Sermon On The Mount III: Blessed Are The Meek

by Lawrence Kelley

Matt 5:5

We come now to the beatitude that is most difficult to define. It is helpful to remember that all of these attitudes Jesus prescribes are chosen. Meekness is not a description of people with shy personalities who are naturally retiring. It does refer to invertebrates who lack the will to stand up and oppose evil. In fact, the best short definition for meekness is power under control. Strangely enough, Jesus promises the earth not to the pushy and demanding, but to the meek.

WHAT IS MEEKNESS BEFORE GOD? It is Power under control. Barclay defines it as, "The power through which the strong and explosive might of the passions is harnessed in the service of God..." Moses was called meek and yet we know that he was not weak. He was a strong and decisive leader and completely under the sway of God's directions. As Christians, Our Lord Himself is our example (Matt. 11:29). He is gentle. But such meekness is not inconsistent with strength. Jesus represents unlimited power, harnessed to the will of the Father. For us then, meekness is the absolute surrender of our passions and desires to God. As James puts it we are to receive with meekness the implanted word (1:21).

WHAT IS MEEKNESS BEFORE MEN? It is a habit of patient endurance under provocation. Meekness answers the question of how we deal with provocation? How do we handle agitation? How we handle confrontation? We learn best by imitation and scripture provides ample opportunities to see this attitude lived out.

In the story of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 13),both had a considerable amount of possessions, "the land was not able to bear them." It wasn't long before "there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle." Because of the strife, Abraham and Lot were forced to part ways. In the parting of ways, Abraham gave Lot the first choice as to where he wanted to settle and Abraham would be satisfied with what was left over. In his actions, Abraham demonstrates genuine meekness. Abraham could have easily insisted on having his way and choosing the best of the land and letting Lot be satisfied with the leftovers. But he chose rather to forego his "rights" without complaint. Meekness then is essential to godly disagreements between brothers. It is possible to have godly disagreements in areas of judgment. There may be no sin in the disagreeing, but all must take care that the manner of disagreement does not degenerate into sin. (James 3:13-18; Eph 4:1-2).

Jesus is again the example here. His meekness is set in contrast to Pilate's wilfulness and ambition. Pilate was characterized by all the traits considered essential for any Roman ruler - prideful, ruthless, ambitious. Yet in his desperate attempt to attain power and glory, Pilate lost it all. He was later banished to Gaul by the emperor Caligula where he committed suicide. It was before this man that Jesus stood, making no demands, accepting His condemnation, not because He was week - only a word and Jesus could have crushed Pilate - but instead Christ calmly submitted to the will of the Father and trusted Him implicitly. In a word He was meek. Jesus died and rose again. He is now King of Kings and is worshiped and served by an unnumberable host. The difference in demeanor led to a difference in inheritance which leads us to consider how...

THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. This is frequently interpreted to mean that they will go to heaven when they die. But this is not what Christ said. He, said that the meek will inherit the earth (see Psalm 37:11). This may have at least two layers of meaning:

First, only the meek can really enjoy the blessings of earth. The ungodly grasp after them with abandon, but are never satisfied. Only the meek can delight themselves in the abundance of peace, v. 11. Perhaps they have not abundance of wealth to delight in; but they have that which is better, abundance of peace, peace with God and then peace in God, that peace which the world cannot give (John 14:27), and which the wicked cannot have (Isa 57:21).

Second, The Old Testament prophesies that Christ's kingdom would be glorious indeed. Just one example: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations" (Ps. 22:27-28). We know that this is to be accomplished by Christians going unto all nations, teaching them and baptizing them (Matt. 28:19). But we must remember this beatitude as we go. We must remember that our means of conquest are not brute force, they are not earthly, they are not carnal. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

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