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(5) Blessed are the meek, For they shall
inherit the earth.
(23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law. New
King James Version Change Bible versions
He was not the first to state the importance of meekness, but He was the
first to collect, in what we call the Beatitudes,
a God-authored, organized list of the characteristics of the perfect man. Others
have made lists of outstanding virtues, but Jesus' list is unique in that He
relates them to the Kingdom
of God and in the depth and breadth of what He meant.
How can this be, though? Given how modern man considers those who are meek,
His statement about meekness is almost incomprehensible. The
world would word this, "Blessed are the strong, who can hold their own." The
world favors more conspicuous and so-called heroic virtues. Those who are
strongly—almost fiercely—competitive, aggressive, and assertive are the ones who
receive recognition, admiration, and reward. Do they not seem to end up on top
of the pile, possessing the most and best despite other obvious and perhaps even
offensive flaws in their character?
On the surface, this beatitude seems to have little meaning, and what there
is seems to contradict the plain facts of everyday life. No sensible person,
looking about the world or studying history, could sincerely accept it at face
value. Unfortunately, many Christians have ignored it in practice, perhaps
regretting that no doubt it should be true, but that it certainly is not so in
the real world. Rather than taking God
at His Word, they remain conformed to the world's standard of practice, missing
the benefits meekness will produce in their lives. Remember, Jesus Himself says
this: Blessed—happy, favored—are the meek.
So we must decide. Jesus either meant what he said, or He did not; He either
knew what He was talking about, or He did not. Jesus is either a reliable guide,
or He is not. We must either take Jesus seriously or not, and if we do not, we
should drop His teaching altogether. If we decide to straddle the fence and
strive for some characteristics but not others, we become hypocrites. Of course,
the true Christian will accept it, learn from it and grow in it.
What Jesus says is a very practical doctrine.
It may at first seem impractical, foolish, and even wild, but He was no
sentimental dreamer who dealt in empty platitudes. He was an unflinching realist
who has given us a great key to prosperity and dominion under God's purpose. One
commentator, Emmet Fox, author of an entire book on the Sermon on the Mount,
states that this beatitude "is among the half dozen most important verses in the
Bible."
"The meek shall inherit the earth," and when they do, they will proceed to
govern it. Meekness is a virtue God has determined those who will have dominion
in His Family must possess. Without it, will we even be there?
— John W. Ritenbaugh
To learn more, see:
The Fruit of the Spirit: Meekness
Related Topics:
Beatitudes, The
Inheriting the Earth
Meekness
Perfect Man
Practicality of Meekness
Sermon on the Mount
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