Blessed are the Meek

Blessed are the Meek

Text: Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Introduction:

* Again, I would like to remind you that the beatitudes that we are studding are a picture of the progression of the work of Grace in the heart of the Believer.

- As we saw with the first beatitude in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 3, regeneration, begins with A humble spirit before God:

Matthew 5:3 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

- Then in the second beatitude we see a progression in the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, causing a godly sorrow over our sin:

Matthew 5:4 (KJV 1900)

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

- Now we see the third beatitude in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 5, which is the beatitude we will deal with this morning.

Matthew 5:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Again, the re-generating work of Grace continues in the heart of the believer creating within the believer an attitude of meekness toward others.

* Just like the first two beatitudes were hard sayings, When Jesus said the words of this third beatitude

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

it was a shocking surprise to them!

* The Jewish crowds that were listening to Jesus that day as He preached the Sermon on the Mount expected that when the Messiah arrived He would say,

"I have come to tell you that God is very pleased with you because you strictly obey the Law of God!”

“And now I have come to rid you of the oppression of the Roman government!”

“I have come to establish the Kingdom God promised to Abraham!”

* The people had heard of the miracles of Jesus and were willing to believe that a man that could do miracles would be able to restore the kingdom to Israel.

* Even after Jesus and died and raised from the dead, his very own disciples expected Jesus to restore the Kingdom to Israel by force.

Acts 1:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

* But the Lord's first recorded sermon did not confirm any such expectations! The things that Jesus said were a shock to those Jews who heard him speak that day!

* In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called for a standard of living that was foreign to those Jews who heard Him preach.

* Their culture valued displays of strength, but Jesus encouraged people manifest their meekness.

* Jesus preached that strength is not found in defeating others, but in harnessing power over our own spirit.

* According to Jesus, everything they head been taught about getting ahead in this world was wrong.

* We live in the same kind of society today:

- The world says, “Believe in yourself.” Jesus says, “Believe in me.”

- The world says, “Strive to be number one.” Jesus says, “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”

- The world says, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” Jesus says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

- The world says, “Don’t get mad; get even.” Jesus says, “Love your enemies.”

- The world says, “Assert yourself.” Jesus says, “Deny yourself.”

- The world teaches us how to get ahead. Jesus teaches us how to give ourselves away.

- The world claims that the one with the most toys wins. Jesus says that you can gain the whole world, but if you lose your soul, you have nothing.

*We are never more at odds with the world than when we try to understand the Beatitudes.

* Jesus keeps offering us paradoxes, like claiming those who mourn will be happy, and the humble will be exalted. But when he comes to meekness, we recoil from the word meek!

* Most of us aren’t all that interested in meekness. It seems to us to mean weak and soft, and that is considered a bad thing in our society!

* As Don McCullough said,

“Coaches don’t rally teams with meekness, executives don’t send sales people into the field with it, and politicians don’t promise to lead by it.”

* We’re turned off by the thought of becoming a milktoast in a world that demands toughness!

* There are Christians seem to accept that understanding of meekness.

* They picture a passive, dependent personality— the see the Christian as a doormat.

* They think it is somehow holy to be inferior.

* One modern critic of the Bible even said,

“Live by it if you want, and it will come true for you. If you are meek in life, you will inherit the earth all right—six feet of it.”

The relationship of meekness to happiness

* In our Text in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 5, Jesus said:

“Happy are the Meek!

Isaiah 29:19:

"The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel."

Psalm 22:26:

"The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord that seek him; your heart shall live forever."

* Everlasting life belongs to the meek--not the proud.

*Jesus associated Happiness with meekness! My goal this morning is to cause you to see how a spirit of meekness toward others, creates happiness in the heart of a believer.

* Since the only people who are truly happy are those who are meek, we had better understand what meekness is.

Body:

* The word meek has meant different things at different times. I want to look at what meekness means

- today,

- in the time of the Old Testament,

- and what it meant to the people of the New Testament.

I. The Meaning of the word Meekness today. (weakness, not taking control of your own life)

* Today people associate the word meekness with the word weakness.

* The word Meek in the modern English language carries the idea of a deficiency in spirit or courage.

*But that's not a biblical definition of meekness. Jesus wasn't saying, "Blessed are the cowardly."

* What Jesus was saying was:

“Blessed, or happy, are those who do not live their life by their own power and will, but instead, live life by trusting in the will of God, and the power of God.”

* The apostle Paul understood well the meaning of the paradox of this third beatitude that we are looking at this morning:

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Paul wrote in II Corinthians 12: 9:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (KJV 1900)

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

* I hope to show you this morning that the world meekness in the Bible actually is the opposite of weakness!

II. The meaning of meekness in the Old Testament.

* To be meek in the Old Testament meant put your trust God with control of your life.

* The great historian William Barclay noted that to modern ears, meekness seems to denote a weak, flabby, spineless creature, “lacking all virility, submissive and subservient to a fault, unable to stand up for himself or for anyone else.”

