Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.”

Introduction

Just last Thursday, we watched the Miami Heat take home their 2^nd NBA championship in a row under the leadership of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.  It was definitely an exciting run of games that kept most of us glued to our seats as we observed nail-biting play after play.  I would be the first to admit that I was wrong about selling Lebron short for being such a great player, because it was a spectacle that he put on for all the fans.  But I can be almost certain that the majority of people watching would vote for Tim Duncan as their favorite player in the series.  Why?  Not only is he a formidable center/power forward with an excellent jump shot, but he also has a kind and gentle demeanor that suggests humility and meekness.

In our culture today, meekness is associated with weakness, because it currently implies that one is a timid mouse waiting to be trampled upon by the lions of this world.  For example, at work, I was told that I needed to start being more assertive because if I wasn’t I would just be pushed around by all my colleagues.  They suggested that I start implementing consequences when lab safety rules weren’t being followed, because I was too gentle and nice for people to listen.  They saw this gentleness as weakness that could be pushed over and ignored.  But certainly, they would never say that arrogance is good either, because that would probably just cause them to hate my guts and ignore me out of rebellion.  The world would probably say that there needs to be an effective balance between the two characteristics.  Aristotle probably defined the worldly definition the best as “the mean between stubborn anger and that. negativeness of character which is incapable of even righteous indignation^[1].”  He basically meant that meekness is the middle point between being uncontrollably angry and unable to get mad – the ability to assert oneself or to crumble to in defeat.

What Does Meekness Mean in this Verse?

In our passage today, Jesus Christ had a similar yet different definition of meekness when He said, “Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.”  Meekness in the Biblical sense does not mean weakness at all, for if it did, then Jesus Christ would not be described with the word meek multiple times (2 Corinthians 10:1, Matthew 11:28-30), for He is the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, the omnipotent Lord of all creation.  He is in no way weak.

William Barclay, a theologian, summed up this verse in three ways based on the three Greek meanings for the word praotes (translated meek).  First, he described it as anger under control – “Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”  This came from the Aristotle definition.  Second, he described it as self under control – “Blessed is the man who has every instinct, every impulse, ever passion under control.  Blessed is the man who is entirely self-controlled.”  This is based on the use for the word to indicate animal domestication.  He further elaborated that a person can only find true self-control, when he submits himself to the authority of God.  Third, he described it as humility – “Blessed is the man who has the humility to know his own ignorance, his own weakness, and his own need.”  After describing each of these meanings in short detail, he summed it all up by stating that the best translation for this third beatitude would be to combine all three of these together.[2]

I mostly agree with Barclay’s commentary on this verse, but in order to understand what Jesus Christ meant by “the meek,” we need to look into His character, for we are called to follow Him.  As we all know Jesus was gentle and loving – letting the little children come to Him, feeding the five thousand, healing the sick, and forgiving sin; but at the same time, Jesus was also adamantly righteous – overturning the tables of the money changers, attacking the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and demanding that His disciples give up all to follow Him.  These actions did not display weakness but power controlled, for even on the cross, He who could call upon legions of angels to rescue Him, continued to hang on that tree in obedience to His Father.  We see a man of unbelievable power, constantly submitting Himself to His Father’s will.  By combining Barclay’s interpretation of Matthew 5:5 and the characteristics we see in Jesus, meekness can simply be described as having the humility to place oneself under God’s control.  This is what we see with Moses in the Old Testament, who was described as meek (Numbers 12:3).  This is what we see with Paul as he served the churches.  This is what we see in our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the Gospels.  To be meek is to willingly humbly place oneself under God’s control.

Blessed Are the Meek – Another Two-Edged Sword

Like the first two beatitudes, this third beatitude also acts as a two-edged sword, speaking and cutting to the heart of not only the disciples of Jesus Christ but also the unbelievers who are considering following Him.

