Upside Down Living: Blessed are the Meek
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The third sermon in the series on the Beatitudes of Jesus entitled Upside Down Living. In this message we explore the concept of meekness and see that meekness is not synonymous with weakness. We will also look at the very elevated reward Jesus promises to the meek and then look at 10 practical ways of becoming more meek.
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Upside Down Living: Blessed are the Meek
- 2. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- 3. First Point Meekness is not synonymous with weakness.
- 4. Webster’s Definition of Meekness Mild of temper, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated; submissive; lacking courage.
- 5. Warren Wiersbe’s Definition “Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control.”
- 6. πραΰς/pra-ūs Praus was used by the Greeks for a war horse that was trained to obey instantly and absolutely, no matter how great the confusion of battle.
- 8. Matthew 11 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- 9. Matthew 11 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- 10. Matthew 21:5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
- 11. Lord Acton’s Principle Power corrupts and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.
- 12. Second Point Meekness will ultimately triumph over man’s evil power.
- 13. Psalm 37 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
- 14. Psalm 37 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
- 15. Psalm 37 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
- 16. Psalm 37 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
- 17. Psalm 37 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
- 18. Psalm 37 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
- 19. Psalm 37 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
- 20. Wise Observation “It's too bad that the meek haven't already inherited the earth, because the unmeek are making a real mess of it.”
- 21. Psalm 37 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
- 22. Third Point 10 Practical Steps for Growing in Meekness
- 23. 1. Moderate your expectations of others. God knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14 Pastor Colin Smith
- 24. 2. Find joy in evidences of God’s grace. …if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 Pastor Colin Smith
- 25. 3. Remember how much you have been forgiven. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:9 Pastor Colin Smith
- 26. 4. Take time before you make judgments. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:9 Pastor Colin Smith
- 27. 5. Make friends with meek people. 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Proverbs 22:24-25 Pastor Colin Smith
- 28. 6. Take pleasure in the joys of others. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 Pastor Colin Smith
- 29. 7. Discern God’s hand in the work of your enemies. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:11 Pastor Colin Smith
- 30. 8. Walk daily in fellowship with Jesus. The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6 Pastor Colin Smith
- 31. 9. Anticipate all that God has promised. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 Pastor Colin Smith
- 32. 10. Ask God to give you meekness. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 Pastor Colin Smith
Notes de l'éditeur
- Intro: Allow me to begin with a story from those cherished years of Junior High School. I say cherished because it warms my heart every time I think that 7th grade is 44 years behind me. For me, 7th grade was the pits. At the time, I was asthmatic. I spent gym class helping the nurse do filing work because I was unable to run around. In retrospect, I was capable of doing much more physically. But I would have sold one of my lungs to get out of gym because of the ridicule which I experienced as a gangly, uncoordinated kid with poor stamina. Junior High School was a very clannish time for boys. There were the jocks, the nerds, the motor heads, the burn outs; everyone had a group identity. As a result, you almost never dealt with an individual, you dealt with a group. My problems began in a seventh grade English class. We were studying Greek mythology. My teacher decided that rather than doing written reports, we would do oral reports which were video-taped and then viewed by the entire class. This was my first time on camera. Furthermore, my personality was very different in those years. Those of you who know me well may find it hard to believe that there was a time when I was extremely shy, quiet and uncomfortable speaking in front of people. Trust me, I was terrified. My assigned topic in Greek mythology was the Greek concept of the underworld. With my hair slicked back and my thick framed glasses, I stood at attention, face devoid of expression, and began my report with these words: "Steve Palm, Tartarus, the underworld." Immediately, this one gang who all came out of the same Elementary School, began laughing hysterically, and from that day forward, I had a new nickname, "Tartarus." As I would walk through the hall, I would hear them calling to me, "Hi, Tartarus." When the teacher would step out, Eddie Solaski, would rip my glasses off my face, run to the front of the room, stand at attention and say in a monotone voice, "Steve Palm, Tartarus, the Underworld." After summer recess in 7th grade, I had high hopes that 8th grade would be better, high hopes which were dashed when Eddie, Larry, John Popowich, and their friends ran toward me shouting, "Tartarus buddy, how was your vacation down under." That year, the abuse escalated from the verbal to the physical as well. Constant pokes, jabs and trips. Near the end of the eighth grade this big chicken had reached his boiling point. John Popowich started riding me. He had no way of knowing that two years of constant abuse were about to end. He also hadn't taken notice of the fact that his compatriots were nowhere to be found. All of a sudden, I experienced an adrenalin surge. I grabbed Popowich by his collar, pushed him against the wall and lifted him about 5 inches off the ground. I then proceeded to pound his head against the cinder block wall as I shouted, "I'm sick and tired of you and your ugly friends. Go to Tartarus." When I released my grip, Popowich fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes. He was semi-conscious. Two days later, Eddie Solaski tried to trip me, a response to his injured friend. I saw his leg sticking out around the corner, swept it with a high kick, and very nearly killed my second tormentor. That week, the name Tartarus was laid to rest. It was shortly after these incidents that I came to Christ. I remember the first time that I read these words by Jesus:
- Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. I found it hard to accept Jesus' counsel. As far as I was concerned, meekness had gotten me into a mess. I couldn't inherit the smallest degree of respect in one school in Commack by being meek. How on earth could I, or anybody else, inherit the earth? Have you ever questioned Jesus' teaching on meekness? Let us explore together two key facts which will shed a deeper light on the wisdom of Jesus' profound teaching.