* But that is far from the true meaning of the word meek as Jesus used it in the context of the Sermon on the Mount.

* Jesus’ statement “Blessed are the meek” comes from Psalm 37, which offers a context for understanding the concept of meekness.

* There we find the words:

“But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth … But the meek shall inherit the earth … For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth … Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 34).

* Here is where Jesus was getting the context of his statement “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth!”

* Twice the psalmist connects the idea of waiting with the inheritance of the land.

* That helps us get close to the true meaning of meekness in the Bible.

* In Hebrew thought, the man who is meek is the one who obediently accepts God’s guidance and that makes him blessed by God.

* Listen to the very first words of the book of Psalms:

Psalm 1:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

* The man who puts his trust in God is strengthened and beautified by the gifts God gives him.

* Barclay said that meekness in the Old Testament is the “intentional reliance upon God to accomplish His will and His work in His way.”

* Meekness therefore, is not weakness; it is dependence upon God!

* To the Jewish mind the phrase “inherit the earth” meant to be successful, and blessed by God.

* So the Bible says that those who are meek will find happiness!

*Those who come to the place where they are reliant on God and committed to His way no matter what will discover true happiness!

* This attitude toward life is the only way to be happy, the only method for living above the difficulties and despairs of life.

* That’s why David began the first few verses of Psalm 37 with the words “trust in the Lord,” “delight in the Lord,” “commit your way to the Lord,” and “rest in the Lord.”

* If you do those things, you won’t worry. You’ll trust in God’s guidance. You’ll be delighted in His way.

* Meekness is coming to the place where you are willing to give everything up to God and say, “This isn’t my problem, Lord. I’m relying on you.”

* Like putty in God’s hands, you will allow yourself to be molded and shaped by Him.

* As you yield to His purpose, you will find true happiness in life.

* Meekness is forsaking your own power to make yourself happy, and submitting to the will of God instead, trusting in Him fully, even when life doesn’t seem to make sense.

* You may be in a difficult situation where you say, “Lord, I’ve done everything I know how to do to make things work, and it isn’t working.”

* You’re fretting and upset. That’s the time the meek person says, “God, I don’t know what to do.

Psalm 37:1–9 (KJV 1900)

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

* All these things:

1 Fret not thyself, Neither be thou envious, 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord, . 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord, 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: wait upon the Lord,

Are the progressive work of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believer, and Jesus taught that these things will bring true happiness in the life of a believer!

* The soul that is growing in Grace says “ Lord, I’m giving it up to you. I’m trusting in you.” That’s the meekness that Christ says will bring Happiness!

Old Testament Examples of Meekness

* The man Job illustrates this sort of attitude toward God.

* In one day Job lost everything he had, but he meekly accepted it.

* in Job 1:21 Job said:

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

* Job had lost his family, his farm, and all his wealth!

* But Job stood before God in the midst of that disaster and said, “It’s all in God’s hands. Blessed be His name.”

* In Job 13:15 he even says, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

* That’s meekness: standing in the midst of disaster and knowing that God hasn’t forgotten you or made a mistake.

* Another example of meekness would be Naaman.

III. The meaning of Meekness in the New Testament- (Allowing God to Control your spirit.)

* Meekness came to mean something else in the time of the New Testament.

* Being meek in the New Testament, meant allowing God not only control your future, but allowing the Holy Spirit to control your spirit.

* Rather than referring to the control of God, it came to be seen as the control of one’s spirit in the New Testament.

* These two definitions are not opposed to each other at all, but they instead complement each other.

* The person who is controlled by God will in turn be in control of himself, filled with the Holy Spirit and exercising self-control over his own spirit.

Ephesians 4:26 Says:

"Be ye angry, and sin not."

* The only legitimate form of anger is righteous anger.

* That means anger must be under control and expressed for the right reasons at the right time.

* Jesus taught that we are to control our anger when it comes to personal offenses.

Proverbs 25:28 says:

"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

* That kind of person is out of control and needs to learn to contain himself.

Again Proverbs 16:32 says:

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city."

* The literal meaning of the word meekness in the New Testament is “power under control.”

* The apostle Paul lists meekness as one of the fruits of the Spirit, so when a person is like Jesus Christ he will be meek.

* Jesus even referred to Himself as meek in Matthew 11:28–29.

* Jesus had all power, but He kept it under control.

* Turn with me to Philippians 2:2-8: This is the spirit of Meekness!

Philippians 2:2–8 (KJV 1900)

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

* We are as believers to be lowly of mind, but this does not mean that there is never a time when a believer should express his anger or display power.

* I have sometimes heard Jesus described as weak, which is amazing when you consider His fearlessness and power.

* Jesus got angry with the Pharisees for objecting to His healing a withered hand on the Sabbath.

