Meekness is not Weakness

Meekness is not Weakness. Matthew 5.5

Jesus was the master of paradox.

Last is first.

Giving is receiving.

Dying is living.

Losing is finding.

Least is greatest.

Poor is rich.

Weakness is strength.

Serving is ruling.1

Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ‘A strong statement, deserving our inspection. Step a little closer, please. This third beatitude is rightly ordered and builds off the first two beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” and “Blessed are those who mourn…” The first two worked out in us through the work of the Holy Spirit, enable us to have the quality of being meek. Or as the much-loved and revered C.S. Spurgeon taught, “There must be poverty of spirit and mourning of heart before there will come that gracious meekness of which our text speaks.”2

The meaning of the word meek elicits confusion. . . . Seriously, when was the last time you heard someone described as meek, and it was meant in a positive way? And yet in the third Beatitude, Jesus was clearly lauding the value of being meek.

Meek3 adjective \ˈmēk\: having or showing a quiet and gentle nature : not wanting to fight or argue with other people

1: enduring injury with patience and without resentment : mild

2: deficient in spirit and courage : submissive

3: not violent or strong : moderate

In fact, probably the least admired character quality in America is meekness! We see this in the dictionary definition, specifically where it goes awry with the second and third qualifying descriptions; meekness represents neither a deficiency in spirit or courage, nor a lack of strength.

The greatest Person who ever lived was a meek and humble man, and said, “learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and humble in heart”.4

So Jesus even described himself as meek—does that mean he was weak? Oh, we know well that Jesus was anything but weak or spineless. Think of the strength and courage exhibited in the 40 days of fasting and temptation in the desert; think of how he stood up to the religious leaders of the day . . . and do you remember when he went into the temple and exploded in righteous indignation?5 Meekness is definitely not weakness—actually quite the opposite. Meekness is strength under control.6

Oh how Spurgeon beautifully discusses this quality of being meek: “There is something positive in it as to virtue. The first two are rather expressive of deficiency, but here there is a something supplied. A man is poor in spirit— that is, he feels that he lacks a thousand things that he ought to possess. The man mourns—that is, he laments over his state of spiritual poverty. But now there is something really given to him by the Grace of God—not a negative quality, but a positive proof of the work of the Holy Spirit within his soul so that he has become meek . . . A man’s meekness is especially towards his fellow man.”7

Would you say that you are meek? First and foremost, the meek are gentle. Along with gentle—the meek are humble, patient, and forgiving. Stop and take a moment to assess yourself—could those qualities be used to describe you?

The meek will inherit the earth, Jesus said—being part of his kingdom while we yet live, and an inheritance in Heaven that cannot be taken away.

A prayer: Lord Jesus, will you challenge our hearts and minds by this virtue of meekness? Will you refine us by your Holy Spirit, so that we are able to be gentle, forgiving, patient, humble yet strong? Thank you that you call us to be thus with others—those with whom we are in relationship, and also those we meet along the way. Amen.

Christine
PastorWoman.com

1 – The Message of the Kingdom, R. Kent Hughes

2 – C.H. Spurgeon, “The Third Beatitude,” delivered in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Newington, England, December 11, 1873.

3 - Merriam-Webster Dictionary

4 - Matthew 11:28-29 – look up and read these verses

5 – Matthew 21.12-16----What did Jesus do, and why?

6 - Barclay, A New Testament Wordbook

7 – Spurgeon, Sermon 3065, http://spurgeongems.org/vols52-54/chs3065.pdf