This is the Word of God: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
The Bible tells us some things that are hard to swallow:
Who has an easy time loving their enemies? Who enjoys confessing their sins?
Who likes to think about an everlasting punishment?
On that list must be this third Beatitude- Blessed are the meek.
Now, we appreciate promises such as inheriting the earth, but we have a difficult time with the condition that the Lord puts on it. We are called to be meek. What a demand this puts on most men! I see so many men that have to be right about everything, they have to out-do any others who may have an idea or skill. I am just as guilty, I suppose. And some of you women have lived your whole lives fighting. You have had to stand up for yourself when no one else would. We human beings feel the need to defend ourselves, stand tall, fight for what we want, out-do the competition, and not be run over… What are we going to do about this beatitude?
Point 1: Blessed are the MeekA.“Meek” means gentle/humble and the self-control it entails (can signify absence of pretension)
a. It is NOT: wishy-washy, timid, indecisive, a push-over, or a weakness.
b. I think meekness is to consider others better than yourself (Philippians 2:3-4).
B. We have discussed how we must view ourselves “poor in spirit” and we have also discussed what to do about it “mourn” now we are told what our attitude toward others must be “meek.” The first three beatitudes comprise a set and are all interrelated. These beatitudes deal inwardly and work together to form the inner-attitude of the kingdom citizen. This is how we must view ourselves in light of the work God has done in Christ.
C. This is how we will treat others when we heave the proper view of ourselves.
D. There must be a sense of patience in this (as we will see in a verse I will quote in a moment).
Paul says in 1 Cor 3:22 that all things are ours because we belong to Christ. If we have “all things” then we can wait a lifetime. We are in no hurry. All things are ours. We can afford to be meek! We are children of the King!
E. SEE Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, “I am gentle (or meek) and lowly in heart…”
SEE James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”
Point 2: For They Shall Inherit the EarthA. God will finalize the restoration process. God’s presence will dwell here on earth.
B. Israel was given a small piece of land, but God’s people will eventually be given the earth.
C. In 2 Cor Paul says that we “possess all things” and here, Matthew points us to possessing the Land. Inheritance language most often points to the Promised Land in the OT and the NT broadens that thought. We will inherit the earth; the new heaven and the new earth.
D. This is a quote from Psalm 37 “Those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth… The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace… The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.”
E. Peter anticipates the fulfillment of this beatitude: SEE 2 Peter 3:10-13
John is given a vision of that earth that we will inherit: SEE Revelation 21:1-5
Conclusion:
What a beautiful picture it is of the in heritance we are promised: a new heaven and earth coming down and God dwelling with us permanently! That is our great hope!
But do not let us forget that the Lord has said that it is the meek who shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the MEEK… I want to appeal to you on two fronts based on Matthew 11:28-30.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
*You may have memorized this from the KJV (like I did). Gentle is translated meek there.
(1) Jesus calls Himself “meek” (gentle) and lowly in heart.
There has never been a stronger person on this planet than Jesus. There has never been a manlier man than Jesus Christ. There has never been a mightier king than our Lord.
AND He calls Himself MEEK.
There is no hint of weakness in this beatitude or the word “meek.”
So I appeal to you: Stand strong, fight the good fight, defend what matters most, but be meek and you will be blessed.
(2) Come to Jesus – Come in Faith
There is salvation in no other name than Jesus Christ. He is Lord!
* Learn from Him.
* Find rest for your souls.