Intro
Our text today is Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”i This is the third beatitude that introduces Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. In this series, we have already considered the first two: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “Blessed are those who mourn.” These Beatitudes are important because they reveal the pathway to a life that is blessed in God. The world is full of curses. The way of the world provokes the judgment of God. But those who operate according to the Beatitudes enjoy God’s favor and blessing. There are eternal benefits of this way of life in heaven. But there are abundant benefits in this life as well: “For they shall inherit the earth.” We will explore the meaning of that promise in its partial fulfillment now and complete fulfillment in the life to come.
We are studying these Beatitudes with an eye toward revival. The outpouring of the Spirit at Asbury University has stirred the church at large to seek revival in their own sphere. Some are having all-night prayer meetings, seeking God’s blessing. Various colleges are reporting an outbreak of revival. It’s hard to sort out how many of those are actually experiencing revival and how many are simply pursing it in prayer. Both reports are good news. I celebrate all those who are seeking God at this time. Prayer and fasting can be an important part of that pursuit.
In this series we are examining the attitudes of heart that invite revival. You can pray all night and go on extended fasts, which are good things to do, but if the heart is not surrendered to the ways of God, the breakthrough will probably not come. When you study revivals, you find that they generally fall on those who are “poor in spirit.” The Pharisees of Jesus’s day prayed often, and they fasted twice a week (Luke 18:12). Revival was all around them, but they did not experience it. Revival comes to those with “a contrite and humble spirit.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” “Blessed are those who mourn.” Blessed are the meek.” Our key verse for this series is Isaiah 57:15. There we see the connection between heart attitude and revival. “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Today we want to consider three questions concerning the third beatitude.
(1) What does it mean to be meek?
(2) What is the reward of meekness?
(3) How do we cultivate this attitude in our own hearts?
Are you a meek person? To answer that question, we must begin with an understanding of what Jesus had in mind when he used the word “meek.”
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MEEK?
The Greek word translated meek is praus. It indicates a mild, considerate, unassuming, gentle disposition. It is a state of being “strong but accommodating.”ii Unfortunately, the English word “meek” does not always convey that concept. The first definition in Webster’s dictionary is pretty accurate: “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” That is a helpful definition. At least it is consistent with what Jesus meant in our text. But Webster’s second definition misses the mark altogether: “deficient in spirit and courage.”iii To be biblically meek the opposite is true. To be meek according to scriptural revelation is to be strong in spirit and courage, not deficient.
Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is a manifestation of spiritual strength in God. “But the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness...” (KJV). The Greek word there is not exactly the same, but it has the same root. The NIV translates it gentleness. The Holy Spirit produces this quality of meekness as we yield to him.
Seeing this quality manifested in people’s lives, helps us understand it better. How do the meek behave, especially under pressure?
Numbers 12:3 tells us Moses was the meekest man alive at that time.iv That statement is made in the context of Miriam and Aaron’s attack on him. They were criticizing him for being married to an Ethiopian. Their rebellion against his God-given authority is captured in verse 2: “So they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’” It is a vicious attack from people he loved and trusted. It’s a lot easier to handle an attack from an expected source than from close companions like this. A typical response would be to lash back at them or at least offer a defense. But what did Moses do? He prayed for them, particularly Miriam who was probably leading Aaron. God defended the meekest man on earth by striking Miriam with leprosy. There was nothing in Moses that gloated in that. Instead, he passionately prayed for Miriam’s healing. That’s what meekness looked like in Moses. He did not rise up in his own defense. He did not say, “How dare you challenge me after all I’ve done for you?” Instead of defending himself, he defends his attackers through intercession.
That same attitude of heart is demonstrated in his response to Korah and those who joined in his rebellion. You can read about that in Numbers 16. Moses let God be his defense. Meekness is not defensive. Meekness does not rely on one’s own strength for solution.
In his younger days, Moses killed an Egyptian. He was not by nature a meek person. God took him through 40 years of training in the wilderness to teach him meekness. During those 40 years Moses learned to depend on God’s strength, not his own. Only the Holy Spirit can work this quality in a person’s character. Some people are naturally sweet and gentle, at least on the surface. But if they have not experienced the work of the cross in their lives, they are often manipulative even using the soft exterior for their own selfish agenda. Biblically meek people have surrendered their own agenda to the will of the Father. They have embraced the crucified life and no longer live for themselves. For them to live is Christ and his glory (2 Cor. 5:15; Phil. 1:21). When the carnal passions of the human soul have been graciously tamed and calmed by the Holy Spirit, the person is freed from the internal turmoil that often overflows under pressure.
