220710 the Meek

Failure of the of the pulpits to preach

Failure of the churches to evangelize

failure of the believer to stand boldly for his faith

failure of the believer to grow and be set apart from the world that he can lead others out of it.

Before we consider the advances of the wicked maybe we should examine ourselves as a church and individual believers and ask ourselves what have we done when did have the freedom.

Before you begin to

Much of the Teaching of Jesus centered on the glorious Kingdom which was and still destined to come.

The kingdom is not that which Israel was to establish. Nor is it what the Church is to establish as many talk about doing kingdom work.

The sermon on the mount deals with the heart of the one who the kingdom though not yet is already a reality in one’s own heart.

Today we come to Matthew 5 verse 5 as we continue our study from Friday dealing with the meek.

Opening hymn: Solid Rock

Opening prayer

Matthew 5:5 (NASB95) — 5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

25.119 μακάριος, α, ον:

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pertaining to being happy, with the implication of enjoying favorable circumstances—‘happy.’

Here is such a simple definition, but how else would one define the response of one’s own soul whose occupation with the Lord allows him and her to perceive the glorious kingdom which is yet to come.

How can anyone explain to another what the magnificent view it is, unless one sees it for oneself.

The response to those things related to the Kingdom is not only perceiving it, but also knowing that they, who are born from above, are looking at this kingdom as their promised inheritance in Christ.

Next is the adjective the describes those who are in that state of blessedness which is

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88.60 πραΰς, πραεῖα, πραΰ: pertaining to being gentle and mild—‘mild, gentle, meek.’

This along with the other characteristics of the Beatitudes that we have studied prior and those we will study as we continue our morning sessions pertaining to the sermon on the mount, are not traits that we aspire to live up to. It is the Character that is reflected in the believer who has matured in the faith by keeping just two spiritual priorities.

1. The word of God

a. Learning

b. Applying

c. Living

(Eph 1:17; Ephesians 4:13; Phil 3:10)

2. Under The filling ministry (empowerment) of God the Holy spirit.

a. Orientation to the authority of the third person of the Godhead who indwells us

b. Under the mentorship and teaching ministry of the spirit.

(John 14:17; John 14:26; John 16:13–14; 1 Cor 2:14-16)

In short, these traits come with spiritual maturity and are a part of fruit of the holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB95) — 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

There is no greater role model to teach us what gentleness looks like than our Lord and master Jesus Christ who lived the prototype spiritual life which the mature believer will come to immolate.

The fact is, when you put all the Beatitudes together you find that you are actually looking at the image of the Christ.

Coming to be identified as one possessing these traits, you have accomplished the mandate that Paul gives in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:5 (NASB95) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

The gentleness or meekness of Christ is power under restraint. This Same Jesus in His hypostatic union is the same Lord God who spoke the creation into existence.

with the word of His power, He sustains all things.

It is in His Judgement that he brought the flood to wipe out the wickedness of this earth and it will be by his judgment that he will destroy by fire.

It was He, not Moses, who divided the red sea.

It is he who gave his close disciples the glimpse of his deity when he calmed stormy seas on the Galilee.

He walked upon the waters.

It is he who with a whip caused a stampede of animal and human bodies out of the temple when he chased out the marketeers out.

And so much more.

But the greatest display of the power of God may be found not in his unlimited power to effect, but in his ability to voluntarily restrict the divine use of those divine attributes in obedience to the Father’s will, stepping into the world of sin and wickedness to save those who would believe.

It is this one who says to his disciples

Matthew 11:28–30 (NASB95) — 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Come to me. The divine call

84.24 δεῦροa; δεῦτε (with plural subject):

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extension toward a goal at or near the speaker and implying movement—‘here, hither, come here.’

δεῦροa: δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι ‘come here and follow me’ Mt 19:21; Λάζαρε, δεῦρο ἔξω ‘Lazarus, come out here’ Jn 11:43.δεῦτε: δεῦτε δετε τὸν τόπον ‘come here and see the place’ Mt 28:6.[1]

First to come to Jesus we move away for the world and even away from old selves leaving behind the corruptness of the flesh.

Ephesians 2:1–3 (NASB95) — 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

What a beautiful word. The word is when spoken by the savior drawing us out of the world and bringing us close to Him.

all who are weary and heavy-laden

There is a parallel to the historical account of our Israelite brothers and sisters under the burden of the King of the Egypt which was the only world the Israelites knew. As they multiplied Pharoah became nervous.

The Pharoah implemented, Plan Parent Hood, with a decree to kill all the baby boys, and subjected the Israelites to greater labor until the people cried out to the Lord.

But God continued to multiply them.

The burden that we grow weary of spiritually is the burden of sin and its consequences.

But not all of us, for there are those who are comfortable in their misery. Like Lot and his wife. Whereas Lot’s righteous soul was tormented, Mrs. Lot’s heart was connected with the comfort that she was leaving behind. And because of it she died with it.

