrifice. Jesus came to sacrifice His life for others, and when we sacrifice our time, money and goods for others we are walking the second mile that goes beyond the law.

The second mile is the fulfillment of love. If we love God we are even ready to sacrifice our life for Him. If we love our fellow men, we will spend our life helping others, the same as what Jesus did.

According to the Bible, righteousness is obedience to the law of God. “My tongue shall speak of Thy word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” Psalm 119:172

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:25

After three and a half years, the disciples had not yet learned Christ’s righteousness. On the night when Jesus was betrayed there was strife among them. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” Luke 22:24

They needed one more lesson regarding Christ’s righteousness and this finally opened their eyes to see the second mile that fulfilled His righteousness, when they saw and understood that Jesus’ dying on the cross was for their sake also. Now they were ready to begin their work as messengers of the gospel, to teach Christ’s righteousness to others.

They separated to different parts of the world. One went to England, others to India, also one went to Africa.

So difficult is this message of Christ’s righteousness to understand that a year later after this message had been presented by Jones and Waggoner at the conference in 1888, Sister White wrote, “There is not one in one hundred who understands for himself the Bible truth on this subject [justification by faith] that is so necessary to our present and eternal welfare.” –The Review and Herald, September 3, 1889

When we understand and accept this message to ourselves we stop sinning. We will be born again and start a new life, ready to sacrifice all for Jesus, who sacrificed all for us.

“The foundation of the plan of salvation was laid in sacrifice. Jesus left the royal courts and became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. All who share this salvation purchased for them at such an infinite sacrifice by the Son of God, will follow the example of the true Pattern.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 387

“Christ is our example. He gave His life as a sacrifice for us, and He asks us to give our lives as a sacrifice for others.” –Counsels on Stewardship, p. 26

“The whole life may become one constant love sacrifice, every action a manifestation, and every word an utterance of love.” –SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1091

“Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory.” –Early Writings, p. 66

“The way to eternal life is straight and narrow, and you will have to press through many difficulties; but by persevering effort you may win eternal life—the future, immortal inheritance. And the rest, the peace, the glory at the end of the journey, will a thousand times repay every exertion and sacrifice that you can make.” –My Life Today, p. 69

“It would be well for all our workers to study the history of the Waldensian missionaries and to imitate their example of sacrifice and self-denial.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 400

Our sacrifice must not be any less than what Jesus sacrificed for us. The Good Samaritan was more righteous than the priest and the Levite who passed by the wounded man without helping him. He was willing to go the second mile.

Love and sacrifice always go together. Jesus made His sacrifice because He loved us. If we love Him we will also sacrifice all for Him. Jesus said, “This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12–13

“Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honour. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honoured than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. ‘Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.’ Philippians 1:29.” –The Ministry of Healing, p. 478

“And whosoever shall impress thee to go one mile, go with him twain. Jesus bade His disciples, instead of resisting the demands of those in authority, to do even more than was required of them. And, so far as possible, they should discharge every obligation, even if it were beyond what the law of the land required.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 71–72

This message means that we obey the laws of the country where we live. We will pay taxes and fulfill our obligations to the government, unless the law of the country goes against the law of God, then we cannot obey it.

We as the children of God obey the laws of His kingdom, including the second mile. Some members have paid double tithes, which means going the second mile. Doing voluntary work means the same also. We do it because we love God, and the expression of our love is the second mile. May the Lord bless everyone who is doing this. AMEN.

Timo Martin