Message from the Mount (week 4)
Message from the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Matthew 5:5
Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
We’re accustomed to thinking of the strength as opposite to gentleness, softness and tenderness. Yet this is not always true. During World War 1 British fighter pilots made an amazing discovery, that thick layers of silk stopped low velocity shrapnel better than steel. So they wound the silk around their heads and then wore leather horse riding helmets on top of the silk.
Scientists still aren’t sure just what it is that gives silk its strength, but it’s true, that in certain situations soft, gentle, tender silk can prove far stronger than cold, hard steel.
Jesus showed us the same holds true for human character. Some people try to make themselves impenetrable to the people around them. Jesus showed us that gentleness, a heart that’s soft toward others, and tenderness are in fact qualities of great strength!
Meekness is essentially an attitude or quality of heart whereby a person is willing to accept and submit without resistance to the will and desire of someone else. In the case of Christians, this is God.
The Hebrew word for meek is anaw, which refers to someone who is afflicted or bearing a heavy burden. It is largely an explanation about the circumstance someone is willing to endure, rather than a state to succumb to. A great example of someone who lived this virtue was Moses, who was the meekest man to ever live. For instance, Moses never complained to God about the grief Miriam and Aaron caused him. He simply choose to bear the burden. Moses’ meek disposition was also evident in Exodus when he was literally wearing himself out trying to help everyone solve their problems. In spite of this, he never complained or even gave thought to how it could affect him personally. Hence, Moses’ meekness wasn’t a character of timidity or letting other people run over him. On the contrast, it was a powerful demonstration of disciplined strength beyond what most people could endure.
It should also be said that there is no one English word that can fully capture the meaning of the Greek word. “Prautes” was used of a soothing medicine, a soft breeze, and a trained animal. It is typically translated meek, humble, or gentle.
The Greek word was used of a formerly wild animal that had been broken and trained by its master. Previously, the animal could not be ridden or controlled, but after being trained, it followed the master’s instruction. This is true of believers; when we first come to Christ, we often are wild and don’t fully submit to or trust our Master. However, through both trials and blessings, God teaches us to fully trust and obey him.
Consequently, meekness does not mean weakness! It doesn’t mean that we must cower or retreat from our principles, and does not involve the surrender of our rights. Meek men and women of the Bible demonstrated firm resolve, courage, conviction and strength. Furthermore, meekness in our organizations, as well as toward God’s word, requires speaking out against immoral behavior and wickedness. Thus, it demands that we deny ourselves and act on behalf of our followers.
Meekness is also not a submissive or pacifying state, but rather an active proponent of what we know is right. For example, recall the anger Moses exhibited when he came down from Mount Sinai and chucked down the tablets and Jesus fury when He threw the merchants and money changers out of the temple on two separate occasions. Thus, the main point about the meek is not their self control, but rather their absolute faith and trust in God. Hence, to be meek means to always turn to God for help, for direction, for training and for the sheer joy of this blessing.
As to the expression “inherit the earth,” the following facts should be noted:
1. God is the owner of this earth Psalm 24:1 .
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2. Those who obey Christ become children of God (Galatians 3:27 ; Hebrews 5:9 ), and “joint-heirs” with the Lord (Romans 8:17 ).
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Hebrews 5:9 (ESV)
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Romans 8:17 (ESV)
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
3. The Father supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19 ), we therefore enjoy this earth and its blessings more than all others.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
4. Mainly, however, our inheritance is spiritual (Acts 20:32 ); we are heirs in the kingdom of Christ (Ephesians 5:5 ), and citizenship in that kingdom is available now on this earth (cf. John 3:3-5 ; Colossians 1:13 ).
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
5. Finally, we also look for an inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4 ), because we are aware that the earth will be destroyed when Christ returns (2 Peter 3:10 ).
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.