“if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthews 5:41).
To go the extra mile means to work harder than is necessary.
Nowadays we often come across this catchphrase “go the extra mile” in commercial advertisements which carry the promise to serve customers better. This phrase is in fact derived from Jesus’ famous sermon on Mount Beatitudes “if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthews 5:41). In the original verse, it carries a sacrificial sense – that is, to love your enemies and walk an extra mile when they force you to walk one mile.
The notion of sacrifice implied in this phrase is somewhat toned down nowadays when used in the commercial context. To go the extra mile means to work harder than is necessary to serve your clients. Another idiom from the same sermon but which still retains the sacrificial meaning to this day is “turn the other cheek”.
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Chinese Bible (???)
A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!