"Blessed are the Meek"
Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Introduction
Jesus continues the beatitudes with another blessed attitude. About now I think you are wondering how Jesus expects us to be happy with these attitudes in our life. After all, "the poor in spirit", "those who mourn" and now, "the meek" do not sound too happy or blessed. And if you look at the next on the list it doesn’t get much better, "those who hunger and thirst". The beatitudes have given some the wrong idea of what it means to be a believer.
Some psychologists and psychiatrists, following Freud’s lead, point to the Beatitudes as proof of Jesus’ imbalance. Said one distinguished British psychologist, in a speech prepared for the Royal Society of Medicine:
“The spirit of self-sacrifice which permeates Christianity, and is so highly prized in the Christian religious life, is masochism moderately indulged. A much stronger expression of it is to be found in Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. This blesses the poor, the meek, the persecuted; exhorts us not to resist evil but to offer the other cheek to the smiter; and to do good to them that hate you and forgive men their trespasses. All this breathes masochism." (Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
1. The Meaning of Meek
Many associate the word meek with the word weak. To some the word meek brings to mind a person who is unable to stand firm on a position, is easy to persuade, is generally a weak minded and weak willed individual.
Have you ever heard of the "Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls"? When you make an acrostic of the first letters of its name, you have the word "Doormats." The Doormats have an official insignia—a yellow caution light. Their official motto is: "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that’s OK with everybody!" Upton Diskson founded the society after he wrote a pamphlet called “Cower Power.”
The word carries none of the meanings associated with weak. The meek, (hoi praeis) has been translated mild or gentle. The word was originally applied to the outer characteristics of things and people. It was not considered a virtue or an attitude. Today’s meaning of meek has been watered down to the point it has lost most, if not all of its true meaning.
The image most closely associated with "meek" and its meaning is that of the horse. The Greek historian Xenophon used the very same word Jesus used to describe a horse broken to saddle, so that it is under control.
A horse is a powerful animal. It is a symbol of strength in the Greek world. Wild and untamed the horse is a useless animal. It can not be used for any of the tasks man has for it. However, if the horse is broken it can be used for all kinds of tasks for which it was created. It can be tamed and then taught. A tamed horse is a picture of power under control.
The word meek means one who has an attitude toward others that is humble (poor in spirit). A person who is teachable is considered meek. A meek person does not have to be right all of the time and a meek person will live a life of strength under control. I prefer the translation, "Blessed are they who choose to obey".
A.W. Tozer once wrote, The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto."
2. Men Who Were Called Meek
Moses and Jesus were called meek. The list, which is not complete, represents two men of the Bible who most would say were strong and able, especially our Lord Jesus.
Moses, the great lawgiver and leader is described as meek. Moses who went before Pharaoh demanding the release of God’s people, who took his people out of Egyptian bondage, who stood before the Red Sea with staff in hand as it parted, who led a grumbling, complaining mob faithfully for four decades, was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” according to Numbers 12:3.
The Lord Jesus invites in Matthew 11:29 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”
Christ was “meek and lowly in heart.” He was not the blond hair, blue eyed, English looking, and weak looking figure of paintings. He was instead a strong man, who could do the physical labor of a carpenter/farmer. He could call down angels from heaven to do His bidding.
He stood silent before the His accusers as they beat and taunted Him. He took the nails in His hands and hung on the cross speaking only those words that brought forgiveness, mercy, and even redemption for the one condemned that hung beside Him. Could a man of weakness accomplish what Jesus did?
Weak, no way! Strong in every sense of the word, yes! Jesus was a man of great strength, sinless before the Father, and willing to obey the Father even though He would have preferred to avoid the cross. Even His last breath was a heavenward shout of victory that signified His obedience, even obedience unto death. Meekness implies obedience, not to man, but to God. That is why I prefer the translation, "Blessed are they who choose to obey".
Henry Moorhouse preached one evening on the love of God. In the meeting was a rough, wicked coal miner who had a vile temper, was a heavy drinker, and mistreated his wife and children when he’d been drinking. His name was Ike Miller. Moorhouse was told that Ike Miller was at the meeting and that many were praying that he would be saved.
Moorhouse preached his heart out but Ike Miller didn’t respond. Instead he went straight out the door after the meeting and disappeared. Those who were anxious for Miller’s salvation told Moorhouse that he had failed to touch the town’s biggest sinner.
But what those men did not know — and what Moorhouse learned later — was that Ike Miller had gone straight home. He had kissed his wife and tenderly gathered his two children into his arms — something he had not done for years — and sobbing, he prayed a prayer that his mother had taught him: “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, Look upon a little child; Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to thee.” (Austin Mansfield)
3. Blessedness of Meek
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth"
Who would want it, the earth that is? I don’t think there are many takers in this room. It is sin-filled, broken down, falling apart, and filled with corrupt people. Are there any takers?
But remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in, "The Cost of Discipleship", "The renewal of the earth begins at Golgotha, where the meek One died, and from thence it will spread. When the kingdom finally comes, the meek shall possess the earth. The phrase “inherit the earth” is a figure of speech to indicate the possession given to the faithful.
When the Israelites stood on the opposite bank of the Jordan across from the land of Canaan, "The LORD said to Moses, Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites."
"Which I am giving to the Israelites" is important. It was the land promised to Abram and passed down generation to generation. The land signified the place where the Lord led His people.
It is not a land to be taken or conquered, it is a land given by the Lord. The Israelites failed to realize this and turned back. They did not trust in the Lord to "give "it to them. We know He did only when they followed Him and his commands.
So what is "the earth" to inherit? It represents the promise of God. It is the promise of love, peace, and joy that’s only found in obedience to the Lord and His word. It is the place of God’s promise.
No, we are not to move to Israel, to the land of Canaan. The depth of meaning is far beyond a place on earth but it is a state. It is that state of love, peace and joy that only comes through a meek mind and heart set. It requires a mind and heart, a will that is bent and bowed to the Lord and His commands.
Bob Pritchard said, "When Jesus gave His beatitude, He was actually quoting Psalm 37:11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” The psalmist David contrasted the meek with the wicked. “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be” (Psalm 37:10). The way of the meek is the way of righteousness. The wicked “shall not be,” but the meek shall “inherit the earth.” The possession for the faithful is the “new earth” described by John the seer in Revelation 21. Just as the children of Israel inherited the promised land, the meek follower of Christ will inherit the new heaven and new earth. We just need to follow in the footsteps of the meek and gentle Jesus.
“Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is his method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. The rest Christ offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend. It will take some courage at first, but the needed grace will come as we learn that we are sharing in this new and easy yoke with the strong Son of God Himself.” (AW Tozer, The Pursuit of God)
How do we get there? It begins with a person repenting of their sins, their rebellion against God. Then it requires a surrender of their life, a bending of their knees, to the Lord and His word.
Invitation