In the garden redemption of the souls was promised, and Man and woman could look with hope for the coming redeemer. But though they may have received the righteousness by believing in the promises of God, the Lord did not lift the consequences of their sin. It is these things that we read in Genesis 3 that are the toil and the burdens caused by sin to include the tragedy of human death.

By time Adam dies at the age of 930, Adam will have witnessed the full measure of what his sin cost.

And by the time of Noah we find the thoughts of man were continually evil.

It is today that we are suffer the burdens of sin and evil in the world. that of our own and that which has affected those we love and that of the world.

Romans 8:22–25 (NASB95) — 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Matthew 11:28 and I will give you rest.

23.84 ἀναπαύω:

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to cause someone to become physically refreshed as the result of resting from work—‘to cause to rest, to give rest

The rest that was anticipated through the Sabbaths is here. As God’s people were to labor seven days and rest on the seventh, our Sabbath has arrived.

Hebrews 4:9–11 (NASB95) — 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Matthew 11:29 (NASB95) — 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

Yokes were heavy, wooden crossbars used to connect two oxen together for more efficient plowing.

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Here, Jesus’ yoke represents His teaching. Allegiance to Him and His kingdom results in a sense of peace—it is not laborious, like keeping the requirements of the Jewish leaders of the time, but instead is joyful.

Jesus is saying, “come, take a loud off.”

And He instructs

And learn from me

27.12 μανθάνωa:

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to acquire information as the result of instruction, whether in an informal or formal context—‘to learn, to be instructed, to be taught.[2]

It is the world pursues ways to cope with the burdens of sin and evil within the world through psychological means or a frantic search for happiness finding superficial means by which one can forget the troubles of this world, even drugs and alcohol to deaden the burden. It is the Christian who finds his rest in the word of the Lord.

The student of the word of God finds rest in the word of God taught by spirit of God. It is the wisdom that comes from the word that gives one a divine perspective or outlook. It brings one to see things in the light of eternity. And it is the one who we learn from who also sets the example by which we are to live our lives.

Not even religion can provide the rest that Jesus speaks of. Religion is man’s means of approaching God by his own efforts. Judaism as with other legalistic systems only frustrated but not brought rest.

It is the relationship with the Savior which we acquire that rest.

How does the gentleness of Jesus teach us how it is that we are to live our lives day by day, moment by moment?

1. Here it is that Jesus is God he continued to process all the power of his deity,

Philippians 2:5–8 (NASB95) — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus had the right to take back what he had created. But no one was treated as unjustly as Jesus was who knew no sin but yet died a criminal’s death.

Jesus deserved to sit on the throne and rule as a king but yet he lives outside of Zion and as a homeless and hungry person.

Jesus led the way for the last one types in the world to enter into the kingdom to be the first one type.

And in that pattern, we are instructed

Luke 14:26–27 (NASB95) — 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Where is the rest in that, we might ask?

It is what we learn from our Lord in our discipleship that raises us above the stress that these things bring.

It was Jesus, powerful God, who was led by the quiet and gentle spirit which he had received at His baptism.

(Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1-13)

To follow the greatest example of the one whose omnipotence was restrained and guided by the gentle spirit provides the example that we ourselves are to follow.

The Holy Spirit does not coerce but like the master who guides the mighty war horse into battle there is a gentle tug of the reins to go to the left that the Horse goes left. The gentle tug of the reins to go right. A slight tap on the stirrups and the horse is galloping, and with the pulling back on the reins the horse slows and stops. And mind you, it is not that the mighty horse has lost any of its power and that it had no ability to rebel and go its own way if it wanted to, but that powerful creature yields to masters will.

Mighty Jesus surrendered to his masters will without compromise to his divine being.

It is by his leading that he takes us not necessarily out of the battle but through it standing on a position of strength coupled by humility.

Yes, it may be construed by others as weakness as one takes on the position of surrendering to the quiet spirit of the Lord. Yes, it will appear as weakness to others.

Did it not look that way when Jesus, the lamb of God was headed to the cross?

Isaiah 53:1–6 (NASB95) — 1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lordbeen revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

And how was he mocked?

Matthew 27:42–43 (NASB95) — 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 “He trusts in God; let God rescueHim now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

But none the less

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NASB95) — 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Paul tells us

Philippians 2:9–11 (NASB95) — 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is the way, He trailblazes the path that we as Christians are to follow, and obtain the same gentle Spirit and as a result Jesus says on the mount in his sermon

Matthew 5:5 (NASB95) — 5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Revelation 2:24–29 (NASB95) — 24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Hymn Trust and obey

Communion

When I survey the wondrous cross

Closing prayer.

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[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 722). United Bible Societies. [2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 326). United Bible Societies.