The Meek & the Wise

The Meek

The first beatitude to be poor in spirit leads to the second beatitude, which is to mourn. The second beatitude then leads to the third. Those who know their spiritual poverty and weep will be meek. And the meek and “shall inherit the earth.”

In Scripture, meekness often appears in virtue lists that contrast with sinful traits or vices. In the NT, to be meek is the opposite of boldness, quarrelsomeness, jealousy, and selfish ambition.

Matthew 5:5 ESV

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

What is meekness?

It is gentleness, modesty, and humility.

Meek (praeis) - refers to being humble, gentle, unassuming, and innocent.

According to John Calvin, the meek are “the calm and quiet ones, who are not easily provoked by wrongs, who do not sulk over offenses, but are more ready to endure everything, than pay the wicked the same back.”

Philippians 2:3 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

True Humility is Found in Christ

To see what meekness is, you must look not at humility but at Christ.

Matthew 11:29 (ESV) - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29 (NET 2nd ed.): because I am gentle and humble in heart.

Saying meekness is this or that sends you to concepts that are copies of reality, but saying, ‘Jesus is meek’ sends you to the living reality himself.”

Meekness is showcased by Christ willingly laying down his life.

Again, meekness is not a personality trait—compliance, deference, or an inability to protest indignities suffered.

Meekness Contrasts with Self-assertion.

A person can be strong and assertive yet meek if he uses his power not to assert himself but to assert the cause of God or the weak.

Jesus was bold, forceful, and even confrontational but meek.

A supremely confident person is meek if, like Christ, he promotes others rather than himself. Because the meek know their spiritual poverty and grieve it, they refuse to assert themselves.

1 Peter 2:23 ESV

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Meekness is displayed by not being pushy or self-centered but purposely limiting his power and rights.

A good illustration would be a high-powered sports car cruising 60 miles per hour down a freeway. Surely such a car could double that speed, yet its power is brought under control out of meekness. The Kingdom of Heaven calls for people willing to walk in such a humble manner so they may inherit the Land.

For They Shall Inherit the Earth

Notice, that our beatitude for tonight doesn’t say “land.” Jesus tells the meek they will inherit the “earth.” Why? Because now, in the new covenant, God’s blessing has been universalized.

No longer is it limited to a particular ethnic group or region.

Now the kingdom belongs to people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Revelation 7:9 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

The meek already inherit the earth in this life for, as Paul says, ‘All things are yours.’

1 Corinthians 3:21 ESV

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

But obviously, it has a future reference also.” Lloyd-Jones then quotes Jesus’s words about the future.

Luke 14:11 ESV

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

This is the “glorious inheritance” we possess in Christ.

Ephesians 1:18 ESV

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

What Makes People Meek?

The psalms tells us that the blessed meek are those who trust in the Lord. They turn from anger. They don’t fret but rather wait patiently—and God rewards them with the promised land.

Psalm 37:3–8 ESV

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

The heartbeat of meekness is the self-giving love of God.

Meekness is gentle strength governed by the Holy Spirit.

Solomon Was Poor in Spirit

1 Kings 3:10–14 ESV

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

The Wise

Matthew 12:42 ESV

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Meekness of Wisdom

James 3:13 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Conclusion

Mark 12:28–34 (ESV)

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.