This guest devotional is written by Mike Loveridge, assistant pastor of Manor Park Church
The Blessed Meek
Sermon on the Mount 4 – Blessed are the Meek
Today we take a look at the next of the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5v5.
What does it mean to be meek?
Before we can begin to understand what this Beatitude means for us, we first need to define the word ‘meek’. The dictionary definition of meek is quiet, gentle, easily imposed on and submissive. Essentially the world classes meekness as weakness. So, what is Jesus saying? That the gentle, submissive pushovers of this world will inherit the earth? I don’t think so!
Firstly, we need to remember that what Jesus says in the Beatitudes speaks first and foremost of our relationship with God rather than our relationship with others. Therefore, the term meek, as used by Jesus, does not simply describe people who are born with a gentle disposition. We all know that there are people who, by birth or genetics, are generally calmer and nicer than others and who rarely lose their temper. Neither is Jesus talking about people who are weak, shy, quiet or who avoid confrontation because they do not like conflict of any kind. Meekness does not mean cowardice. It must not be confused with people who go out of their way to avoid disagreements, debate or verbal conflict. Jesus in Matthew 11:29 and Paul 2 Corinthians 10:1 are shown to be meek, yet they were not afraid of theological or ethical confrontation. They boldly confronted sin and false doctrine and even used strong language when appropriate (for examples of this see John. 4:16; 8:19, 44; Matthew. 21:12; Mark. 11:15; Galatians 1:8, 9; 2:11).
The meekness Jesus is talking about here is meekness before God. This kind of meekness does not come from a natural disposition but from the work of the Spirit within us. And it flows from the previous two Beatitudes. To be meek you first need to be poor in spirit and mourning the sin in your life. Why? Because it is from these two things that we get a correct view of ourselves and a correct view of God. We see the righteousness, holiness and absolute sovereignty of God coupled with His mercy, compassion, patience and kindness toward us as sinful, finite and pitiful creatures, and this drives us to our knees before God. As we remember our bankrupt nature without Christ and the depravity of our sin, we will be people who come to God in humility and meekness. And when we are meek before God it will also mean that we can be more loving towards others. We can be gentle and patient with others because of the mercy God has shown us. So, our meekness is not a natural tendency but one that flows out of the understanding God’s mercy and grace towards us. God takes men and women that are prideful, angry, bitter, mean, unmerciful, and by His grace enables them to be humble, gentle, merciful, forgiving and patient. That is meekness.
Jesus is the ultimate example of meekness
In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus says:
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
In some translations the word gentle is translated as meek. Meekness and gentleness are very similar. Jesus does not rule as earthly leaders do with arrogance and force, but He is lowly, humble, and gentle with His people. Jesus lowered himself and associated with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners because He placed lost souls above himself. Remember how he reacted at His trial. When lies were being thrown at Him, not once did He argue or fight back. He didn’t even say a word. What meekness He displayed! Yet the example of Christ also shows us that meekness doesn’t mean to compromise or to be a push over. Think of some of the ways He talked about and denounced the pharisees. In Matthew 23 alone He calls them hypocrites, fools, and blind guides. This same meek Jesus is the one who cleared the temple with a whip and called His own disciple ‘Satan’ (Matthew 16:23). All of this does not undo Jesus meekness, far from it. All of this is drawn from his loving compassion for the lost. Jesus is meek and tender to the lost but confronts heresy and unrepentant sin.
Meekness in action
So how can a Christian follow Christs lead and display meekness in their day to day lives?
Firstly, it must permeate our relationship with God. As we acknowledge who he is and what he has done for us, we should come to him with an attitude of submission and meekness. When we open God’s word, the meek believer is a person who is immediately willing to set aside their own interests or desires in order to obey what the Scripture teaches. It means that even if we find what we read difficult or counter-cultural we don’t deny it but ask God for the strength to follow and obey.
Then once we are meek towards God, our meekness will flow out to other people. A meek person is someone who is not occupied with self at all, they are someone who does not insist on their rights. A meek spirit enables us to put to one side our preferences and desires in favour of another’s. It enables us to overlook the faults of others because we know our own faults all too well. Meekness also removes judgement of others. It causes us to be quick to forgive and it teaches us to put away all malice and evil speaking (Ephesians 4:31-32). Why? Because a meek spirit is one who knows the love, grace and mercy of God and is ready to display that love, grace and mercy to the world.
What is the inheritance of the meek?
To finish, let’s go back to the Beatitude. Jesus tells us that the meek are blessed. Why? Because they will inherit the world. That would have been a total shock to the original listeners and it still is today. It’s not normally the meek who come out on top. You’ve got a far better chance if you are arrogant, pushy and bold. But the kingdom of God is the flip opposite of the world. In Mark 9:35, Jesus told his disciples, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” And he says the same to us, today. So, will you lower your view of self in light of what Jesus has done for you and live a life of meekness through the power of the Spirit? A true believer will, and the blessing is to be part of God’s eternal kingdom.
Photo by Ashim D’Silva on unsplash
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