The Meek shall inherit the Earth.
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If you have a bible open it up to Matthew 5. I have titled the message this morning. The Meek shall inherit the Earth. Pray with me.
So if you have been with us we have been in the book of Matthew for the last several months, we are slowing down as we work ourself through the sermon on the mount.
Today we find ourselves looking at verse 5. Of the Beatitudes. Which says
Matthew 5:5 ESV 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Now the main idea in todays text does not leave the verse much what I want you to see as our main idea is this… …
Those who are truly meek will be the ones who inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who are truly meek will be the ones who inherit the kingdom of God.
Notice again the word blessed here… And I will repeat what I have said about this word blessed each and every week as we work through these…… just as a reminder to you …Now there is an idea that many believe the word blessed means happy because of its translation in the greek, and I believe it goes beyond just a simple emotion.
Now to be blessed means to have this deep inner joy of those who have long awaited the salvation promised by God and who now begin to experience its fulfillment. There is a here an now reality from the words that Jesus is teaching us in the text. Another man said blessed is a positive judgement by God on the individual that means to be approved or to find approval. So when God blesses us he approves us. Which is the biggest blessing we can have. One more man said. Blessedness is not simply a nice wish from God, it is a pronouncement of what we actually are approved. Blessedness indicates the smile of God or, as one man put it, the Applause of Heaven. That is what we will be working with when it comes to being blessed as we continue our study.
Now Taken by itself this verse is powerful, but as always we need to take it with the context it find’s itself in. This is what makes the beatitudes so powerful, taken as a whole these verses are life-changing for the born again Christian. All of them are built upon one another. Those who are poor in Spirit who realize they are bankrupt without Jesus they mourn their sin and that produces a meekness in us. One scholar I was reading said these beatitudes get harder for us to as we see them in the text. I agree because meekness is hard for the common man.
Most of us don’t even know what it means to be meek, and honestly up until this sermon I don’t think I gave it as much thought as I probably should have.
In fact when you study the meaning of what it means to be meek you find a buffet of answers. Its hard to actually narrow it down like I try to do when I preach.
“Meekness” is a humble attitude that expresses itself in the patient endurance of offenses.
Now what does it mean to be meek? Well studying this Its hard to put what it means to be meek in a sentence or two. Its more than that. Now everyone I have studied wanted to highlight the idea that meekness is not weakness.
It does not mean that if you are meek you are going to just sit back and do nothing have this peace with everyone just being an overall nice person. To be a pushover. That is not what it means to be meek.
Let me give you a few thoughts from others while talking through them myself.
The Greeks’ used the word meek to speak of a soothing medicine. Medicine under control is helpful. Out of control, it kills. They use it to speak about an animal that was broken and useful. An unbroken colt, an unbroken horse destroys. A broken horse is useful. They used it to speak of a gentle breeze. A gentle breeze cools and soothes. A hurricane kills, out of control. Power under control is meekness.
I found that idea of power under control is meekness an striking statement, but how could I better explain it. Well when reading this week and thinking carefully this idea of power under control means having the power to do something, but refraining from doing it for others benefit. Its having this humility towards God, and also man.
Another man said the Meek are "persons of mild and gentle dispositions, who are not easily provoked by injuries, who are not ready to take offense, but are prepared to endure anything rather than do the like actions to wicked men." Meek people do not lack assertiveness, nor are they wishy-washy.
Now Martyn Lloyd Jones gives a definition to be meek. The man who is truly meek is the man who is amazed that God and man can think of him as well as they do and treat him as well as they do.
In a sermon. John MacArthur said… Some really powerful words.… Meekness. This is what Christ said characterizes people in his kingdom. They’re not defending themselves. They’re not running around trying to get their due. They know they have nothing. They’re already broken in spirit over the sin. They’re already mourning and weeping over the consequence of it. And in humility they stand before a holy God and they have nothing to commend themselves.
Power under control. They trust in God. They delight in him. And God promises to give them the earth. It isn’t cowardice. It isn’t a wishy-washy lack of conviction. It isn’t just human niceness. Meekness says, “In myself, nothing is possible. But in God, everything is possible.” Meekness says, “For me, I offer no defense. For God, I’ll give my life. For God I’ll die.” It’s not a passive acceptance of sin, but it’s an anger under control. It’s holy indignation.