* He let everyone know how He felt about anyone who would hurt a child, telling them they ought to have great big rocks tied around their necks and be thrown into the sea!

* Jesus strongly rebuked Peter for getting in the way of God’s plan. Jesus wasn’t weak. He took a firm stand for what was right.

* In the temple courts of His day, the priests set up a form of extortion.

* In those days, a Jew couldn’t come to worship without a sacrifice, and the sacrifice had to be blessed by a priest.

* So the priests simply refused to bless any animals the people brought in themselves, insisting they buy sacrificial animals from the priests’ own market.

* They began charging outrageous prices, lining their own pockets with the extorted money of the people.

* One day Jesus walked into their market with a whip and cleaned the place out!

* I can just see the money falling onto the floor, the birds and animals running loose, and the priests scrambling to get out of the way.

* Jesus was the ultimate example of meekness, but Jesus was not weak—He simply kept His power under control.

* He never seemed to get mad at those who hurt Him, but He sure got mad at the injustices suffered by others!

* That is what we call righteous anger!

* Jesus is described in Scripture as a sheep headed toward slaughter, never getting angry at the insults and injuries He received.

* When they placed a crown of thorns on His head, He didn’t cry out at the injustice.

* Jesus accepted the things that came His way, even though they weren’t fair.

* But now I’m here to tell you that Jesus lashed out in righteous anger at those things which hurt others!

* Jesus’ anger was under control, displayed at the right time, in the right spirit, for the right reasons!

* I think one of the things wrong with our modern culture is that we’ve lost the concept of righteous anger.

* We don’t get angry about babies being murdered by abortion!

* We don’t’ get angry when we see our our society heading down the sewer!

* Jesus had a passion for those being led away from the truth.

* Meekness is not weakness.

* A person who is weak yields to his own spirit.

* A person who is meek takes control over his own spirit, by yielding his control over to power of the Holy Spirit.

* Like Jesus, a meek person will be in control of himself and have great strength over his spirit.

* He gets angry at the right things, but is willing to suffer many injustices done to himself for the sake of others.

* Having power, and insisting on using it all the time to maintain control, is evidence of weakness.

* Having power and keeping it under control is evidence of meekness.

* The meek man doesn’t get angry at people who are in the right, nor does he fail to get angry at those in the wrong.

* His power is under control.

* A meek person acts gently even though he has the power to act with stern severity.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 (KJV 1900)

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

* Never is a man so strong as when he knows he has the potential to exert power, yet chooses not to do so.

* He walks in measured steps, the Holy Spirit acting as a governor on his life.

* Being meek is the opposite of being weak!

* Jesus and his Apostles were definitely not cowards!

* Jesus never defended Himself. But when His Father's Temple was desecrated He twice made a whip and beat those who had defiled it (John 2:13-16; Matt. 21:12-13).

* Jesus stood toe to toe with the religious rulers and condemned those hypocritical religious leaders of Israel!

* Jesus fearlessly preached divine judgment on unrepentant sinners, yet the Bible says that He was meek.

*Meekness is not impotence but power under control.

* Meekness is a by-product of humbling one's self before God. It is the taming of the power the lion--not the killing of the power of the lion!

* The Greek word used for meekness in the New Testament carried with it several shades of meaning that my help us understand the word meekness.

* We can see that in light of the different ways the Greek word praos was used. For instance:

- Medicine taken in the proper dosage can be helpful, but an overdose of medicine may destroy your health or even kill you;

- A tamed, or gentled, horse is useful, but an untamed, or uncontrolled, horse is dangerous and destructive.

- A gentle breeze cools and soothes, but a hurricane destroys and kills.

* Each of these three examples illustrates shades of the meaning of the world meekness- “Power under control.”

* A person with a meek spirit does not seek vengeance or hold grudges, but forgives when he is wronged.

* A meek individual can joyfully accept the plundering of his possessions because he knows he has "in heaven a better and enduring substance" (Heb. 10:34).

* Because a meek person does not live to promote himself he doesn't worry about what others say about him.

* A humble shepherd boy in The Pilgrim's Progress said it well: "He that is down needs fear no fall"

* That is what it means to be lowly of mind and meek. If you haven’t lifted yourself up on your own mind, then you have nowhere to fall.

* The meek person is not concerned about defending himself because he knows he doesn't deserve anything anyway.

* He doesn't run around trying to get his due, or toot his own horn.

Matthew 6:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Luke 14:7–14 (KJV 1900)

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Conclusion:

If you have truly been re-generated by the Holy Spirit you will be growing in Grace and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

* Examine yourself this morning and see if you need to grow in the area of a meek and lowly spirit.

* If you have resisted the Holy Spirit as He has tried to make in you a meek, spirit controlled believer, repent and yield to Him and you will one step closer to finding true happiness in life.

Titus 3:1–5 (KJV 1900)

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.

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

This morning we should check our own hearts to see if we display the spirit of meekness to those who are watching our lives.