For those who are still on the fence about following Jesus Christ, we need to look at the progression of the Beatitudes from the first one until this one.  He began by opening up with “blessed are the poor in spirit,” letting all who considered becoming a disciple to know that they needed to realize that they had nothing of themselves that was great or amazing or of worth.  Those seeking Him needed to come with a full knowledge that they could do nothing to earn His favor but were coming in full need like famished beggars to a hotel restaurant owner, relying on the grace, love, and kindness of Jesus Christ alone.  Second, He said, “Blessed are those who mourn,” letting them know that they needed to realize that there was sin in their life that needed to be forgiven, sin that not only ruined themselves but their relationship with God.  Their heart needed to be broken knowing these facts and the impossibility for a renewed relationship with God without Him.  Then, we reach our verse, where He said, “Blessed are the meek.”  Knowing what meekness now means in the Biblical sense, we can see easily see that a progression has occurred.  First, Christ asked them to realize that they needed Him.  Second, Christ asked them to mourn for their sins and broken relationship.  Now, Christ asked them to put this knowledge and emotion into action; to go from the pure head knowledge to a submission to Him as Savior and Lord.  It is in this Beatitude that Christ calls them to move from feelings of weakness to humility.  You might have control of your life.  You might have it great, but you need to realize that you are nothing, that sin rules your life, and that you need Jesus.  Now, that you know this, give control of your life to Him.  This is why we say that when you are saved, Jesus becomes your Lord.

The sword did also have an edge towards those who have already chosen to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This edge actually is just a continuation of the one you experience when you first give your life to Christ as an unbeliever.  From the first time you come to Christ till eternity, He is your Lord.  Too many of us Christians have come to Jesus Christ simply for the salvation, understanding that when we come to Him that He is Lord but we choose not to submit our lives.  We take advantage of His grace, abusing it constantly by continuing to live in our sin, calling Him Lord but living as if He had no say in our hearts.  When Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the meek,” He was also addressing His disciples and reminding them all that they needed to live lives of humility, knowing that though they could take control of their own lives that it was best for them to submit it to Him.  He was calling them to a willing daily dying to themselves and picking up their crosses to serve Him.  Throughout our Christian walk, each day we will have to make the decision whether we will submit to God or not.  It is our choice, but the blessing comes only to those who do.

We will also find that when we submit to Him, this meekness will begin to extend from our spiritual lives into our walk in this outside world.  This characteristic of humble power under control will appear in your relationships with your boss, your friends, your parents, and your elders.  It is not that you grow weak and become a slave to others, but that you relinquish the control to others willingly when it is right in the sight of God.  No matter what ultimately, we as Christians can only use this name when we have God in control of our lives.  We must be humble enough to realize that we need Him daily and that we must give Him control.

For They Shall Inherit the Earth – The Great Reward

The blessing that followed this Beatitude was stated simply, “…For they shall inherit the earth.”  What a surprising reward right?  Especially, if we consider that the world’s way of obtaining things is summed up in the phrase, “To the victor, goes the spoils.”  Recollect all the evil villains you have ever watched on television or movies or read in books, did any of them ever take over the world by humility?  Not one.  Every single one of them went after it by doing something that allowed them to take control of the people.  Even in real life, people don’t stay in power by humility but by working backhanded deals that allow them to keep their position.  Yet Christ sets a different standard for His disciples – be meek, be humble, be God-controlled.  The term inherit indicates that the earth was not going to belong to them in the immediate but in the future.  It did not meant that they would rule and reign it as tyrants but that when Christ makes His second return, ushering in a new heaven and a new earth fully and completely under His reign, we will inherit it and be in it with Him.  He even tells His apostles in Matthew 19:28, “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”^[3]  It is in humbly submitting oneself to God that this inheritance of eternal life in the New Jerusalem is gained.

To sum this beatitude up, we can look at one other word of Christ, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹² And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” ^[4] (Matthew 23:11-12)  As James 4:6-7a, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God.”^[5]

Verses Mentioned

• 2 Corinthians 10:1a – “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…”^[6]
• Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”^[7]
• Numbers 12:3 – “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” ^[8]

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^[1] Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Mt 5:5). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

[2] Barclay, William.  The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1.  The Westminster Press (1956), 91-93.

^[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Mt 19:28). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Mt 23:11–12). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Jas 4:6–7). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (2 Co 10:1). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[7] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Mt 11:28–30). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

^[8] The Holy Bible: King James Version. 1995 (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.) (Nu 12:3). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.