But even after those 40 years in the wilderness, Moses had not attained to perfection. In Numbers 20, Moses is leading Israel through the wilderness, and they run out of water. Instead of seeking God for provision, the Israelites attacked Moses. What did Moses do? He took it to the Lord in prayer. And in answer to prayer, God told Moses to gather Israel at a rock, speak to the rock, and water would flow out of the rock. So far so good. Moses is doing it right. But in his frustration with the congregation, he struck the rock twice instead of just speaking to it. He asserted his anger at that moment, and in that moment, he was not operating in meekness. It cost him dearly. Because of that act of anger, Moses did not get to lead Israel into the Promise Land.v Our level of meekness is often manifested when we are frustrated with someone or something. At that moment, do we remain calm and let God provide a solution or do we strike out physically or verbally?
Jordon Peterson shared an insightful understanding of who the meek are. He said they are “those who have weapons and know how to use them but keep them sheathed.”vi You could win the argument, but it is not in the best interest of the other person for you to do so. You have the means to come out on top, but you do not demonstrate your power in the situation.
Meekness is beautifully illustrated in David’s response to Shemei during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 16). David is heartbroken. His own son is leading a rebellion against him. At this low point in his life, this man Shemei comes out of the crowd cursing David. It is an unreasonable, unprovoked attack. Immediately, Abishai, one of his soldiers, asked permission to cut the man’s head off. That was not a meek response. All King David had to do was to node his head yes, and the deed would be done. But David did not unsheathe his weapon. He did not even permit others to defend him. Instead, he committed it to the Lord and bore the shame. Meekness is not defensive. It is not self-promoting. It has no need to demonstrate its superiority over others.
Years ago, a young man named George Atley was serving in the Central African Mission. He was attacked by a group of natives. He had with him a Winchester repeating rifle with ten loaded chambers. The group was completely at his mercy. He could have killed every one of them. But as he assessed the situation, he realized that if he killed them, it would do the mission more harm than if he allowed them to take his life. When his body was found in the stream, his rifle was still loaded with its ten chambers.vii He had the weapon to win, but love restrained the use of that weapon. The meek are “those who have weapons and know how to use them but keep them sheathed.”
The greatest example of meekness is found in Jesus at his trial before Pilate.viii He has been beaten, ridiculed, and unjustly abused. The crown of thrones is on his head, the blood flows down his brow. He is covered with blood from the scourging he received. Behold his regal demeanor even in those worst of circumstances. He is not silent because of an inability to defend himself. He could have called thousands of angels to strike down his abusers.ix He is not standing there in weakness. He is standing there in meekness—submitted to the will of the Father.x
Peter said in his first epistle (2:23), “when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” There is a foundational key to meekness. He “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” When people treat you wrong, do you commit yourself and the situation to God, and refrain from any thought of personal vengeance? If you do, you’re acting in biblical meekness.
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. He was looking for a reason to release him. He didn’t want to jeopardize his own position of prominence and privilege to do it. But he was hoping Jesus would say something he could use to justify letting him go. But Jesus did not defend himself. Scripture says Pilate marveled at that. He had never seen anything like it. Then Pilate said to him, “Are You not speaking to me? Dou you not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus’s answer reveals the kind of thinking that supports meek behavior.
Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:10-11). He was saying, “Pilate, God is in control, not you. I will trust him with the outcome of this situation.”
Meekness is expressed through a calm, confident, demeanor. The opposite of meekness is aggressive, controlling, reactive, easily-provoked, harsh behavior.xi In 1 Kings 12 an appeal was made to King Rehoboam for a reduction in the oppressive taxation they had experienced under his father, Solomon. Instead of meekly and compassionately considering the request, Rehoboam made the boast “My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist.” I’ll show you who is boss. That is the kind of leadership that provokes rebellion.
By definition, but mostly through biblical examples, we have seen what it means to be meek.
II. WHAT IS THE REWARD OF MEEKNESS?
Jesus declares the reward in our text: “they shall inherit the earth.”
Inheritance comes to the person as a gift. It is not obtained by grasping for it. It is not even earned. It is simply received from the benefactor. The kings of the earth grasp for dominance. They assert their will in order to gain the advantage. It is the way of the world. Jesus’s commendation of meekness confronts that approach to life. Instead of scratching and fighting to gain the preeminence, the meek person relies on God to give him what he should have.
