BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: MATT 5:5

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Life church.

We continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount!

The last 2 weeks we have discussed

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed are those who mourn

Today, we will be looking at Matt 5:5, Blessed are the meek.

What a day to address this portion of Jesus’ sermon.

Blessed are the meek the day after our former president is shot at a rally.

Could not have planned this but it shows how timely the words of Jesus are for ourselves and our beloved country.

—————————————————————————— REVENGE IS A NASTY EVIL THAT ENSLAVES THE HEART AND SOUL OF MAN.

Jesus spoke first to the poor those who were materially in poverty and those who through Roman occupation have become ruined in their spirit.

Jesus then spoke to those who mourn - The tragedy of life is common to all but when you are a powerless people who have no political or social standing, tragedy becomes unbearable.

Jesus offers the Kingdom of God through His reign to both of these groups of people.

Jesus now addresses the third group - The meek.

The meek are a product of being in poverty of spirit and unbearable mourning.

The meek look like a momma and her son who see their father stripped naked and hung on a cross.

The meek look like a family who have been taxed to the point of loosing all they had and living off of crumbs.

THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL THEY RESPOND TO THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE?

Will they respond with vengence, using lies, murder, and wrath and try to wade forward by using the weapons of their enemy?

Will they respond by trusting in the Lord and placing their faith in His justice?

One response was through terror - Sicarri was a terror organization made up of the poor in spirit and the mourning. (Judas was a member of this group at one time)

A group of men who had enough and chose violence / violence to Jews they saw as traders and to the Romans.

We saw this in Ireland between those who wanted to be part of England and those who wanted indepence.

Violence and poverty led to more violence / bombs / mass shootings / innocents blown apart.

In all likely hood yesterdays shooter would fall in this catagorey.

Felt rejected, believed their was no hope, no recourse, must save America from what he saw as a threat.

The result was the death of an innocent, injury, and his own personal death.

JESUS IS ADDRESSING REAL WORLD ISSUES THAT ARE A RESULT OF THE FALL.

THE QUESTION IS WHO IS OPEN TO HIS KINGDOM AND WHO HAS IT COME TO - THOSE WHO SEEK VENGENCE OR THOSE WHO ARE MEEK.

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OK, LETS JUMP INTO IT.

Matthew 5:1–5 NET

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

WHEN YOU HEAR OR READ THE WORD “MEEK” WHAT IMAGE COMES TO YOUR MIND?

For me the image I often see is frailty or weakness.

A person who allows themselves to be a doormat to the world.

LETS GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY RIGHT NOW, MEEK IN THE GREEK AND IN THE ARAMAIC DOES NOT MEAN WEAK!

Two men in the Bible are described as meek

Moses -

Numbers 12:3 ESV

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

Jesus -

Matthew 11:29 NASB95

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Moses stood up to the emperor of Egypt in a face to face standoff / Moses led a nation out of slavery and into the wilderness for 40 years. / Moses challenged his leaders and the people / Moses even sentenced the High Priests sons to death for offering false worship in the tabernacle. Not Weak.

Jesus - Stood face to face with the Roman governor in Judea. / Faced off with religious leaders and political leaders / called them serpents and sons of the devil / Flipped over money changing tables at the temple during a festival / made a whip and chased the money changers out / Faced death for us.

IF MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS, WHAT IS IT?

To understand meekness we need to read the OT passage that Jesus is quoting from. Psa 37:1-11

Psalm 37:1–11 NET

Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers! For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers. Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause. Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes! Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble! Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land. Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone. But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.

Psalm 37:34–37 NET

Rely on the Lord! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men. I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found. Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future.

SO WHAT IS MEEKNESS BASED ON THE PSALM JESUS IS QUOTING FROM?

Trust in the Lord and do good

Cultivate faithfulness to the Lord

Commit your way to the Lord

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently on Him

Cease from anger and forsake wrath

Do not fret

Wait on the Lord

Be humble

Rely on the Lord - Obey His command

Promotes peace.

THE MEEK ARE THOSE WHO ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CONTROL THEMSELVES, SUBMIT TO THE WAY OF THE LORD, AND CHOOSE TO NOT SEEK VENGENCE BUT RATHER PEACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

TURN THE OTHER CHEEK / WALK AN EXTRA MILE

—————————————————————- THE MEEK ARE THOSE WHO SEE EVIL HUMANITY PROSPER / PROMOTE INJUSTICE / DO EVIL

AND INSTEAD OF USING FIRE TO FIGHT FIRE OR EVIL TO FIGHT EVIL

THEY TRUST THAT THE LORD WILL PROTECT THEM AND

DEAL JUSTLY WITH EVIL PEOPLE.

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AARON HIT BY A CAR - THE DRIVER WAS THE SON OF THE MAYOR.

PROMISED FINANCIAL HELP

POLICE HID THE PAPER WORK TO PROTECT THE MAYORS SON.

MAYOR ACTED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED AND REFUSED TO HELP.

RICH MAN VS POOR MAN

PEOPLE TOLD ME TO SEW

GOD TOOK ME TO SCRIPTURE AND SHOWED ME TO FORGIVE AND RELY ON HIM.

GOD KEPT MY BOY SAFE, HELPED US FIND A WAY THROUGH THE BILLS.

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PAUL ADDRESSES THIS TO THE CHURCH IN ROME

Romans 12:11–21 NET

Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFENDED BY THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Those who believe they have the right to use power and force over others to get what they want.

Those who see the weak as pawns

Those who react to evil power with evil force.

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TODAY YOU MAY FEEL POWERLESS

YOU MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THE “MAN” HAS HIS FOOT ON YOUR NECK.

AS CHRISTIANS YOU MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THE WORLD IS VIOLENT TOWARDS US.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME TO US IN JESUS TO YOU IT IS OPENED AND HE IS INVITING YOU IN.

HE CALLS US TO DROP OUR SWORD OF REVENGE

BOW OUR KNEE BEFORE HIM AND TRUST THAT IN THE END WE WILL INHERIT THE WORLD

AND THOSE WHO PRACTICED EVIL POWER OVER OTHERS WILL BE WASHED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

JESUS IS NOT CALLING YOU WEAKNESS / HE IS NOT ASKING YOU TO BE A DOORMAT,

JESUS IS SAYING BE STRONG / DO NOT FEAR / I HAVE OVERCOME / FOLLOW MY WAY.

Isaiah 2:1–5 NET

Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz. In the future the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it, many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the Lord will issue edicts from Jerusalem. He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war. O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.

Blessed are the Meek for this is the world they will inherit!