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The extra mile

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on August 08, 2007

In Reply to: The extra mile posted by Armando on August 08, 2007

: I want to know what the origin is of the phrase "Going the Extra Mile."

It's from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Ch 5 v 41): "whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." This refers to a law which gave a Roman soldier on the march the right to grab any passing Jewish citizen and demand that he carry his kit for a mile. Jesus wanted his followers not just to put up with this but to go as far again voluntarily, in a spirit of charity and helpfulness. (VSD)

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