When Lot’s herdsmen and Abraham’s herdsmen were fighting over the best pastureland, Abraham did not assert his right as the elder party to have it his way. Instead, he yielded the choice to Lot. Lot’s behavior was anything but meek. He took advantage of Abraham’s meek generosity and grabbed what seem to be the biggest piece of the pie.
But who inherited the land? This third beatitude could be translated, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the land.” Ultimately, Lot lost everything, even his wife. He got out of Sodom by the skin of his teeth. But in reward for his meekness toward Lot, God gave the whole thing to Abraham. After Lot chose the watered plains of Sodom and went away congratulating himself on winning the negotiation, God met with Abraham. In Genesis 13:14 God said to him, “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward, and westward; [look in every direction] 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” That included everything Lot had grasped to have. God gave it all to Abraham. He inherited the land.
Ultimately the meek inherit the earth. The New Heaven and Earth are inhabited by those who have submitted themselves to God and trusted in Christ. This inheritance of the earth is fully realized after the earth is renovated by fire.xii Peter opened his first epistle encouraging the Christians in the hope we have through Christ’s resurrection, and he adds, “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 3:4). Ultimately, the meek inherit the New Heaven and New Earth.
But there is a sense in which we inherit the earnest of that reward now. Sometimes God gives us material things that we did not earn or deserve, but as a good, heavenly Father he lavishes his goodness on us even in this life. Does anyone here besides me have more than you deserve, even in material things? But the greatest blessings are found in the peace of mind and relationship with the Lord that we enjoy. Romans 14:17 says, “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” If you are partaking of the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, you are enjoying some of your inheritance right now.xiii
Operating in biblical meekness removes a lot of stress and frustration from life. Resting in God’s watchful care, trusting the outcome with him enables a person to stop striving for things and stop striving with other people. Life is simplified. You simply obey God and let him take care of the rest. You inherit a peace of mind that is not available to those who are promoting themselves, defending themselves, and striving for position. Living in meekness you inherit everything you need in this life and even more in the life to come. “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.” Those benefits should motivate us to embrace meekness as a way of life. So that leads us to our final question.
III HOW DO WE CULTIVATE THIS ATTITUDE IN OUR OWN HEARTS?
(1) We submit ourselves to God with a confidence that he always has our best interest in mind.
In our text, Jesus quotes from Psalm 37:11. “But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37 is an excellent commentary on how to cultivate meekness. Meek behavior flows out of the right mindset. When we’re thinking right, sound behavior naturally follows. The Psalmist gives us a series of choices that support meekness. And it is the meek who “inherit the earth.” So, let’s quickly scan this chapter for some ways to cultivate meekness.
Verse 1 begins with the admonition “Do not fret.” Sometimes the aggressive, pushy, selfish people seem to be prospering while you seem to be overlooked. But they will not get away with that forever.xiv God is just. Moral reaping seldom occurs instantly. The justice of God grinds slowly. But it grinds ever so surely. If you’re fretting, if you’re grumbling, if you’re discontent, you’re not operating in meekness.
Verse 3 tells us to “Trust the Lord.” It is impossible to operate in meekness without this trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness. We must know he is trustworthy. We must choose to trust his sovereignty and intervention rather than our own resources.
Verse 4: “Delight yourself also in the Lord.” If your delight is in the Lord, then you don’t have to strive for other things. You can take them or leave them. You are relieved of the need to grasp for possessions or position. A godliness with contentment guards your heart.xv
Verse 5: “Commit your way to the Lord.” Do you believe that God is ordering your steps?xvi Do you believe that your life is in his hands? Then he will take up your cause when needed. He will direct your path. When we insist on controlling our own destiny, then there will be striving, and we will not always behave meekly. But the decision to turn it all over to God is the end of such striving.
Verse 7: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” When we are living for our own agenda, we cannot enter into the rest that is enjoyed by the meek. Hebrews 4:9-10 says, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Are you resting in God? Are you content to simply be what he wants you to be? Are you content to just do what he wants you to do? If so, you can afford to be meek.
