The Meek

Good morning, welcome to NHCC, please open your Bibles to Matthew 5.

Read Matthew 5:1–5- “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’”

Pray.

Progression found thus far in the beatitudes- Poor in spirit, mourning, meek.

How do we see ourselves, what is our response to seeing ourselves in such a light, how does this cause us to relate to others, first God, and then other people?

We find that meekness is difficult, because it has to do with how others will see us, think of us, and treat us.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones- “I say of myself that I am a sinner, but instinctively I do not like anybody else to say I am a sinner.”

1. What is the definition of meekness?

Ephesians 4:1–2- “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…”

Lowly.

Titus 3:1–2- “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

Gentle.

James 1:20–21- “…for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Opposed to the anger and wrath that is found in man.

A gentle, controlled and lowly spirit.

A.W. Pink- “Meekness is not only the antithesis of pride, but of stubbornness, fierceness, vengefulness. It is the taming of the lion.”

Think of the behavior of a child versus what we try to train into them.

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.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones- “The man who is meek is not even sensitive about himself. He is not always watching himself and his own interests. He is not always on the defensive…To be meek, in other words, means that you have finished with yourself altogether, and you come to see you have no rights at all”

Meekness is not the same as weakness, not by a long shot.

Consider the power that must be shown in being able to restrain oneself.

Easiest thing in the world is to go with the flow. The far harder portion is

Remember, these are not natural qualities. These are all spiritually enabled.

Not speaking here of a person who simply doesn’t enjoy conflict, or one who is lazy, or easy-going, or nice. Not speaking of a pushover.

Instead, speaking of one who trusts entirely in God.

One who is able to bear injuries against oneself, forgive injuries, and seek the good of one who would harm you.

2. What are the examples of meekness?

Abraham.

Genesis 13:8–9- “Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.’”

Rather than laying claim of what is best for himself, he trusts God enough to give first choice to Lot.

Moses.

Numbers 12:1–3- “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.”

Moses calls for the healing of his sister Miriam.

David.

1 Samuel 24:5–7- “And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.”

Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21–23- “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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.”

Notice the language- When Jesus was reviled, He didn’t revile in response.

Instead, he died for those who were reviling Him.

Interesting, how do we respond when we are reviled? Reviling, having someone turn away from us in disgust.

If they’re disgusted by me, I can be disgusted by them. I’ll be disgusted by their disgust.

These are examples of those who have controlled their emotions, controlled their responses, tamed the lion.

All driven by an obedience to God.

If you’re anything like me, this seems pretty impossible.

3. What is the fuel for meekness?

What gives the power for a person to be able to be meek, especially in the most difficult of circumstances?

Let’s begin by noticing that the antithesis of meekness would in some way stem from pride and entitlement.

First, we look backwards.

That’s the point of the beatitudes. We see our spiritual poverty and we mourn over it.

We remember that we are sinners.

It seems to me that it is impossible to lash out over how we are treated when we are mourning our own spiritual poverty.

Next, we look forward.

1 Peter 2:23- “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.”

When we feel that our kids have been hurt, or treated unfairly in some way, we go out of our way to make sure that they know that they are loved and cared for.

And that even though they feel they have missed out in some way, we will give them something even better.

Romans 12:17–19- “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

4. What is the benefit of meekness?

Why is meekness worth it? Beyond merely the reality of of life in Jesus?

Matthew 5:5- “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Connection here between the words of Jesus and Psalm 37.

Notice the similar language.

Psalm 37:10–11- “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.”

God’s meek people will inherit the land, something that they do not deserve, that belongs to another but will be given to them.

Same promise that Jesus says to His New Testament followers.

What does it mean that the meek will inherit the earth? Two meanings.

Spiritual inheritance- Delight themselves in peace.

Psalm 37:16- “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.”

A.W. Pink- “The spirit of meekness is what enables its possessor to get so much enjoyment out of his earthly portion, be it small or large…The humble Christian is far happier in a cottage than the wicked in a palace.”

Proverbs 15:16- “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.”

Literal inheritance.

God gives us all things. New heaven, new earth.

1 Corinthians 3:21–22- “So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,”

You do not need to grasp hard at things knowing that God has already promised you all things.

5. What are the objections to meekness?

Two that I can assume, because I have the same objections.

First, we make the claim that meekness is simply not my nature. My nature is instead one that is passionate and emotional, it’s the way that God has made me.

In some ways, we place the blame on God for the way that we live. Same as Adam.

Thomas Watson- “If a man were indicted for stealing, and he should say to the judge, ‘Spare me; it is my nature to steal,’ were this any excuse? The judge would say, ‘You deserve rather to die!’. Sinner, get a new nature. Flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.”

Second, we claim that others will take advantage of us if we truly live out meekness.

Thomas Watson- “Shall we cease from doing good because others will not cease from being evil? If the more you forgive injuries, the more injuries you meet with, this will make your grace shine the more. Another’s vice will be a greater demonstration of your virtue.”

Goes on to say that in our unwillingness to forgive and control our emotional responses, we find ourselves in worse shape than the one who has sinned against us.

They sin against a man. We sin against God by refusing to forgive.

Will you be shaped by what you have read here in the sermon on the mount? Blessed are the meek. Will you not seek after meekness no matter the cost?

The life of one who follows Jesus will be defined by meekness, we can have it no other way. Will we take seriously this beatitude? Will we strive for a life that is pleasing to God rather than pleasing to self or the world that surrounds us?