The Beatitudes; The Meek

Introduction

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed - Happy or Fortunate

humble - CSB and NIV

ESV and KJV = Meek

NASB = Gentle

This word is only found in two places in the NT… there are different words that we translate humble

this one found only in one other place

Matthew 11:29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The beatitudes are not simply 8 statements… but almost like a progression

you will know what you gain you are to the Lord, poor in spirit, that he does not need us

you will se that it is our sin that separates us from him, causing Jesus to be crucified and that will lead us to mourning

which leads us to being humble or meek

but being meek is not something that you are just toward God, but toward others

I like the word meek, I am not sure that the word gentle or humble really give us a full understanding of what this means

Matthew Henry - The meek are those who quietly submit to their God, to his word, to his rod, who follow his directions, and comply with his design, and who are gentle toward all men. Somebody who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it.

I have always gone with the definition of strength under control

it is living a life that is confident, but not in themselves

chaos may be happening all around them… yet they remain calm

The Desire of the Meek

Meek do not seek gain for themselves

imagine living in a world that is not seeking selfish gain

we are all selfish to an extent, some more than others

this is not something that is just for the lost

christians are selfish as well… we choose to serve in places that are easier, or get more notoriety

Pastors use small churches as stepping stones in a career rather than serving where they are because that is where God has planted them

This is not new…

Matthew 20 we see Jesus talk about how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom

Then James and John’s mom comes and ask Jesus if her boys can be in places of honor

this makes the others mad… not because they asked, but because they asked first.

Matthew 20:25 -28 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

We are selfishly looking to make our reputation and riches better here… we want power and to be seen as important

God wants us to be servants and slaves

we serve God so imperfectly and expect him and everyone else to be impressed by this as if we have done something great

instead, a meek person takes the attitude of, “your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

we want to serve God on our terms, but really we should be serving God on his

it is his will that we should desire to see accomplished

that means dying to yourself everyday, taking up your cross and following Jesus

explain what dying to yourself means...

it is a change in our wording…

most will say, God I am going to serve you today in this…

we give him how we will serve, and ask him to bless it

instead, we should say, “Here am I Lord, send me.”

explain where that comes from… Isaiah 6

he goes through the first two beatitudes just in seeing God

How can they have this attitude…

they have their prize…

far to often we look at following Christ as something we should be rewarded for

following Christ is the reward… He is the blessing!

if we are looking for anything else, we are seeking a false god and an idol

The Strength of the Meek

The meek are the super heroes of the faith…

they are strong in every situation and they use their super power of meekness for good… not for evil

as one commentator put it, they use their power for constructive things, not destructive

what that means is that they seek to further the kingdom of God, not their own

The Bible really has only talked about a couple people and described them as meek… Moses and Jesus

Number 12:3 Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.

meek is not weak… would you consider Moses weak after seeing him lead the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years

I used to take youth on trips… one week of hearing them wine and I am done… these people wined from the moment they were free

Matthew 11:29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Was Jesus weak…

for the Joy that was set before him, he endured the cross…

Something that these two men did on this earth that separates them from others… a complete submission to God

that is makes them so different then what we are used to seeing

an illustration I read was a race horse… so powerful, yet when out of control is of no good

the meekest horse wins the race… the most powerful horse that is under control

the one who submits to the authority of its rider

That is what Jesus meant by take up his yoke and learn from him

submit to him… be obedient to him, seek to advance his kingdom and not your own

allow him to lead and take you to places that you cannot even imagine

it is like writing a blank contract… a blank piece of paper… and signing the bottom.

Jesus, you fill in the rest

I will go where you send me…

I will serve where you plant me...

I will go when you say go and stay when you say stay

The Eye of the Meek

There is an part of our verse today that points to the end of time

The meek shall inherit the earth, sounds like Psalm 37:11

in verse 10, the Psalmist says that there will be no more evil… you can look, but you will not find any

v11, the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity

they would have thought that this was going to be the promise land of Israel… the land promised to Abraham and told that would be a great nation

it points us to Revelation 21

Revelations 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:,am Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples,,an and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away

The meek are going to inherit the earth… the new earth when we will be with God. A place where there will be no evil, He will be our God and we will be his people

then because we are with him, there will be no more death, crying or pain

The meek are secure in this day coming… in fact look forward to it

that is why they can have that attitude...

it doesn’t matter what others say to them or about them

their God says cherished

it doesn’t matter what others say they are worth

The father said you are worth his son

that is why the things of this earth don’t seem to bother them

they are citizens of another world, a place has been prepared for them and they are confident that one day they will exchange this earthy failing body for a glorified body and dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Does this describe you… me either. At times… but I am still growing. God is not done with me yet

The first step… repent

repent of your sin and selfish way and turn and follow Jesus

this is for all, not just those who believe

we must stop seeking repentance as something we did, but something that we continually do

The second step… submission

submit to his authority

Matthew 28, all authority has been given to me

submit to his word

submit to his discipline

allow God to shape and mold you into the image of his son