Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE SECOND MILE

1. Our Lord's audience was familiar with the practice of the Romans:
   1. They pressed anyone into the service, to carry burdens for the soldiers.
   2. They did this with one called Simon, whom they compelled to carry our Saviour's cross - Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26
2. By coincidence a group of Roman soldiers passed during our Lord's discourse, which was a strong reminder to the listeners of the Roman practice:

1. This gospel of the second mile has its source:
   1. In the life of the Son of God -
      1. He ever went beyond the point of duty, beyond all human expectations and comprehension.
      2. This is amplified in His teaching - Matt. 5:1- 48
      3. In his life - Acts 10:38; Matt. 11:1-5
      4. It is expressed in the golden rule - Matt. 7:12
   2. It is repeated in the lives of God's children over and over.
2. Implications of the gospel of the second mile:
   1. It accepts imposition upon God's people, forced upon them -- "compel thee".
   2. Such impositions were frequent in the early days of the gospel of Christ.
   3. Uncalled abuse and hardship were heaped upon those who professed Christ in their lives - Matt. 10:22- 24
   4. "If they take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also" - Matt. 5:40
   5. "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" - verse 39
3. This gospel of the second mile:
   1. Was in direct opposition to human nature.
   2. It was the very opposite of what men believe and practice in their daily life.
   3. It takes a person filled with the Spirit of Christ to live up to this heavenly directive.

1. It is reasonable:
   1. It represses or kills the spirit of human selfishness.
   2. It brings to light the true spirit of Bible Christianity - Matt. 5:13-16
   3. It shows that faith in Christ will enable us to go beyond the point of what some call our duty - EXAMPLES -
      1. Think of David and Jonathan. Out of love for David, Jonathan relinquished his right to the throne, risked the wrath of his father - 1 Sam. 18:1-4
      2. We think of Joseph and his brethren. There came a time when Joseph could have paid them back for their cruelty, but he did not do that - Gen. 45:1-15
   4. It takes a real Christian to live so completely unselfishly, that he will go the second mile.
2. But let us take a brief look at the blessing of living the gospel of the second mile:
   1. The Jews hated the Samaritans, and the Samaritans might have had a perfect right to shun them, but the story of the good Samaritan shows that it pays to go the second mile - Luke 10:30-37
   2. David went beyond the point of duty when he spared the life of Saul, who had hunted him like a wild beast, but it paid off - 1 Sam. 26:17-23
   3. Think, dear reader, of what blessing our Lord pronounces upon those who are willing to take abuse at the hands of their enemies - Matt. 5:11; 1 Pet. 4:14
   4. It has been said, truthfully, that the blood of the martyrs of Christ has been the seed of great harvest of souls for God's cause.
   5. It took the courage of a Roman soldier to obey the command of his officer to walk into the river and drown, to led a whole regiment to follow him, accepting Christ, and dying for him.