Article published in Evangelical Action
Matt 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”
Some time ago at the local train station stood a young man wearing a t-shirt which had printed across the front “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing”. According to his definition of meekness he is correct and the Bible agrees with him. In his thinking meekness equates to weakness. The apostle John tells us in Rev 21:8 the cowardly have no part in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus was the epitome of meekness but He certainly wasn’t weak. What then is meekness; how does it show itself? We must concern ourselves with these questions for without meekness we shall not inherit the earth.
The definition of meekness
Perhaps the place to begin when considering meekness is to remove what it is not.
Meekness does not mean niceness. It’s a desirable thing to be a nice person, but Jesus is not saying blessed are those who make it their primary goal to be liked by everyone. Going about in a generally cheerful manner presents a better witness to the Gospel than a spirit of gloom and doom. The agreeable and cheerful person however is not necessarily meek. Some people can be very pleasant to be around until the wrong buttons are pushed and they become anything but meek. To add to this, the person who is super concerned to be liked generally lacks the fortitude to make difficult decisions for fear of offending. Paul was meek yet he made a tough call concerning John-Mark and even entered into heated debate with Barnabas over his decision.
Meekness does not mean tolerance. In order to be meek one does not have to accept ideas which are clearly wrong; meekness does not equate to a lack of conviction. The apostle Paul exhorted us “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18). Sometimes it is not possible. Paul did not tolerate the false teaching being embraced by the Galatians; he did not tolerate the practices of the Corinthians; he did not tolerate the hypocrisy of Peter. The apostle John warned believers to have nothing to do with those who hold to an un-Biblical view of Christ. Clearly some kinds of tolerance are sinful.
Meekness is not natural. We could be inclined to think that meekness is easier for some people because of their personality; they have a disposition which naturally lends itself to those qualities we associate with meekness – they are quiet, unassuming, easy going, etc. This line of thinking opens the door to justify sin – ‘I am not always meek because it is just not as natural to me as it is for others’. Jesus however is not referring to personality but the work of the Holy Spirit which must be evident in the lives of all believers. Moses is described in Num 12:3 as the meekest of men but this had not always been the case. As a young man he could be ruthless even resorting to murder. He grew in meekness only as God worked in His life over a forty year period in the wilderness.
Meekness is a comprehensive characteristic which involves a number of qualities. These qualities are related and overlap but they are not identical. There are probably three main qualities that together contribute to the overall disposition of meekness.
- Meekness involves humility: the meek are not boastful about their gifts and achievements. They do not seek to draw attention to themselves. Furthermore they are willing to listen; they are teachable. In other words they recognise their own limitations and their need of others.
- Meekness involves gentleness: the meek are slow to anger when they are wronged. This is not to say they don’t become angry, Jesus became angry as did the apostles and they demonstrated their anger. Sometimes it is sinful not to express anger. To be meek however is to express anger with self-control; it is to be angry for just reasons. When dealing with difficult situations the meek do not ride roughshod over those with whom they disagree; they do not take advantage of the weak; they do not use position or power to manipulate.
- Meekness involves self-denial: the meek put God before themselves being submitted to His purposes. Their fundamental concern in life is not their rights and pursuing their agenda, but to be pleasing to the Lord. This of course involves putting others before self.
When we bring these qualities together we have a picture of meekness; each one contributes to the whole. Clearly meekness is far removed from weakness, lack of conviction, spinelessness, being Mr nice guy, etc. On the contrary these qualities require strength; they are only possible as the Spirit works powerfully in our lives enabling us to subdue our natural inclinations.
The reason for meekness
Meekness is the result of mourning over sin. The logical flow of the Beatitudes is apparent as we follow them through. Blessed are the poor in spirit: those who come to the realisation of their spiritual bankruptcy. Blessed are those who mourn: those who are sorrowful that they sin against God. Blessed are the meek. Meekness is the result of seeing what we are before God and mourning over it.
If we go back to the key qualities just considered we can see how they fit into the flow of the Beatitudes.
True humility belongs to the person who has come to grips with how God sees them. They know they have nothing in which they can boast. On the one hand they are creatures dependent upon their Creator for everything, but more importantly as sinners they have received from God what they don’t deserve and not received what they do deserve. When embraced, this knowledge has a humbling effect both in terms of how we relate to God and man. Rom 3:27, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith”. Rom 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
Gentleness is the fruit of knowing that God has been gentle toward us. If we have come to really see our sin for what it is we know we have provoked God many times over. Yet scripture testifies to God’s patience. Psalm 103:10-14, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” The Parable of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-13) teaches that a vengeful spirit is incomprehensible for people who have been the recipients of grace. Imbedded in the concept of grace is unworthiness and helplessness. If invested with power the meek use it with gentleness for this is how God has dealt with them. If wronged the meek are gracious because likewise this is how God has dealt with them.
Self-denial is also the outworking of sorrow for sin. Those who deeply regret their sinful condition hate the fact they sin. Their deep desire is to do the will of God and bring glory and honour to Him. Sin amounts to living a self-centred life, and so by God’s grace they put self to death, & seek to walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:22-24, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Positively, self-denial is not merely concerned with what we don’t do but also a life given in service to God and His people. Those who crucify the flesh with its passions do so by loving others, being kind and generous and concerned to help as they have opportunity. I will say more about servitude shortly.
