Upside Down: The Beattitudes

Week 3: Blessed are the meek I am submitted

Matthew 5:5: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

MEEKNESS IN ACTION and MEEKNESS IN ABSENCE: Let’s look at a well-known passage to see the MEEKNESS of Jesus on display and contrast that to Peter’s behavior. We’ll see meekness in action and meekness in absence!

Matthew 26:47-56 NLT: And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[fn] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

The kingdom principle. Blessed are the meek.

Stanley Horton reminds us in his commentary, that Jesus is quoting Psalm 37:11 in this beatitude. And Jesus is highlighting a trait described in the Old Testament.

Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The Hebrew word in Psalm 37:11 is anaw.

It is in Isaiah 29:19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. ESV

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 29:19.

Psalm 9:12; 10:17; 22:26 all translate anaw as afflicted.

Psalm 25:9 and Proverbs 3:34 anaw is humble.

It is also translated repeatedly as lowly and poor in the Old Testament.

The Bible admits that the worldly scorn this poor, humble and lowly attribute in Amos 2:7.

The world, and even believers, avoid the trait of meek. What Christian leadership book accentuates meekness? Not many.

Since Jesus is speaking to a mostly Galilean and Jewish audience, they likely had some cultural understanding of the word Matthew quotes Jesus as preaching here.

The word praus is well used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

88.60 πραΰς, πραεῖα, πραΰ: pertaining to being gentle and mild—‘mild, gentle, meek.’ καὶ μάθετε ἀπ̓ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πραΰς εἰμι ‘and learn from me because I am gentle’ Mt 11:29.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 748.

The Greek word praus or praeis, is also full of meaning.

In secular Greek the word is regularly used to described an animal that has been trained.

A sheep dog that has been trained to obey every word.

When a hose is broken well enough for a Roman soldier to park it over a camp fire, the Romans called it meek. How strong is a horse! But how submitted is the war horse that will risk its life for its rider.

Another important note is that Jesus applies this term and attribute to himself in Matthew 11:29. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart…” NIV

Jesus has all the strength of divinity yet all the submission of a Son obeying His Father.

Meek is humble before God.

Are you fully submitted to God?

Is there any area that you are holding back?

Giving up what you think you must keep, may be keeping you from inheriting the earth!

Meek is not weak.

Submitted to God may be at odds with the world. It is better to obey God than man.

Meek is self-controlled

Like Jesus in the garden. Bring it back around.

The Kingdom Promise - They will inherit the earth.

A relationship promise, we will have abundant life and peace.

A missionary promise, we will expand His Kingdom.

A future promise, the New Heavens and New Earth.

SMALL GROUP

Video thought…

A way to add to the concept of meek. I am humble and strong.

2 Corinthians 12

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:10‭-‬11 NIV

I am weak but strong.

I am a fool but wise.

I am nothing but not inferior.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Small Group Questions By George O. Wood.

Before you began this session and heard this sermon, what was your perception of a meek person?

Has your understanding of a meek person changed and if so, how?

The Bible specifically states that two men were meek - Moses and Jesus - yet both were strong personalities. How was the quality of meekness evident in their lives?

How can a person with a meek attitude express anger and still be considered meek?