The Meek Series

This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.

The Meek

The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached Series

By Greg Johnson

Matthew 5:5

Jesus is the greatest man that has walked this earth. He preached the greatest sermon ever preached known as the Sermon on the Mount. He begins the sermon by giving eight qualities of character of citizens of the Kingdom of God. They are commonly referred to as the beatitudes.

We have looked at the first one: poor in spirit. Citizens of the Kingdom of God recognize their spiritual poverty and admit it. They are given the Kingdom of God both now and in the future.

We have looked at the second one: mournfulness. Citizens of the Kingdom of God not only recognize their spiritual poverty, but they also mourn over it. They will be comforted now and for eternity.

Today we will look at the third. Jesus said (Matthew 5:5 NIV) "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Meekness is one of the eight qualities of character of a citizen of the Kingdom of God that Jesus declares in the greatest sermon ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount. The meek will inherit the earth.

THE MEEK

We may better understand meekness as we look at its position in this list of eight qualities that Jesus gives. It is in between those that mourn over their spiritual poverty and those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Meekness towards others flows out of our own self examination. One that is meek realizes that they are no better in God’s eyes than anyone else.

Meekness does not mean that one is to be passive in the midst of injustice towards others. Jesus was not passive in His actions when He cleansed the temple of His day from injustice as the religionist turned the things of God into schemes for profit. Needy people were being deceived. They were not being ministered to in the Temple. Instead they were being fleeced. This injustice toward people stirred Jesus into action. (Matthew 21:12-14 NIV) "Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. {13} "It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ’den of robbers.’" {14} The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them."

There was a righteous anger that stirred Jesus into action as He witnessed injustice toward others in His day. Followers of Christ in our day will have a righteous anger that will stir them into action concerning injustice towards people including genocide, discrimination, war, poverty and preventable disease. It does not mean they are not meek.

Meekness has nothing to do with a Christ follower’s reaction to injustice towards others. Meekness has everything to do with a Christ follower’s reaction to how others treat them. Injustice towards others stirred Jesus into action. Injustice toward Himself, brought out meekness. Listen to these words concerning Jesus.

(Isaiah 53:4-7 NIV) "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. {6} We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. {7} He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

Injustice came to Jesus and He was meek. He was persecuted and put to death by the religionist of His day. It was unjust for Him to take our sins upon Himself at the cross. He was innocent. Justice would have been for us to take the punishment for our own sins. But yet He did not defend Himself. He did not even open His mouth. He took up His cross with joy (Hebrews 12:2) and in all meekness knowing that the best was yet to come and He would inherit the earth.

THE BLESSING FOR THE MEEK

The blessing for the meek is that they will inherit the earth. You would expect the opposite. Isn’t it the powerful and the arrogant that rule? Isn’t it the greatest army that will police the world? No. According to Jesus, the meek will rule!