Blessed are the Meek
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5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Introduction
Gentleness or Meekness is a virtue that will bring blessedness or happiness
The end result is the inheritance of the earth
What does that mean
Well to start off with we must understand the audience
The audience was primarily Jewish
The 12 disciples was the aim of the message but many others were onlooking\
This was the start of Jesus's Ministry - so a dynamic point would be made about the radical difference between Jesus message and the religion of the day.
Matthew was penned to the Jews to make the Statement that Jesus was the king of the Jews
Meekness - a calm temper of mind, not easily provoked
Meekness - Moral quality of humility and gentleness, usually exhibited during suffering or difficulty and accompanied by faith in God.
Meekness is not timidity or weakness
The opposite of meekness is a harsh and proud wickedness that insists on immediate self-vindication (; ; ).
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: But he blesseth the habitation of the just.
33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: But he blesseth the habitation of the just. 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
prov
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
prov 16.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
james
It is generally associated with some form of oppression.
The “meek” were the special objects of the Divine regard, and to them special blessings are promised
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: They shall praise the Lord that seek him: Your heart shall live for ever.
“The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way”; 37:11,
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
So where does this leave us .....
I think meekness is best summed up by
Meekness
Meekness
An attitude of humble, submissive and expectant trust in God, and a loving, patient and gentle attitude towards others
Gentle and patient -
(, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied”; 25:9, “The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way”; 37:11, “The meek shall inherit the land”; 147:6,[1]
That land being Caanan ......
I Meekness Explained
I Meekness Explained
[1] Walker, W. L. (1915). Meekness. In J. Orr, J. L. Nuelsen, E. Y. Mullins, & M. O. Evans (Eds.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Vol. 1–5, p. 2027). Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.
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.
To many, “meekness” suggests the idea of passivity, someone who is easily imposed upon, spinelessness, weakness.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In the Greek New Testament, “meek” is from the Greek term praus.
It does not suggest weakness; rather, it denotes strength brought under control.
The ancient Greeks employed the term to describe a wild horse tamed to the bridle.
In the biblical sense, therefore, being meek describes one who has channeled his strengths into the service of God.
By nature people might be volatile, temperamental, and gruff.
But by purposefully taking Christ’s spirit on them, they become meek or gentle (compare ).
But by purposefully taking Christ’s spirit on them, they become meek or gentle (compare ). Meekness implies acceptance of one’s lowly position. The meek person is gentle and mild in his own cause, though he may be a lion in God’s cause or in defending others.[1]
Meekness implies acceptance of one’s lowly position. The meek person is gentle and mild in his own cause, though he may be a lion in God’s cause or in defending others.[1]
It can signify absence of pretension (, )
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Meekness is an attribute that comes out during persecution
It grace under fire
Remember the disciples would all die a martyrs death
Its not exploding
Its not giving someone a piece of your mind
It not vengeance and retribution
Its self control during times of crisis and persecution
It a byproduct of the first two Beatitudes
it can only come with the spirit of salvation
Ron Zimmerman - could not control himself - would blow up when challenged on his faith
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
This is what a Christian does......
Closely linked to humility, gentleness is grace of the soul.
Strength under control
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
In other words correct with gentleness
we are to restore those that are cauget up in sin
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Illustration correct with out meekness - breaking a son or daughters spirit .....
Gentleness, being the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest, is also a key ingredient in unity and peace within the body of Christ ().
Gentleness, being the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest, is also a key ingredient in unity and peace within the body of Christ ().
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
What what does that all mean to me .....
To be meek or gentle you need to have self control under pressure .
Illustration - children walk around the house on eggs shells waiting for you to explode!
people know what you button is.
See Jesus is saying as result of the new life you will act differently
the old man has been put away
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Ladies and gentlemen as we have seen from this text and gal 5.22-23 this is not an option for the Christian
Its a fruit of the spirit
We cant decide which fruit we want and which is optional
This virtue can be extremely difficult for some but can make a profound difference in our gospel testimony
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 peter
illustration
I remember hearing about a well-known preacher that was walking with his son. A man approached them and started talking to the preacher. At one point the man asked the preacher his opinion of another man that had been at great odds with him. The preacher said something along the lines of “I think that he is a good man.” Not long after that the man went on his way. Once the father and son were alone again, the son looked up at his dad and said “I thought that man hated you and couldn’t stand you. Why were you so complimentary toward him when you were asked what you thought of him?” To which the preacher said, “Because son, I wasn’t asked what his opinion was of me, but what my opinion was of him.”
APPLICATION
What a great example of meekness! Many people think that meekness is weakness, but it couldn’t be further from what the word means. Meekness is controlled strength. A horse hasn’t lost its strength when it gets harnessed, it has gained usefulness, and not lost one ounce of strength. When we choose to direct our power to be constructive rather than destructive, that does not display weakness but meekness – controlled strength. Did not Solomon say in “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”?
A missionary in Jamaica was once questioning some little boys on the meaning of and asked, "Who are the meek?" A boy answered, "Those who give soft answers to rough questions." We shall do well to remember this child's definition.
II Meekness and Inheritance
II Meekness and Inheritance
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
matt 5.
This was a Jewish Audience
You need encouragement ---- you are going through tough times but look what you are going to get....
This helps you get through
And the meek—not the strong, aggressive, harsh, tyrannical—will inherit the earth.
The verb “inherit” often relates to entrance into the Promised Land (e.g. ; ; cf. ; ).
But the specific OT allusion here is , , , a psalm recognized as messianic in Jesus’ day.
There is no need to interpret the land metaphorically, as having no reference to geography or space; nor is there need to restrict the meaning to “land of Israel” (cf. Notes).
It has always been the strong and aggressive who control the world, not the meek of the world.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Christ, however, was confirming an ancient promise given through David:
Surprisingly, there are also four other promises in this psalm describing those who are to inherit the earth:
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
[s
ps
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.
34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
ps 37.
It is Jesus Christ, of course, who ultimately will receive "the uttermost parts of the earth for |his| possession" ().
romans 8.
"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land |i.e., 'earth'|" (v. 34).
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
It is Jesus Christ, of course, who ultimately will receive "the uttermost parts of the earth for |his| possession" (). However, we also (if we are among the "meek") are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (), and thus we also shall inherit the earth with Him.
Entrance into the Promised Land ultimately became a pointer toward entrance into the new heaven and the new earth (“earth” is the same word as “land”; cf. ; ), the consummation of the messianic kingdom.
However, we also (if we are among the "meek") are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (), and thus we also shall inherit the earth with Him.
Meekness and gentleness is the characteristic of those we will find going to heaven
Meekness and gentleness is the charismatic of those we will find going to heaven
Is your Christian life characterized by a meek spirit?
What comes out of you when things go wrong?
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
For me this sumps up the particle part of meekness
james 1.9
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
What asking you to know?
Would you family or friends call you meek?