Verse 8: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret — it only causes harm.” Are you convinced that fretting only causes harm? We’re more likely to stop fretting if we know that. God has your back.xvii Sometimes it looks like the sky is falling in our lives. But it can never fall so far that God cannot lift it back up. There are signs that the sky is falling in the world around us: financial turmoil, moral decay, and rumors of war. But none of those things move me because I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to take care of me whatever may come.xviii
Notice, the Bible tells us to “Cease from anger.”xix A lot people don’t think that is possible. They think they have to be slaves to their own emotions. But in God’s grace you can overcome an anger problem. It begins with a choice to obey this command. The other exhortations in this Psalm support a decision to “Cease from anger.” It has a lot to do with the thinking that we embrace concerning God, concerning ourselves, and concerning others, concerning life. Angry people are not meek. They react and often overreact.
I’ve only touched on the instruction given in Psalm 37 leading up to the promise in verse 11 that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” It all comes down to submission to God with a confidence (trust) that he will take care of us.
So how do we cultivate meekness in our hearts?
(2) We embrace God’s training in our lives.
We do not rebel against his discipline. We receive instruction with a teachable spirit. Psalm 32:9 says, “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” By nature, I am mulish. I was born with a naturally aggressive personality, raised in a family where aggression was valued and celebrated, and grew up in a neighborhood where aggression was seemingly necessary. The development of meekness has been a long journey for me, and I still have a way to go. But at least I now understand the strength and value of meekness.
Meekness is strength under control. At one time in my life, I was heavily involved with horses. It is a beautiful thing to watch a well-trained cutting horse work. Just a gently touch of reign on his neck or a shift in the rider’s weight can ignite a quick turn in that powerful animal. He does exactly as the master directs without any resistance. That is a picture of meekness: full submission to God.
We had a buggy back then with a trained horse to pull it. But one day we decided to train a mule to pull that buggy. The man who was leading the way in this had a bull whip and knew how to use it. When we hooked that mule up to the buggy, he began to kick. We thought that bull whip would teach him otherwise. So, the more he kicked, the more whipped. And the more we whipped, the more he kicked. It went on for hours. At the end of the day, the mule had learned nothing. And the buggy had been kicked to pieces. “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding.” That mule was not meek. The cutting horse was just as powerful, but he was meek. When we are meek in spirit, God can direct us and use us. There were two fundamental differences between the cutting horse and the mule. The cutting horse trusted his master, the mule did not. The cutting horse was submitted to his master, the mule was not. How do we cultivate meekness in our hearts?
(3) We approach his word with respect and openness to the truth it reveals.
We respect the inspiration and authority of God’s word. When God’s word differs with our own opinion, we do not sit in judgment over the word, we let the word sit in judgment of our error. We do not twist the word to fit our opinion, we change our opinion to fit the word. James 1:21 tells us to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” We should operate with meekness toward God. But in conjunction with that, we also receive the word of God with meekness—not asserting our own opinion but receiving any correction it might have for us.
One of the benefits the meek receive from God is guidance. Psalm 25:9 says, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (KJV). Some translations say, “humble” instead of “meek.” The Hebrew could be translated either way. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (KJV). Do you need guidance from the Lord as you make your way through life? Developing a meek attitude of heart is essential for receiving guidance subjectively for the Holy Spirit and objectively from the Word of God. How do we cultivate meekness in our hearts?
(4) We exercise (practice) meekness in our dealings with other people.
We practice behavior so that we can improve in that behavior. A winning sports team practices and practices to develop the skills needed to win the game. They practice until the response becomes second nature. You may not do it perfectly, but at least practice meekness as best you can in your relationships. Most of the examples we have given in this sermon illustrate meekness in our relationships with other people. That is where the test of meekness most often surfaces.
To be an effective witness for Christ we need an attitude of meekness. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear [or respect as the NIV has it]. The way we share our faith matters. An arrogant, self-righteous manner is not effective. We can be uncompromising with the truth and be gentle, meek, and respectful in our delivery. We have a hope that others need to hear about. When we communicate that hope with meekness, it makes it easier for people to receive it.
Of course, we are told in Scripture to treat one another with meekness as well.xx 1 Timothy 6:11 commands, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things [Paul has been talking about greed and lust]; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (KJV).xxi Peter tells the Christian women adorn themselves with a meek, gentle, quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:4). Titus 3:2 tells us to be “gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (KJV).
The meek operate in a calm, confident strength that rests on God’s faithfulness. They are not easily provoked because they do not think too highly of themselves. They are not quick to defend themselves because they know God will defend them when necessary. They are not trying to promote themselves because they know their promotion comes from the Lord anyway (Ps. 75:6-7). They do not panic because they know God has their back.xxii They are not reactive when people don’t show them appropriate respect because they are not preoccupied with self.