- First Point Meekness is not synonymous with weakness.
- Webster defines meekness as: Mild of temper, gentle, not easily provoked or irritated; submissive; lacking courage. The first part of Mr. Webster's definition is quite consistent with both the Greek and Hebrew usages of this word. However, the last phrase is where the problem comes in. By identifying meek as a lack of courage, Webster paints meekness in a deep shade of yellow. At this point, it becomes more a vice than a virtue; something we would look to overcome, not aspire to. The biblical conception of meekness is different.
- Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control. Jesus identified Himself as meek. Consider these comforting and familiar words in the eleventh chapter of Matthew:
- πραΰς/pra-ūs Praus was used by the Greeks for a war horse that was trained to obey instantly and absolutely, no matter how great the confusion of battle.
- The most similar breed of horse to the ancient Greek war horse are the Lipizzan Stallions. These spectacular horses wintered in their training facility in Myakka City Florida, just twenty minutes from where we lived in Sarasota. The Lipizzan’s are a famous breed of horses. They belonged to the Hapsburg Royal Family of Austria and were the pride of the Austrian Empire Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time. General George Patton assisted Colonel Ottomar Hermann in shielding the Lipizzan stallions from the advancing Russian Army, preserving the Royal Lipizzan bloodline. The story of this escape was depicted in the Walt Disney movie, “Miracle of the White Stallions.” We attended a free show in Myakka City and saw the Royal Lipizzan stallions in person. They are powerful horses and are able to do remarkable things, including jumping straight up without a running start. Yet, they are guided by the slightest hand pressure. We have no word to describe the biblical concept of meekness. But when you stand next to one of these gentle giants of pure muscle, you have a true picture of what meekness means.
- 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated meekness throughout his ministry. The word meek is used one other time in Matthew's gospel. It is found in Matthew's comment immediately following Jesus' entry into Jerusalem in Mt. 21:
- “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt,[a] the foal of a beast of burden.’” Jesus described himself as meek. He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah, entering into the Holy City of Jerusalem upon a humble beast of burden instead of the great white steed of a conqueror. But we make a serious error if we confuse this meekness with a weakness. The true measure of Jesus' greatness is that he walked gently while possessing the full measure of divine omnipotence. *When an angry mob tried to force Jesus off a cliff, Jesus' disappeared from their midst. If I were omnipotent, the gospel account would have ended more like a Road runner episode, with my enemies leaving a puff of smoke at the bottom of that same cliff. *When a jeering mob cried, "Give us Barabbas" I would have frozen their vocal cords. *I wouldn't have just called the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers. I would have made them snakes right then and there. I would have paralyzed the hands that sought to nail mine to a cross and would have rained fire and brimstone upon Calvary so that Sodom and Gomorrah seemed like a minor weather incident in contrast. As fallen men and women we are under the curse of the old adage:
- Power corrupts and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. Yet, this is the measure of Jesus' greatness. He was not corrupted by His limitless power. He demonstrated meekness, power under control; and thus our Savior set for us the most challenging example. He calls us to mimic His gentleness and His humility. Jesus challenges us to be meek.
- Second Point Meekness will ultimately triumph over man’s evil power. The example that I gave from my Junior High School days appeals to many of us because we esteem initiative; we value a person who takes matters into their own hands and solves their problems. However, it is essential that we realize that the earth, and all that is in it, belongs to the Lord. Thus, its inheritance will not be earned by man's strength, but by God's grace and power. Jesus almost undoubtedly was thinking of the 37th psalm, a psalm of David whose language is very similar to this beatitude.
- Psalm 37 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
- 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
- 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
- 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
- 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
- 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
- 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The lesson of this text is clear. We need to gain a heavenly perspective on time. Within the limited context of our earthly experience, certain heavenly principles seem to fail. We all know cheaters who prosper quite handsomely. We all know that all too often, pushy, aggressive and downright obnoxious people move ahead, while meek and gentle souls are often ignored and go unnoticed.
- Consider these words by an anonymous author It's too bad that the meek haven't already inherited the earth, because the unmeek are making a real mess of it. Sin triumphs for a season. But we need to remember that the earth belongs to the Lord. Ultimately, it will not be ruled by power-hungry tyrants. This earth will be led by Christ's disciples. The greatest seats of power will be held by humble servants, meek followers of a gentle savior whose power will be unleashed without limit. Listen to the concluding verses of Psalm 37, for this is Christ's assurance to you that meekness is a worthy aspiration:
- Psalm 37 29 The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
- Third Point 10 Practical Steps for Growing in Meekness The example that I gave from my Junior High School days appeals to many of us because we esteem initiative; we value a person who takes matters into their own hands and solves their problems. However, it is essential that we realize that the earth, and all that is in it, belongs to the Lord. Thus, its inheritance will not be earned by man's strength, but by God's grace and power. Jesus almost undoubtedly was thinking of the 37th psalm, a psalm of David whose language is very similar to this beatitude.
- Moderate your expectations of others. God knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:14
- 2. Find joy in evidences of God’s grace. …if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
- 3. Remember how much you have been forgiven. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:9
- 4. Take time before you make judgments. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:9
- 5. Make friends with meek people. 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, 25 lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Proverbs 22:24-25
- 6. Take pleasure in the joys of others. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
- 7. Discern God’s hand in the work of your enemies. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:11
- 8. Walk daily in fellowship with Jesus Christ. The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6
- 9. Anticipate all that God has promised. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
- 10. Ask God to give you meekness. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17