Jesus never defended himself, never. But when they desecrated his Father’s temple, he made a whip and started beating them, didn’t he? Meekness says, “I’ll never defend myself, but I’ll die defending God.” That’s meekness. “I’ll never defend myself. I’ll die defending God.”
Twice Jesus cleansed the temple. He blasted the hypocrites. He condemned the false leaders of Israel. He fearlessly uttered divine judgment upon people, and yet the Bible says he was meek. Meekness is not impotence. Meekness is power used only in the defense of God, never in the defense of myself.
He never used it for himself. He could have called legions of angels, but he didn’t because he never did anything to defend himself. He could have had 12 legions of angels. What does it mean to be meek? What does this concept mean?
It means power under control. You look at yourself and you’re broken in spirit because you see your sin. And you mourn over your sin and you know you deserve nothing, so there’s nothing to defend. But you see the holiness of God, and as you see the holiness of God, you’ll die defending his holy name. You see?
Oh man, this is a shock to those Jews. Those Jews spent all their time defending their own holiness and they were hypocrites. They never entered his kingdom, because they didn’t know the meaning of meekness. Their power was out of control. They were blasting away and lashing away at anybody who offended them. That’s not meekness.
The Scriptures show us what meekness looks like.
Jesus in this text is quoting directly from Psalm 37. Which is a very long Psalm it would take me around 5 min just to read it to you. But I want to highlight a few verses . Now in Psalm 37 verse 11. it says something close to what we see in the book of Matthew Chapter 5 verse 5.
Psalm 37:11 (ESV)
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
Now the word land here in Psalm 37:11 can also be translated earth. The Psalmist is saying The meek Shall inherit the earth.
Now In Verse 3 of this Psalm it says.. Psalm 37:3
Psalm 37:3 ESV
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Part of being meek in totally trusting the Lord depending on him. Dwelling in his truth. You go down to verse 5.
Verse 5.
Psalm 37:5 ESV
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
Again we see the word trust. Commit to trusting the Lord.
One more verse. V7.
Psalm 37:7 ESV
7 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!
Wait for the Lord. Don’t worry about all that is going on in this world because it all belongs to him, and those who know him. If you are going to begin to unlock the way to meekness you have to trust the Lord.
Now there are two examples of those in Scripture who teach us how to be meek. Moses and Jesus.
In Numbers 12:3 it says..
3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
In that chapter Moses is met with opposition and instead of fighting with his own power he waits for the Lord to deal with it.
Jesus himself calls himself meek in Matthew 11:29
29 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.
here we see the word Gentle and as I said earlier these can be translated interchangeably. Now this is a verse we should really pay attention to. There are many people who have carefully studied the scriptures for many years say this verse defines who Jesus is. Thats something to think about, because the goal of the believer is to be just like Jesus. The word Christian means to be a little Christ.
Now Jesus over and over again showed us what this power under control looked like. We saw that in the example I used earlier. It amazes me when I sit down and think about Jesus who created all things in him all things hold together came a gentle and lowly man.
One man said.. Christ very own heart is this. Tender, open, welcoming, accommodating, understanding, willing. If we are asked to say only one thing about who Jesus is, we would be honoring Jesus own teaching if our answer is gentle and lowly.
Another example of Jesus meekness is found in Phil 2:6-8
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus God himself could have done whatever he wanted to do, but because he loved us he died on the cross. The greatest act of meekness.
Now though we see meekness through Moses and Christ in the scriptures how do we know if we are meek?
Because with a Statement so powerful, with huge promises we have to know if we are truly meek.
Few points today the first is this.
Those who are meek have godly self-control.
Those who are meek have godly self-control.
So how do you learn to have godly self-control? I think Matthew just gave us a little insight in verse 29 of chapter 11 but let me read it you with verse 30 as well.
29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Now studying this week I found that during biblical times what would happen is a young ox would be yoked to the older, what did that look like. It was a wooden crosspiece that was fastened over the necks of two animals, and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. And by having the same yoke the older and the younger the younger ox would begin to learn how to pull properly.
One man said when we learn by being yoked to Christ as we surrender our lives to him for direction.
If want to have true self control you have to attach yourself to Jesus and learn how to walk with him. Maybe the biggest problem for us when it comes to having self control is we haven’t learned to walk with the one who never lived an ounce of his life out of control.