Charles Spurgeon tells the story of an archbishop who lived in a small house in Scotland. He had only one employee, but the employee tended to be forgetful. One day the employee got up before the bishop and decided to go fishing. As he headed out, he locked his Archbishop Leighton in the house with the only key. The door could not be unlocked without that key. The servant fished all day forgetting all about the bishop. When he came home and finally unlocked the door, what do you think that Archbishop Leighton said to him. He simply said, “John, if you go out for a day’s fishing in the future, please leave me the key.” Most people would be fuming and lecturing the employee about his irresponsible behavior and the inconvenience it caused. But instead of fretting over the circumstance, the bishop simply gave himself to prayer and study in the house that day.xxiii How do you respond when other people inconvenience you? How do you respond when someone cuts you off in traffic? It is a measure of this attitude of meekness.
In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus said, “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” (KJV).xxiv
Because he is meek and lowly, we can approach him. He is superior to us in every way. He is holy. Yet the meek are approachable. We can come to him because he is meek and lowly.
And we can learn this characteristic as we follow him. Are you “meek and lowly in heart”? There is a blessedness in this life and the life to come that proceeds from that attitude of heart. Do you want to grow in this grace?xxv Ask the Lord to make you more like him in this attitude of meekness.
ENDNOTES:
i All Scripture quotes are from the New King James Version unless indicated otherwise.
ii “Prau<j, praei/a, prau< as a mild and friendly disposition gentle, kind, considerate, meek (in the older sense of strong but accommodating); substantivally oi` praei/j gentle, unassuming people (MT 5.5). Friberg Lexicon from Bible Works software. The word is translated gentle in some translations.
iii Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1993), 722.
iv Both the KJV and RSV translate the Hebrew word ‘anav as meek. Some other verses use the word humble. But Moses’s behavior in this situation is a perfect picture of meekness.
v “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Num. 20:12). Cf. Deut. 34:4.
vi Jordan Peterson, “Dr. Jordan Peterson on Meekness,” Dr. Jordan Peterson Biblical Series YouTube. Accessed at https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=meekness&docid=603516821500331450&mid=4D1047CBE7D749A415104D1047CBE7D749A41510&view=detail&FORM=VIRE.
vii Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979), 1176-1177.
viii Of course, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane also demonstrates his meekness. Sweating “as it were great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44), he asked that the cup of Calvary might be removed. Yet he submitted himself to God even to death on the cross. Submission to God is fundamental to meek behavior.
ix Cf. Matt. 26:53.
x Cf. Isa. 53:7.
xi The need to control is characteristic of people who are not meek. In her dealings with Hagar, Sarah exemplifies a person who is not operating in meekness. First in Genesis 16 she takes matters into her own hands to solve her problem of barrenness. Then in Genesis 21 she behaves in a controlling, harsh manner toward Hagar.
xii Cf. 2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1; Rom. 8:17.
xiii Cf. Prov. 15:16-17; 17:1; Eccl. 4:6.
xiv Cf. Ps. 73 and the story of Haman in the book of Esther.
xv Cf. 1 Tim. 6:6.
xvi Cf. Ps. 37:23.
xvii Cf. Gen. 15:1; Ps. 91.
xviii Cf. Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 1:12.
xix The New Testament often tells us to do things with the assumption that we can only do them by the grace of God. But we are not called to be passive just because we are reliant on the Holy Spirit. We are to align our will with God’s will, step out in faith toward the obedient behavior, and God will honor that choice. We cannot make ourselves meek, yet we are to clothe ourselves with meekness/gentleness (Col. 3:13 NIV).
xx Cf. Eph. 5:21.
xxi Modern translations often use “gentleness” rather than “meekness” (KJV) in this verse and others in the New Testament. Gentleness and meekness are synonyms with similar meaning. In this sermon, we have tried to convey the meaning of praus in Matthew 5:5. The Greek word epieikes in Phil. 4:5 is an interesting word approximating meekness.
xxii Cf. Gen. 15:1; Ps. 91.
xxiii Charles Spurgeon, “The Third Beatitude,” no. 3065.” Accessed at The C. H. Spurgeon Collection on CD-ROM. I have slightly modified this story to make its point without distraction. For example, I changed Spurgeon’s term “servant” to “employee.” I think that is what Spurgeon meant. But I did not want the word servant to inject possible slavery issues which would distract from the point being made.
xxiv Cf. Isa. 42:2-3; Matt. 12:19-20; 21:3.
xxv Cf. 2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Pet. 1:5-7.
