Topic(s): Blessings, Faith, Patience

Bob Prichard

In the third beatitude of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). In this sermon, Jesus laid down the basics of living a life pleasing to God and to our fellow man. In this series of beatitudes, or “Blessed” statements, Jesus speaks what may seem to be contradictory statements. This especially the case in this third beatitude, because the word “meek” does not have the same connotation to the modern hearer that it had to His first century audience. As a rule, modern man thinks of meekness as a trait to be treated with contempt, because we tend to think of meekness as being synonymous with weakness and spinelessness. Jesus was speaking of something altogether different, though.

“Meekness” in the biblical sense refers not to weakness, but instead to strength, kept under control. The Greek historian Xenophon used the very same word Jesus used to describe a horse broken to saddle, so that it is under control. The strength is still there, but it is harnessed for good. The meek person is not weak, but instead is a person so strong that he has the strength to maintain his composure and control. This allows him to have the gentleness that Jesus wanted for his followers. Paul said it is part of the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

God describes several very strong men as meek. He describes Moses, the great lawgiver and leader who took his people out of Egyptian bondage, as “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). The Lord Jesus invites, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Christ was “meek and lowly in heart.” He was not the weak figure of much art, but was instead a strong man, who could do the physical labor of a carpenter, or call down angels from heaven to do His bidding. With all of His strength, however, He treated mankind with love and gentleness. Meekness implies submission, not to man, but to God.

When Jesus gave His beatitude, He was actually quoting Psalm 37:11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” The psalmist David contrasted the meek with the wicked. “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be” (Psalm 37:10). The way of the meek is the way of righteousness. The wicked “shall not be,” but the meek shall “inherit the earth.” The phrase “inherit the earth” is a figure of speech to indicate the possession given to the faithful. The possession for the faithful is the “new earth” described by John the seer in Revelation 21. Just as the children of Israel inherited the promised land, the meek follower of Christ will inherit the new heaven and new earth. We just need to follow in the footsteps of the meek and gentle Jesus.