The Beatitudes Matt. 5:1-12

Introduction

As we come back to the mountain side with Jesus we have seen two principles so far. When we see our selves for who we truly we are, we realize our need for a saviour and when we accept him as our saviour we get the kingdom of God. We also saw our need to mourn over the sinful condition of our selves and the world, and we will be comforted by the Holy Spirit.

Tonight we will look at the third beatitude blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are the meek vs. 5a

Again another phrase that goes against everything the world teaches.

When the world thinks about meekness they think of it as weakness, they look at the meek and see someone who they can walk over as a door mat.

Coaches don’t rally teams with meekness

Politicians don’t promise to lead with meekness

Military leaders aren’t empowering tour troops with a speech on meekness

In all reality we normally avoid the topic of meekness in fear of being weak, but here are a few biblical examples of meekness

Meekness is a fruit if the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

It is a characteristic of Moses and of Jesus

Moses - Numbers 12:3 “3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”

Moses didn’t start as a meek man, but the passage in numbers tells us about Moses later in life.

John Phillips said this “It took 40 years in the wilderness, in the backside of the desert, to distil in Moses’ soul the submissive spirit that marked so conspicuously the years of his public ministry.”

Jesus - Matthew 11:29 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Think about as Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday rode in on a donkey instead of a war horse. He was meek

Matthew 21:5 “5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

To be meek means to be gentle, patient, not given to anger or resentment.

Paul referred to the meekness and gentleness of Christ as the pattern of his own attitude

2 Corinthians 10:1 “1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”

Paul challenged the Ephesians with meekness

Ephesians 4:1–3 “1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

He wrote this to the Colossians

Colossians 3:12–13 “12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

He wrote this to Titus

Titus 3:1–2 “1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”

Look what Job said about God

Job 5:8–11 “8 I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause: 9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; Marvellous things without number: 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields: 11 To set up on high those that be low; That those which mourn may be exalted to safety.”

King David wrote this in Psalms about God

Psalm 25:9 “9 The meek will he guide in judgment: And the meek will he teach his way.”

A meek person controls their spirit

Proverbs 25:28 “28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit Is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

Proverbs 16:32 “32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Meekness is not cowardice

Rather it is courage, strength, conviction, and pleasantness that comes from God and not from self

Jesus was the greatest picture of this

1 Peter 2:21–23 “21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

The main difference between poor in spirit and being meek is the focus of the characteristic.

Poor in Spirit focuses on our sinfulness, while meekness focuses on God’s holiness.

One commentator put it this way “When we look honestly at ourselves, we are made humble by seeing how sinful and unworthy we are; when we look at God, we are made humble by seeing how righteous and worthy he is.”

For they shall inherit the earth vs. 5b

Jesus is referencing a psalm with this beatitude

Psalm 37:11 “11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

Our responsibility as Christians is to trust in the Lord and to obey his will. The settling of accounts, whether in judgement or in blessing, is in his hands and will be accomplished exactly in the right time and the right way. In the mean while, God’s children live in faith and hope based on the certain promise, the divine promise that they shall inherit the earth.

Do we trust God to have His will and way in every aspect of our life?

Look what Jesus said when his disciples asked who was the greatest in the kingdom of God Matthew 18:2–4 “2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Conclusion

Are we living a meek life?