Blessed are the Meek
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The Beatitudes
[Jesus] said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Blessed are the Meek
Former world heavyweight boxing Champion, Mohammed Ali had many qualities but Meekness was not one of them. On a Trans-American flight the fasten seatbelt sign came and when Ali was challenged by an airhostess to fasten his belt he replied ‘Superman doesn’t need a seat belt’ to which the Hostess replied ‘Superman didn’t need an Aeroplane either.’
Blessed are the Meek is the third beatitude and is perhaps the most controversial in this day and age.
“Blessed are the meek - for they will inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5
Meek
is a word we hardly ever use today and it usually has negative connotations. Google it and you will see meanings like, ‘quiet,’ ‘easily imposed on’ and 'submissive.'
But the Greek word Jesus used in this third Beatitude is PraÜs which means; gentle, humble, considerate, courteous. We may react negatively to the child’s prayer, ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’ - but if gentle Jesus is humble, considerate, courteous it fits a bit better.
John Wesley said meekness means ‘humble obedience' as we approach God and towards others,’ meekness prompts us to be gentle and humble, sensitive and patient.
The Meek accept the role of the servant, are not pushy or stubborn, not self-important. The Meek would not thrive in Alan Sugar’s Apprentice challenge or Love Island or I’m a Celebrity Get me out of here - I hope you get my drift!
But a word of caution, here we are looking at Beatitude number three in isolation: ‘Blessed are the Meek for they will inherit the earth.’ However, many bible scholars from John Chrysostom in the 4th Century to John Stott in the 20th Century spoke about each Beatitude being like links in a chain. Each Beatitude links to the next and previous link. They argue that this is what Jesus is doing as he is clearly using poetic language.
Billy Graham said,
“The character which we find in the Beatitudes is, beyond all question, nothing less than our Lord’s own character, put into words.”
What does he mean?
Look again – Jesus is the one who lived it (perfectly). He fulfilled the beatitudes. He was merciful but received no mercy on the cross so that you and I could receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart – they will see God. Jesus was pure but the Father turned away from him on the cross (as He became sin) so that we could see God. Blessed are the meek they will inherit the earth. He was meek, he gave up everything for us so that you could inherit eternal life.
Another cautionary word, the Beatitudes are not eight groups of people who are blessed through their hardship. Jesus is not making a social statement affirming the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungry or the persecuted. These are not eight types of people - these are eight qualities of who we are in Christ. Eight qualities of one people – us, Christians – Christ‘s ones. In fact, I believe Jesus is showing us how the Christian pilgrim’s journey grows: let me put it this way:
the ‘poor in spirit’ admit our spiritual poverty that our problems are beyond self-help eg like someone in the grip of drink knows will-power is not enough, same for lust and the effects of porn. Poor in spirit admits the need, eg. In debt or can’t make ends meet –Poor in spirit admits you are rock bottom and
you mourn and cry out to the Lord and (if that is for the first time) you become a child of God, and He is your Abba father. You mourn as you admit the problem is me, my sin, my self-sufficiency and
in humble meekness we turn to God as we realise that it is only by His grace that we are born anew, meekly saying ‘Lord I need you, your help, your presence, you in me and Jesus says ‘blessed are the meek.’ As he transforms us
a hunger and thirst for righteousness develops, but there I go, running into the other Beatitudes! Inner characteristics of showing
mercy,
purity and
peace-making. And the pilgrim will also experience
persecution of the journey.
The Beatitudes stand in stark contrast to the way the world would describe being blessed.
That’s a whistle-stop tour of the Beatitudes on the Christian pilgrim's journey
The third is Blessed are the Meek - for they will inherit the earth.
Notice, the second half of each Beatitude states the blessings the Christian has.
The Greek word for blessing is ‘Makarios’. The second half of each beatitude contain assurances of the “blessedness” on the pilgrim’s journey
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
for they shall be comforted
for they will inherit the earth
for they will be filled
for they will be shown mercy
for they will see God
for they will be called children of God
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
The blessings have both a now and not yet dimension, we enjoy the firstfruits now but the kingdom blessing is still to come.
The blessedness of being a Christian speaks of a joy that is constant yours is the Kingdom of heaven, you inherit the earth, you are comforted, your hunger for righteousness is satisfied, you receive mercy, you see God, we are called the children of God,
As if to emphasise that he is being poetic, Jesus repeats the first and last blessing to complete the Makarios stanza. The first and last blessing of the pilgrim is that they possess the Kingdom of heaven, they are comforted, they inherit the earth, their hunger is satisfied, they receive mercy, they see God, they are called the children of God. All this Blessedness belong together and as we continue to walk with Christ-like the waves breaking onto our beaches the blessing flows never static The collective Makarios describe the privileges of being a Christian.
Christian friend, allow the Lord Jesus to continue his Meekness makeover in you, meek as you come to him in prayer, nothing in my hand I bring, in humility read mark and learn and obey his word and accept the call to serve others being gentle, patient humble and sensitive to their situation.
