The Misunderstood Meek Series

Today we continue on in our series on the Beatitudes. Last week we looked at the attitude “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” We talked about the fact that it is good to mourn our own sin and shortcomings in our life. When we have sinned or have sin in our life we should be grieving that sin. Our sin is against God and if we love God we don’t want to have things in our life that grieve God. We also said that it is good to mourn our losses. Whenever we have lost a dear person in our life, or we have lost anything significant it is good to mourn and work through those feelings of sorrow. Even the scriptures say that there is a time to mourn. But not only is it good to mourn our own sins and shortcomings and losses, it is also good to mourn with those around us. All around us, even in the church there are people hurting. There are people who have had hurts in their life. They need others who feel their pain and mourn with them. Like it says in Romans we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. But we should also mourn the sins of those around us. In our community we are surrounded by people who are living in sin and do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. That should bother us. That should break our hearts. Once again, we will be become a church that is relevant in this community when we truly mourn the fact that there are so many people who do not know Christ. Yes it is good to mourn.

Let’s move along in our series this morning to the next beatitude. Once again, like the others it is one that makes no sense to the world at face value when they read it.

Matthew 5:5

The meek shall inherit the earth. I think the word meek has been so misunderstood. Most people think that meek is a person who is a pushover, a person who other people can force their will upon them. They see someone who is meek as spineless and maybe even a coward.

In a newspaper column written by Bill Farmer, J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group of submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for Dependent Organization Of Really Meek and Timid Souls---if there are no objections." Their motto was: "The meek shall inherit the earth -- if that's okay with everybody." Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.” Our Daily Bread

That is how a lot of people think of meek people. So they don’t understand when the Bible says in their eyes, “Blessed are the doormats for they shall inherit the earth.”

We know from the scriptures that Jesus was meek. In Matthew 11:29 the King James Version says, “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.” Jesus’ teachings certainly suggest a meek approach. Listen to what He says later in this Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:38-41 says, “You have heard it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Now someone could read that and say Jesus is telling me to be a wimp. He is telling me to let others push me around. There is no way if someone hits me that I am turning my other cheek to them. He is telling me to be a doormat. If that is meek then forget it! How can I inherit anything like that? I would be more likely to lose everything I have! The people that expected Jesus to be their Messiah, was expecting a war conquering hero. I don’t think this teaching of turning the other cheek was doing much for them. I’m sure some of them were wondering how could He be their Messiah when He is preaching so much passiveness. Of course the thing with Jesus is that He didn’t preach something and not live it Himself. When Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested and led to His crucifixion listen to what it said about how Jesus responded through all the taunts and things that they did to Him during that time. I Peter 2:23 tells us, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Now some people would say that Jesus was weak. How could He just sit there and take it? How could He not fight back? But this is what you absolutely need to know and understand: The meek are not weak. It may sound like it and look like it at first glance. But do you really think that Jesus was weak? I don’t think so. To call the meek weak is a big misunderstanding of what it truly is.