With Eternity’s Values in View

Part 4

by Samuel E. Ward

The BeatitudesMatthew 5:3-12

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Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV2011) 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

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7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Introduction

It is in the Beatitudes that we especially see the compassion Jesus feels for His disciples. We also observe His appreciation for those who are willing to “stay the course” until all of what they hope for becomes reality. They know the struggle of trying to overcome sin in their lives. When sin overtakes them it grieves them to the very core of their spirit, and they desire to be done with it. They also know that only God can fix it.

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So, Christ speaks words of blessing to them. A better kingdom awaits those who continue the fight against sin not in their own power, but in the power of Jesus Christ. If you need words of encouragement from someone “who has been there and done that,” let me offer you the words of a fellow-soldier in Christ, the apostle Paul.

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Romans 7:21-25 (NIV2011) 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 7

We have examined the first two blessings of the Beatitudes,

I. Blessed Are Those Who Are Poor in Spirit, Mat 5:3

II. Blessed Are Those Who Mourn, Mat 5:4

Now we address the third.

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III. Blessed Are the Meek,Mat 5:5

A.What Meekness Is Not

1. Meekness is not weakness. Jesus was certainly not weak!

2. Meekness is not cowardice in the face of danger. Jesus was no coward!

Luke 9:51 (NIV2011) As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 9

3. Meekness is not cowering in the face of bullies. Jesus never cowered.

Luke 20:20-26 (NIV2011) 20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

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22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. 11

4. Meekness is not the inability to stand against opposition. Jesus never backed away from those who wanted to silence Him.

Luke 19:37-42 (NIV2011) 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 12

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

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5. Meekness is not apathy. Jesus had strong feelings and did care about what was happening around Him.

Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV2011) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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B. What Meekness Is

1. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV2011) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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2. Meekness is a core Christ-like attitude.

a. He does not want to lay upon us burdens we cannot bear, only those burdens which a gentle caring Master would fit to our strength and ability to carry.

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Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV2011) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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b. He does not come to us as a conquering king taking possession of His subjects. He rather wants to be known as a Delivering King, who will bring peace and rule those in His kingdom with their best interests at heart.

Matthew 21:4-5 (NIV2011) 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

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The rest of the passage being quoted from Zechariah 9 states what Israel was hoping for on that day and what Jesus was promising to bring one day in the future.

Zechariah 9:10 (NIV2011) I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

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C. What Meekness Does

Meekness is the choice to exercise restraint instead of severity when first approaching an issue with another.

1. It seeks gentle restoration before harsh discipline in dealing with sin.

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Galatians 6:1 (NIV2011) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

1 Corinthians 4:21 (NIV2011) What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

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2 Corinthians 10:1-2 (NIV2011) 1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

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2. It relates to difficult people with gentle patience.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV2011) 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

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3. It is worn as a part of our spiritual “wardrobe” with which we clothe ourselves and display the grace of Christ to the rest of the church and to the world.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV2011) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 24

4. It is applied to all people regardless of position or status.

Titus 3:1-3 (NIV2011) 1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 25

5. It demonstrates an essential quality for those who would be leaders among God’s people.

a. God’s servant must be known as a gentle person among other attributes.

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1 Timothy 6:10b-11 (NIV2011) 10b Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

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b. God’s servant must use gentle instruction to lead those who oppose the truth.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 (NIV2011) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 28

Conclusion: So What Is a Biblical Definition of Meekness?

Meekness is the exercise of gentleness from the position of strength. This is what makes it such a godly and Christ-like character trait. Its closest relatives to other traits are grace and mercy. None are so meek, so gentle, as Jesus in His approach to sinners and ministry to disciples.

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1. Jesus was gentle toward the helpless.

Matthew 9:35-36 (NIV2011) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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2. Jesus was gentle toward the sinners.

Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV2011) 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 31

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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3. Jesus was gentle toward His enemies.

When Jesus was arrested in the garden, He did not resist or allow others to stand in the way. He did not need them to.

Matthew 26:52-53 (NIV2011) 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”33

He chose instead to continue the path that began in the garden and would ultimately lead Him to the cross.

Luke 23:34-35 (NIV2011) 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

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“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

The counsel of scripture is this.

1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV2011) 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

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