Meek not Weak | Matthew 5:5

Meekness is not Weakness

The word meek does not mean weak.

Meekness was seen as weakness in Roman culture, but it is venerated in Scripture.

Psalm 37:10–11 ESV

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.

For Romans, because of the influence of Greek thought, meekness and humility were seen as weakness. Boasting about one’s power and standing up for one’s self were seen as supreme characteristic of manliness.

The Expositor’s Dictionary of Texts, Volume One: Genesis to St. Mark The Third Beatitude

The world says ‘Stand up for your rights; make the most of yourself; don’t let any man put upon you’. And so we are always standing on our dignity, always thinking ourselves insulted or imposed upon. ‘Blessed are the meek,’ our Lord says. The meek—that is manifestly those who are ready to be put upon as far as they themselves are concerned. This is the character of our Lord, Who, ‘when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously’.

Meekness is Self-Control

One way that meekness reveals itself is in Self-Control. True meekness isn’t weakness, but rathe the ability to be patient. Just as Jesus was patient with us, we are to be patient with one another.

Romans 15:1–2 ESV

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

"Meakness is the opposite of being out of control. It is not weakness but rather supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit." - John MacArthur

Galatians 5:23 ESV

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.