Kingdom Living 3: The Humble (Meek)

“Happy ARE...” (!) [We add the ‘are’ in the text for readability. Original essentially says: “Happy (Blessed), the poor in spirit… Happy (Blessed), those who mourn… Happy (Blessed), the humble...”

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 5

It is not your high-spirited, quick-tempered men who will put up with no insults—your bullying, lofty ones who are always ready to resent any real or imagined disrespect. There is no blessing here for them. But blessed are the humble, those who are ready to be thought nothing of.

[Author: C H Spurgeon; Study Bible]

Psalm 37.11 “But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.”

THE BLESSED are “The Humble” [Matthew 5.5a]

Matthew 5.5a “Blessed are the humble”

“HUMBLE”: Meek, Gentle, Lowly, Mild

I’m not a fan of an all too often ‘definition’ used for meekness — “strength (power) under control.”

One, that definition more closely fits with ‘self-control’ (which we will get to when we study the fruit of the Spirit).

Two, these two qualities (characteristics)—meekness & strength (confidence)—stand on their own and shouldn’t be used to define the other. …or to diminish the other—as if one is to be preferred over the other.

The Message of the Sermon on the Mount 3. The Meek (5)

I believe Dr Lloyd-Jones is right to emphasize that this meekness denotes a humble and gentle attitude to others which is determined by a true estimate of ourselves. He points out that it is comparatively easy to be honest with ourselves before God and acknowledge ourselves to be sinners in his sight. He goes on: ‘But how much more difficult it is to allow other people to say things like that about me! I instinctively resent it. We all of us prefer to condemn ourselves than to allow somebody else to condemn us.’

For example, if I may apply this principle to everyday ecclesiastical practice: I myself am quite happy to recite the General Confession in church and call myself a ‘miserable sinner’. It causes me no great problem. I can take it in my stride. But let somebody else come up to me after church and call me a miserable sinner, and I want to punch him on the nose! In other words, I am not prepared to allow other people to think or speak of me what I have just acknowledged before God that I am. There is a basic hypocrisy here; there always is when meekness is absent.

Dr Lloyd-Jones sums it up admirably: ‘Meekness is essentially a true view of oneself, expressing itself in attitude and conduct with respect to others … The man who is truly meek is the one who is truly amazed that God and man can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.’2

[Author: John Stott]

EXAMPLES:

Moses!

Numbers 12.3 “Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.”

Jesus!!

Matthew 11.29-30 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [[For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.]]”

[[Matthew 12.15-21 “Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. He warned them not to make him known, so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory. The nations will put their hope in his name.”]]

Matthew 21.5 “Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”” (Triumphal entry & fulfillment of Zechariah 9.9)

THE BLESSED “Will Inherit the Earth” [Matthew 5.5b]

Matthew 5.5b “for they will inherit the earth”

“INHERIT (THE EARTH)”: Be Given, Receive, Gain Possession

Here, again, we have language which says, “it will be given to them.” BY WHOM?? GOD, Himself (again…of course).

The NOW and the NOT YET…

Matthew 5.3b “the kingdom of heaven IS theirs.” [NOW]

Matthew 5.5b “they WILL inherit the earth.” [NOT YET]

An inheritance is something that is passed down to us. A gain (blessing) we receive because of what someone else has done (ultimately ‘for us’).

…either way…

Matthew 2. Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)

Christian hope does not look forward to inhabiting a particular country but to ruling with Christ over all the globe and ultimately to enjoying an entirely re-created earth and heavens (Rev 20–22).

[Author: Craig Blomberg, NAC]

…so I believe we can say that ‘inheriting the earth’ is seeing God’s kingdom come and will be done now…and looking forward to the new earth which has been promised.

CONCL—

A timeless promise of God to his people…

Psalm 37.7-11 “Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.”

Matthew 5.5 “Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.”

A timeless reminder of the importance of meekness for God’s people…

Galatians 6.1-2 “Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

[[Galatians 6.3 “For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”]]

INVITATION:

…Salvation

…Service

…Renewal

Matthew 5:5 CSB

Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.

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