(Sermon #5 of "Sermon On The Mount" series.)
Parkview Church of the Nazarene
Mobile AL
J. Richard Lord, Jr.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! This Earth Is Yours!”
Matthew 5:5
INTRO
This scripture is one of the most commonly misunderstood scriptures in all the Bible.
One of the common misunderstandings about Christianity from the outside world is that once we become a Christian, we are supposed to become mild, weak and unable to stand against oppression. Since the Christians message is about “peace,” it is automatically assumed that we will “lay down our weapons” and aren’t “gonna go to war no more.”
The term “meek” in the English language has become to mean, “enduring injury with patience and without resentment, mild, deficient in spirit and courage, submissive, not violent or strong, moderate.” (Merriam-Webster) While some elements of this definition fit what Jesus was commanding us to do, some of those elements do not fit.
The world, in its ideals, tends to reject Christianity because of the idea that Christians are weak, and “deficient in courage.”
A closer examination of the Greek word “praus,” translated “meek,” shows us that Jesus is teaching us a principle that shows that if we follow the true meaning of “meek,” the earth will belong to us.
Originally, the word translated meek did not include any concept of weakness, lack of courage, or fear. If you want to get an idea of what true meekness means in its original sense, and how it applies in English, you have to go back to the middle ages to a word that is associated with the knighthood. It is the word, “chivalry.”
Chivalry is the belief and practice of knights in the middle ages and even today. Chivalry was a code of ethics upheld by noble landholders and/or knights who were influenced by Christianity. The chivalric knight was loyal, courteous, protective, and gentle and honorable to all, including enemies. Knights sought love and glory, but not selfish love and glory; love and glory for his lady and king first. Knights were courageous, humble, obedient, and chaste. The three things that knights lived by: courage, honor, and fidelity.
The code of knighthood stressed loyalty to their
military leader, participation in wars, and courage. The church codes stressed protection, humility, and service to the weak and poor. Since knights devoted themselves to the Virgin Mary, this is probably where their worshipful attitudes toward women came about. Women were literally treated as queens by chivalric men. They were respectful, worshipful, and reverent toward women. A knight’s love for a lady was known as courtly love. To a knight, love and war was the ultimate sacrifice. Knights upheld their lady’s every "whim or desire", no matter what the cost, even if it meant death.
The French word “debonair” is a term that was used frequently in the description of knights. In its medieval meaning, it meant “gentle, courteous.”
The title of “gentlemen” was given to knights of old. The women of standing, who had shown themselves worthy of protection, were given the title of “ladies.”
Even in our modern military, the “knights” of our military, if you will, are the officers. A person going through officer training is not only schooled in the art of warfare but is also taught the fine arts of etiquette and diplomacy. They are taught how to behave in high class social settings and how to conduct themselves in a manner that is conducive to good relations between nations. Indeed, they have been given the title of an “officer and a gentleman.” I suppose that today a woman officer would be called “an officer and a lady.”
Once you begin to see the word “meek” in this light, you begin to understand that Jesus is teaching us a principle that can greatly help us understand the true nature of a follower of Jesus Christ and also find a measure of success in this life.
Jesus’ teaching is ultimately practical. He is, in all of his preaching and teaching, is not only redeeming us from our sin, but also giving us a formula for success in service to Him and a mindset, or attitude adjustment, if you will, that will help us accomplish it. He is trying to teach us, in effect, how to be true “ladies and gentlemen.”
We have, in our modern American culture, the idea that courage and toughness are synonymous with brashness, rough talk, and lack of concern with etiquette and diplomacy.
If you have a person who is properly mannered, concerned with etiquette, the niceties of life, and is known as a humble person, you get the image of “Mr. Milquetoast,” a person with no courage and a person that is easily manipulated.
Today, the young people call them “nerds” and geeks.” You have the caricature of the young slender boy with slicked back hair, horn-rimmed
glasses with them taped in the middle, (with white tape) and a pocket protector with at least twenty pens in it, who couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. Of course, it’s interesting to note that the richest man in America is one of those “nerds.”
This image, however, is not new. A careful reading of history shows that mankind has always held this view to some degree or another. Men in Jesus day were no different. They exhibited all the same symptoms of what we identify today as “macho,” or “machismo.”
But Jesus, in this one statement, is creating a new image. A person who is:
I. COURAGEOUS BUT HUMBLE.
A person who is not afraid to stand up against evil. A person who lives life without fear and can look anyone in eye. But this person is also a person who knows their limitations. They know where the source of strength comes from. They know that without Jesus, they are nothing. They know that they are only vessels, tools that God uses to accomplish His purposes. This means that a “meek” person is a person that is given to something that is higher than himself. He does not put himself first, but seeks only to serve his Master.
II. SKILLED IN THE ART OF BATTLE.
In our fight against Satan and his kingdom, we need to know everything we can to defeat him. We cannot remain ignorant. A knight, a gentleman or lady of the Lord, will spend his or her life in learning ways to fight.
Paul said in Ephesians 6:12-17,”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
We have to be students of spiritual warfare. The only way we can do that is by study of the Word. You can’t just read through the Bible once and say, “Okay, I’ve done that!” If we five, twenty-five, fifty, seventy-five or one hundred years old, we never stop learning.
III. SKILLED IN THE ARTS OF ETIQUETTE AND DIPLOMACY.
In four more beatitudes, Jesus is going to refer to people who truly belong to Him, the “Peacemakers.”
This is not just talking about settling disputes. This is about living a lifestyle that makes peace. This is about a person who understands that relationships mean everything. Our relationship to God is measured in how well we get along with other people.
It is about being sensitive to the needs of others, about acting, living and talking in ways that build others up, gives them a sense of well-being and living in friendship with everyone.
My mother taught me everything I know about etiquette. Even as a little boy, I was taught a gentleman, when he walked down the street with a lady, was to walk on the outside, toward the curb, to protect her from the traffic. I was taught to hold a lady’s chair when she was going to sit down.
I was taught how to hold my utensils, and to not put my elbows on the table, and to not belch in public, and to say, “excuse me,” if I accidentally let one go.
I was taught not to interrupt someone when they were talking, and to say “yes sir or ma’am” when asked a question.
These are common points of etiquette that are designed to show respect. Respect is the common denominator of love and friendship. Etiquette and diplomacy is a natural part of any relationship.
The phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt” might have some validity because relationships between friends and married couples forget common courtesy and etiquette.
The writer to the Hebrews says in 12:14-15, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
This is so important Jesus talks about a little later in this sermon in Matthew 5:21-24,”You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
Jesus is saying that we cannot have a relationship with Him, unless we can make peace with our neighbors.
We have to get along with each other. We become skilled in the art of “making peace.”
CONCLUSION
It is apparent that chivalry isn’t truly dead. It doesn’t have the form of the middle ages and I don’t think I have ever laid my coat down in a mud puddle for a lady. But chivalry in a true Christian sense is the idea that we give ourselves in service to humanity by which we serve our King.
There are some historians that have said that more territory has been won by diplomacy than by all the wars of history.
If you look at the progress of man in the last several hundred years, you will find instances where roughshod, illiterate and undiplomatic people have managed to accomplish something important. But that would be the exception to the norm.
By and large, the greatest accomplishments of man in business, science and human relations have been done by the literate, genteel people who care about humanity.
And since the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ, the building of His kingdom has been accomplished by meek, that is, God’s gentlemen and ladies who have devoted themselves to be servants of the Most High God, because they understand that they will inherit the earth, because we will win it!
