Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
The Path to Blessedness
Meekness does not mean weakness, but rather supreme self-control born out of strength and humility, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Striving for power, prestige, and control, or demanding respect and honor is not the path to blessedness or joy. Rather, pride (the root of all sin) is the path to frustration, sorrow, ingratitude, broken relationships, and ultimately eternal destruction and separation from God. Meekness, gentleness, and living in humility are the path to being truly blessed and experiencing a real sense of joy and peace, headed for eternal life, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Way the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
What Does it Mean to be Blessed?
In Scripture, 'blessed' means happy, a type of contentment, an inner peace, a state of restfulness that is not created from or affected by circumstances or emotions, which are unpredictable and ever-changing. It is a state of well-being and inner joy, rooted and grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ, who never changes. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus contrasts the world’s definition of happiness with true blessedness, which is spiritual prosperity, having the gift of eternal life. This only comes from having a right relationship with God through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1).
What Does it Mean to be Meek?
The term meekness is the opposite of being out of control. Meekness does not mean weakness, but rather supreme self-control in a believer that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word translated “meek” is praeis and means mildness, humility, and gentleness of spirit. Gentleness is how we ought to treat others, and meekness is how we ought to respond to how others offend or mistreat us. Gentleness and meekness are fruits of the Holy Spirit. Someone who knows Jesus as his/her personal Savior and submits to Him as Lord will be growing in these fruits over his lifetime, becoming more Christ-like by the inner working of the Holy Spirit (slowly but surely). work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Side Note: This verse speaks of two truths that run parallel together – man’s moral responsibility and God’s divine sovereignty. The harmonization of these two truths cannot be explained by human logic or reasoning on this side of eternity. Both are true.
Born of humility, meekness overlooks small offenses, knowing that he/she has offended God way more than anyone could ever begin to offend him/her. Meekness is expressing humility toward God and others. It's having the power to do or say something but holding back in self-control for the love and benefit of another, which exemplifies the attitude of Jesus. Meekness is an outward expression of faith in Christ and a byproduct of sacrificial love, the ultimate love we are called to show as Christians.
Jesus had the power and the right to do whatever He wanted as God, but for our sake and through His perfect sacrificial love, He was obedient to His Father’s will to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8), so that through His sinless life, death, and resurrection, we may be forgiven of our sins and granted eternal life, by grace through faith in Him. Jesus going to the cross for us is the ultimate act of meekness the world has ever known. As the almighty Creator of heaven and earth, Jesus was also the meekest person who ever lived.
Whoever Humbles Himself Will be Exalted
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). 'The meek shall inherit the earth' simply means that those who forgo the pride, power, and prestige of this life will be rewarded the kingdom of heaven, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The meek will be exalted and inherit the earth, while the proud will be humbled and perish. Believers will become heirs of the new heavens and the new earth one day (which is not too far away for any of us). Therefore, invest wisely in your eternity by living for the glory of God and putting all your trust in Christ, Lord to all, regardless of personal preferences, and Savior to all who trust in Him.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11 esv).
What a day that will be when everyone bows the knee and confesses Jesus as Lord, whether to our supreme joy or to our supreme despair.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15
“The man who is meek is not even sensitive about himself. He is not always watching himself and his own interest. He is not always on the defensive..The man who is truly meek never pities himself, he is never sorry for himself. He never talks to himself and says, ‘You are having a hard time, how unkind these people are not to understand you.’” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“Both gentleness and meekness are born of power, not weakness.. It takes strength, God’s strength, to be truly gentle.” – Jerry Bridges
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