Now for believers its possible to have self-control because we have the Holy Spirit. In fact Gal 5:22-24 teaches us this… …
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
What does mean in the context of this message. Believers in Christ put to death the passions the desires the lack of self control and have alive in them all those fruits of the spirit including ( gentleness/meekness and self control ) Walk with Jesus walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Have the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. So that you can truly know what it means to be meek with total self-control.
This ties into our next point.
Those who are meek respond properly.
Those who are meek respond properly.
this ties into self control but it builds upon that truth. You learn self control by walking with Jesus by having the Holy Spirit. Now how we respond is important here. And I say this preaching to myself and all of you in here. Notice the meekness of Jesus and Moses, how they always responded the right way. This is a struggle for me. This sermon was hard for me, because meekness is a weakness for me and all Christians are called to be meek
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
I talked about this in a sermon a few months ago, and the truth of it is coming back in this sermon.
Now in that sermon I said this..
Can I be honest with you for just a min, I wish verse 24 and 25 said something different. Because Ill be honest with you Ill fight the good fight of faith all day long. Ill come out swinging the sword and I wont stop and until there is nothing left, but Paul doesn’t say do that here does he.
So Paul writing to Timothy, writing to me writing to you says. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind, able to teach patiently enduring evil. Ouch right. I read something this week I know I need to here, and man its been weighty.
It said.. It matters not only that Timothy contends for the faith but also how he contends. x2 If he is angry and pugnacious instead of kind, no one will listen to him , He must "patiently endure) evil" not avenging personal slights but defending the truth of God and advancing his mission.
Couple Scriptures with that. Prov 15:1-2
1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
Ouch.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Ouch. Ill be honest with you I tell people the truth of God, because I want people to come to their senses like Paul says in verse 26. I don’t want anyone I know to go to hell, to live sinful lives because I love them. I want them to turn away from the devil so they wont do his will anymore, but in the process I may be going about it with the wrong servant mindset.
Paul tells Timothy look, Be able to teach these people who are far from Jesus, but do it the right way. One man said Paul said to the Thessalonians we were gentle among you as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. What an Image. This man also said. Do not miss what else Paul says. He does not tell Timothy to shrink back. That would be inconsistent with that has already been said in this letter. No the Lord servant was also charged to be instructing his opponents v25 gentleness does not mean timidity. Its strength under control. Timothy was called to do so gently. I really like that gentleness does not mean timidity its strength under control its a mature way to go about witnessing for Jesus.
How we respond truly shows us whats in our heart.
A Spirit of meekness comes from that idea we got a few weeks ago. God I am here I cannot give you anything to save myself. I need you I am totally broken dependent on you, and I mourn over the sin I have commited against you. So make me meek make me have power that is under control having self-control walking in humility before you and your people, help me trust you, and help me give proper responses as I live this life. For those who are meek there is a promise.
Now what is the promise to all those who are meek?
The Meek Shall inherit the earth.
The Meek Shall inherit the earth.
Its the same as the title. Its motivation to be meek, because you get this amazing promise. The promises of God motive us to live for him today.
We get our strength to be meek knowing God’s promises.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
John Piper said.. Now notice the logic in verse 21: Let no one boast of men, for all things are yours. And one of the things mentioned is the world. Don’t boast, because the world is yours. Does that make sense to you?
Isn’t it this: you don’t need the vain pleasures of one-up-manship because God has already made you an heir of the world. Would I feel the need to brag that my house is bigger than your house if I knew that my Father owned the city and I was the beneficiary in his will?
The quietness and openness and vulnerability of meekness is a very beautiful and a very painful thing. It goes against all that we are by our sinful nature. It requires supernatural help. And that help is available, thank God!
If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, sitting at his feet on the mount this morning, that is, if you trust him and commit your way to him and wait patiently for him, God has already begun to help you and will help you more. And the primary way that he will help you is to assure your heart that you are a fellow heir of Jesus Christ and that the world and everything in it is yours. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not freely give us all things with him? All things! No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
What do you have to do here today to walk away with complete confidence that you are becoming meek? Look to the scriptures see the meekness of Moses, and Jesus learn from them. Have Self-control walk with Jesus. Respond properly. But most importantly give your life to Christ. If you are not a believer I read you those words from Philippians this morning that Jesus died on the cross so you can I could have eternal life, and inherit the earth forever.
Live lives of true meekness knowing that you will inherit the earth let us pray.