Happy are the Meek
Matthew 5:5
1. Meekness and being poor in spirit are two sides of the same thing.
Being "poor in spirit," means being broken over sin.
It is negative and brings second Beatitude which is "mourning."
Meekness focuses on God and who and what he is in relation to you and what we are.
In a sense it is a compassion of us to God. Meekness is positive, when a man sees God he is meek. And in V6 we will find he seeks righteousness.
2. The Meek are the ones who in life get run over! The meek in the world are taken advantage of. Widows, or the uneducated are fair game for a slick lawyer, crooked business man or con artist. Many have lost all they had to these dredges of our society.
In the world philosophy it the strong that survive. Here in the West, it was the white man who took what the Indian had, because he was stronger, and more bold and aggressive. Thus we see around us the strong and bold, not the meek running the world.
3. Yet, Jesus was talking about ones spiritual character. True happiness, is for believers who are realistic about their sin, who repent (mourn) over it and the are responsive to God.
4. Four groups of Jews looked for the Messiah:
Jewish zealots wanted a strong military leader and to rule the world. Pharisees wanted a miracle worker Sadducees wanted a Materialistic Kingdom Essences wanted at monastic kingdom. Jesus was saying, the kingdom will not be any of these it will be a meek kingdom. Thus He was saying, the kingdom will be made up of those who are meek, not the strong, proud and materialistic.
Contents
I. The Biblical Directive.
A. The New Testament:
Eph 4:1-2, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation to which you are called, with all lowliness and meekness."
Col 3:12 "Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness..."
Titus 3:2 Christian are, "to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men."
B. The Old Testament: Psa 22:26 " The meek shall eat and be satisfied, they shall praise the Lord that seek Him; your heart shall live forever." Psa 25:9 "The meek will He guide in justice; and the meek will he teach His way." Psa 147:6 "The Lord lifteth up the meek..." Isa 29:19 "The Meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One.
C. Thus Salvation, guidance, blessing and joy are promised to the meek, and they will make up the kingdom of God.
II. What is meekness?
A. If only people who have it will be happy and occupy the kingdom of
God we better know what it is.
B. It is Gentile: The GK word for meek means being mild, gentle, and soft. It means tender-hearted. He is patient and submissive. Greeks used word to describe, a gentle breeze, a soothing medicine, and a domesticated colt.
C. Paul in 2 Cor 10:1, "Now I, ..beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.." Matt 21:5, "Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, the colt, the foal of an ass."
D. Eph 4:26, "Be angry and sin not..." If you become angry, make sure it is for the right reasons. Do not be angry because someone has offended you, rather be angry because God is angry.
Prov 25:28, " He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." The bible says control yourself. Prov 16:32, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he who ruleth his spirit that he that taketh a city." Being slow to anger is being meek, it means being in control of oneself.
E. It does not mean be a "wimp"! Spineless, cowardly and without fortitude.
F. It is the opposite of being vengeful or demanding ones right and due.
The meek devoid themselves of pride...thus are not offended when mistreated. The meek person does not defend himself, even when right! He does run around worried that someone else may get credit for what he has done.
Note his meekness is expressed in relation to his on person...not the truth. He boldly stands for the truth. He is not meek, is defending the Bible and Gods truth, or exposing those that falsely use and pervert it.
1 Peter 2:21-22 "For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps, who did no sin, neither, was guile found in His mouth." 1 Peter 2:23 "When He was reviled, He reviled not again, when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." The meek's attitude will be: "I'll never defend myself, yet I will die in defending God." Meekness is power under control. It is faith in that we see in truth that God is in Control. Thus, He always has the upper hand. What ever disappointment or trouble is but temporary...God is the Victory and we are victors in Him. Meekness is Trust, in letting God guide our steps. In letting God be the driver. (God doesn't need you in the back seat trying to drive)
It is setting back and being content is where God is taking you. When it appears you might run off the road...you realise who is driving! You also know you can do anything anyway...you are in the back seat!! Paul said. Phil 3:3, That he put no confidence in the flesh...in Phil 4:13, he said however, he could do all things....."in Christ"!
III. What Is the Future for the Meek?A. First they are "Blessed" or Happy! They have a true abiding peace in their heart that is not effected by circumstances. B. The Second, inherit the Earth. 1. In the Millennium, Those that submit to Christ will inherit the earth in a 1000 years of peace. They will not take it...Christ will take it and give it to them. 2. Matt 18:3, Jesus said, that "except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"
3. After the Mill. the Bible says there will be a new heaven and earth and it shall be the eternal home of the saved.
When a boy, our family had little money, and five children. There were times when my friends when on trips and I could not go. I will never forget the feeling I had. I can not really describe it. I so longed to go, I felt abandoned and lonely.
However, it was through no fault of myself or my parents who loved me. Circumstances gave me no choice. I wonder how much more intense that feeling will be for those who die in their sins and in Hell realise, they did not have to be there...the could have had heaven and all it glory, peace and joy. I wonder too, how terrible it must be for those who traded pride, for heaven. Who thought more of what people around them thought than of their own souls salvation. They traded the things of this corrupted world for the glories of heaven.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus said the meek would inherit the kingdom of God.
1. It is necessary for salvation: If you don't turn to God to save you, asking forgiveness for sin, you will not be saved. You will spend and eternity
2. Folks this world is temporary. How many of you can guarantee you will be here in ten years? or five? or even one?
3. Time is against you he you have not come to Christ.
4. It seems a paradox that one could come to Christ in meekness and receive salvation and then not be have a meek spirit.
Two things are possible:
First: One that person was never saved.
Second: They were saved, but let sin, pride and these things take control. They maybe did not live in trust. They let hurt feelings, pride, not being accepted my their fellow Christians drive them from fellowship with their Saviour. The hardened their heart....Maybe justly they had a right to be resentful and were treated poorly.
Yet, your Saviour, says you must be meek, to inherit the kingdom of God... You are loosing reward, loosing the privilege to bring honour to you Saviour. I urge you to now confess it as the sin it is, and come back to full fellowship with your loving Saviour