Jesus is the ultimate expression of meekness because in Him we see the qualities of humility, gentleness and self-denial perfected. The only difference is that His meekness is not a consequence of mourning over sin. He exemplified meekness in accordance with His own holy character. Meekness for the rest of us is the necessary consequence of acknowledging spiritual poverty. According to the Beatitudes meekness is the first practical evidence we belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. Mourning over our sinful condition is largely a private matter, but the result of meekness is evident to those around. Let’s bear in mind that through the Beatitudes Jesus is explaining the marks of those who have entered God’s kingdom, not the things we have to do to make us acceptable to Him. If Christians are not characterised by meekness something is wrong.
The cultivation of meekness
Meekness is the fruit of God’s Spirit at work in us. It is not natural to us nor can it be manufactured. Yet we are not idle with regards to meekness. We must endeavour to be meek. We don’t become perfect in meekness as soon as we are converted. Our sinful state means we will continually need to overcome pride, self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, self-will etc.
Col 3:12-15, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” Paul tells us to put on meekness along with those qualities associated with it. I would suggest that one of the principle ways in which do this is by adopting the attitude of a servant.
Sinclair Ferguson points out that on the one occasion Jesus describes Himself, He does so using the language of meekness [1]. Matt 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” In these verses Jesus contrasts Himself with the Pharisees. They overburden people with their interpretation of the law and their many additions to it. He on the other hand sets them free. He came to fulfil the law on behalf of those who could not fulfil it for themselves, in other words He came to serve; meekness is expressed in terms of servitude.
Jesus presents Himself as the example we are to follow. John 13:12-17, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” It takes meekness to undertake menial tasks for the benefits of others. It is the opinion of the author that the Reformed cause particularly among Reformed Baptists has suffered greatly by elders who have forgotten they are foot washers. Whatever Paul meant when he said elders who rule well are worthy of double honour, he did not want them to lose sight of the fact they are still unprofitable servants. Church leaders need to be reminded from time to time that it is Christ they are meant to imitate not the Pharisees. A servant does not lord it over the flock nor does he expect to be given the accolades of men.
In Matt’s Gospel the mother of James and John asked the Lord Jesus that He grant her sons pre-eminence in the kingdom. To this request Jesus responds in vv25-28, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Ordinarily people think of greatness in terms of popularity, position and power. Jesus however turns this notion on its head. Greatness is not determined by what one gets but by what one gives. Greatness belongs to those who master their own natural desires and serve others with meekness.
Whatever our position in life we are to cultivate and demonstrate meekness through servitude. Husbands and fathers responsible for bringing guidance and discipline to the family are to do it with meekness – as servants not tyrants. Children are to obey parents with meekness not through gritted teeth. Wives are to lovingly obey their husbands with meekness not in bitterness. Pastors are to bring the Word of God in meekness and be examples of servitude for the flock to follow. Church members are to serve in meekness preferring others before themselves. Employees are to serve their bosses with meekness as unto the Lord. Employers are to run their businesses with meekness, seeking the good of those under them.
Without over simplifying the challenges of living in this fallen world, would not the mindset of servitude do much to remove the “dys” from the dysfunctional family? How many divorces and broken homes could be avoided if meekness through servitude was adopted? The trade union movement would be rendered more or less irrelevant if employees and employers embraced the third Beatitude. Titus Salt the Victorian industrialist set about improving the education and living conditions of his textile workers. In 1851 he began to build better quality houses for them in the country away from the slums and pollution of Bradford. Along with the accommodation he erected a library, lecture hall, wash houses, gymnasium, Congregational church, bath houses, a hospital, playing fields and numerous other public conveniences. Titus Salt the master served the servants – and not a trade unionist in sight! Empires have been built (such as the modern counselling movement) and institutions flourish (such as trade unionism) in the absence of meekness.
It is important to re-emphasise that meekness doesn’t mean being a door mat. Jesus was not a wimpy “yes man”. He rebuked the religious hypocrites; He defended the weak; He was not afraid to disturb the status quo; He faced up to crucifixion with courage. He was a “man’s man” who exercised unparalleled bravery yet He did so in the spirit of servitude. A servant is not self-willed, arrogant, demanding, or argumentative; he or she works for the benefit of another. Put on the mind-set of the servant and you put on the virtue of meekness.
The blessing of meekness
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The worldly person says live meekly and you will lose out. If you want to get anywhere you must be aggressive and ruthless – as the young lad’s t-shirt boldly asserted “the meek inherit nothing”. The meek in fact inherit everything.
The reality for many Christians is that they will not achieve in this life all they could because they are not prepared to compromise God’s principles. Yet their sacrifices are not in vain, they stand to gain something far greater – an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled that does not fade away (1 Peter 1:4). We may miss out on some of what this present world offers, but we shall inherit the world that is to come. A world described by the apostle Peter as “a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).
The new earth will belong to the Lord’s people not because they have clawed their way to the top, not because they have been aggressive or manipulative or greedy, but because they have lived meekly. Ever conscious of what they are before God they have humbled themselves and lived as servants. Jesus promises they will be more than compensated.
Matt 19:28-30, “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother £or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Luke 22:24-30, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28“But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Conclusion
We may think of meekness as a nice but not overly important virtue. Let us bear the following points in mind:
- According to the Beatitudes meekness is the first tangible evidence we belong to God’s kingdom.
- Jesus describes Himself as meek (Matt 11:29).
- We are commanded to be meek (Col 3:12).
- Meekness is necessary in order to maintain productive and healthy relationships in all areas of life. How many difficult situations develop and escalate because people are proud and self-serving. How many problems would be avoided altogether or quickly resolved if those concerned were characterised by meekness.
Meekness is not an optional extra, it lies at the heart of the Christian faith. Without meekness we will not gain a future inheritance. To be meek is to be clothed with the character of Christ and as such to show forth a life transformed by the power of the Gospel.
1 – The Sermon On The Mount pg.22. BTT