It's
hard to know if this verse (Matthew 5:5) is simply parallelism, so
common in Hebrew writings, of verse 3 “Blessed are the poor in
spirit.” Both speak of humility, and in the first we inherit the
kingdom, in this one, we inherit the earth. Some have suggested
that verse 3 is about the inner attitude, and verse 5 about how we
operate out of the inner values. I do not know the origin of the
phrase, “Gentle Jesus meek and mild, wouldn't hurt a fly. ”
It's well known, but it's not accurate! Well Jesus was not mild when
He made a whip of chords and drove the money changers out of the
Temple (John 2:13-16), He was not mild when the told the the scribes
and the Pharisees that they were a bund of hypocrites (Matthew
23:13). On the other hand, Jesus described Himself as meek
(Matthew 11:29). And just as the word “right” in English needs a
context in order to understand whether it is the opposite of wrong,
or as opposed to left, so too does the Greek word translated “meek”
here, needs context. It is translated “gentle” in the above
passage from Matthew, and “lowly” respectively “humble” in
Matthew 21:5 in the NKJV respectively ESV.
Meekness, in the
Biblical sense then, can be thought of as showing patience and
humility and strength under control. And Jesus is meek, even when He
is driving the money changers out of the Temple. And meekness here
in the beatitudes is neither mildness nor timidity. It is certainly
gentle when the occasion calls for it. It is gentle when He calls us
to be, as He is when He invites us to take His yoke upon us. It is
not being a doormat. Neither is it false humility. I like what Bill
Johnson said to the woman who when complemented on her singing, had
said that it was nor her, it was Jesus. Bill replied “It wasn't
that good,” at least that is what he said he said! Meekness and
humility is neither thinking more nor less of yourself, than you are
in reality as in how heaven see you. I am His beloved child, and so
are you. I have been qualified to be an inheritor of the saints in
light (Colossians 1:12).
On the other hand,
meekness, like love, does not boast, it does not manipulate to get
its own way, nor is it willing to trample on others in order to get
to the top. But if we don't claw our way to the top, how on earth
shall we inherit the earth? As with all the beatitudes, the
application is primarily spiritual, and our inheritance is primarily
the one reserved for us in Heaven (1 Peter 1:4).
However the application of 1Peter 5:6 “humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” likely has
here and now, and hereafter applications.
Father, teach us to be
meek in the Biblical sense of the Word. Help us to receive with
meekness the words implanted in us by Your Spirit. Bring us to
maturity Lord, so that we may be more like Jesus, in whose precious
name we pray Amen
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