Bible: why will the meek inherit the earth?
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5: 5).
Jesus spoke this familiar verse on a hill near the city of Capernaum. It is one of the Beatitudes, a group of instructions that the Lord has given to the people. In a sense, they echo the Ten Commandments God gave to Moses, as they provide guidance for a righteous life. These focus on the characteristics that believers must possess.
I must confess that I looked at this verse as if it were an item on a spiritual to-do list, but this is too superficial a view. I was also a little perplexed by this: I wondered what it meant to be meek and how that would lead to the blessing. Did you ask yourself this too?
As I explored this verse more, God showed me that it has a much deeper meaning than I thought. Jesus' words challenge my desire for instant gratification and offer me blessings as I let God be in control of my life.
"Guide the humble in what is right and teach them his way" (Psalm 76: 9).
What does “the meek will inherit the earth” mean?
Dividing this verse into two sections helped me understand how important Jesus' choice of words was.
"Blessed are the meek ..."
In modern culture, the term "meek" could evoke the image of a meek, passive and even shy person. But while I was looking for a more complete definition, I discovered what a nice stretch it actually is.
The ancient Greeks, namely Aristotle - "the character of one who has the passion of resentment under control, and therefore is calm and serene".
Dictionary.com - "humbly patient under the provocation of others, complacent, kind, kind"
Merriam-Webster dictionary - “bear wounds with patience and without resentment”.
Biblical dictionaries augment the idea of meekness by bringing a sense of calm to the soul. The King James Bible Dictionary says "mild-tempered, not easily provoked or irritated, submissive to divine will, not proud or self-sufficient."
Baker's gospel dictionary entry is based on the notion of meekness associated with having a broader view: "It describes strong people who find themselves in positions of weakness who continue to move forward without sinking into bitterness or a desire for revenge."
Meekness, therefore, comes not from fear, but from a solid foundation of trust and faith in God. It reflects a person who keeps his eyes fixed on Him, who is able to gracefully resist unfair treatment and injustice.
“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek justice, seek humility… ”(Zeph. 2: 3).
The second half of Matthew 5: 5 refers to the result of living with true mildness of spirit.
"... because they will inherit the Earth."
This sentence confused me until I understood more of that longer vision that God wants us to have. In other words, we ideally live here on Earth while being aware of the life that is yet to come. In our humanity, this can be a difficult balance to achieve.
The inheritance that Jesus means is peace, joy and contentment in our daily life, wherever we are, and hope for our future. Again, this is not a popular idea in a world that attaches importance to acquiring fame, wealth and achievement as soon as possible. It highlights the things that matter to God over those of men, and Jesus wanted people to see the clear difference between the two.
Jesus knew that most people in his time earned their living as farmers, fishermen, or traders. They weren't rich or powerful, but they dealt with those who were. Being oppressed by both Roman rule and religious leaders led to frustrating and even scary moments. Jesus wanted to remind them that God was still present in their lives and they were called to live by His standards.
This passage as a whole also hints at the persecution that Jesus and then his followers would have faced first. He would soon share with the Apostles how he would be put to death and resurrected. Most of them, in turn, would later undergo the same treatment. It would be vitally important that the disciples view Jesus' circumstances and theirs with the eyes of faith.
What are the Beatitudes?
The Beatitudes are part of a much broader teaching that Jesus gave near Capernaum. He and the twelve disciples had traveled through Galilee, with Jesus teaching and healing on the journey. Soon crowds from all over the region began to come to see him. Eventually, Jesus went up a hill to speak at the huge gathering. The Beatitudes are the opening to this message, popularly known as The Sermon on the Mount.
Through these points, recorded in Matthew 5: 3-11 and Luke 6: 20-22, Jesus exposed the characteristics that true believers must have. They can be seen as a "Christian code of ethics" that clearly shows how different God's ways are from those of the world. Jesus intended the Beatitudes to serve as a moral compass to guide people as they face temptations and problems in this life.
Each begins with "Blessed" and has a specific trait. Hence, Jesus states what the final reward will be for those who are faithful to him, either now or at a future time. From there he continues to teach other principles for a divine life.
In chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew, verse 5 is the third beatitude of eight. Before that, Jesus introduced the traits of being poor in spirit and mourning. All these first three qualities speak of the value of humility and recognize the supremacy of God.
Jesus continues, speaking of hunger and thirst for justice, of being merciful and pure of heart, of trying to make peace and being persecuted.
All believers are called to be meek
God's Word emphasizes meekness as one of the most essential traits a believer can have. Indeed, this silent but powerful resistance is one way we distinguish ourselves from those of the world. According to Scripture, anyone who wishes to please God:
Consider the value of meekness, embracing it as part of a divine life.
Desire to grow in mildness, knowing that we cannot do it without God.
Pray for the opportunity to show meekness to others, hoping it will lead them to God.
The Old and New Testaments are full of lessons and references to this characteristic. Many of the early heroes of the faith experienced it.
"Now Moses was a very humble man, humbler than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12: 3).
Jesus repeatedly taught about humility and about loving our enemies. These two elements show that being meek is not passive, but making an active choice motivated by God's love.
"You heard that it was said:" Love your neighbor and hate your enemy ". But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven "(Matthew 5: 43-44).
In this passage from Matthew 11, Jesus spoke of Himself in this way, so He invited others to join Him.
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
Jesus showed us the latest example of meekness during his trial and crucifixion. He willingly tolerated abuse and then death because he knew the result would be salvation for us. Isaiah shared a prophecy of this event which reads: “He was oppressed and afflicted, but he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers he was silent, he did not open his mouth… "(Isaiah 53: 7).
Later, the apostle Paul encouraged new members of the church to respond to Jesus' meekness by “putting it on himself” and letting him rule their behavior.
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
As we think more about meekness, however, we need to keep in mind that we don't have to be silent all the time. God always cares for us, but He can call us to speak and defend him to others, perhaps even aloud. Jesus also provides us with a model for this. He knew the passions of His Father's heart and let them guide Him during His ministry. For example:
“When he had said this, Jesus cried aloud, 'Lazarus, come out!'” (John 11:43).
“So he made a whip out of ropes and drove out all the courtyards of the temple, both sheep and cattle; scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those selling doves he said: 'Get them out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market! '”(John 2: 15-16).
What does this verse mean for believers today?
Meekness may seem like an outdated idea. But if God calls us to this, He will show us how it applies to our life. We may not face open persecution, but we can certainly find ourselves caught up in unfair circumstances. The question is how we manage those moments.
For example, how do you think you would respond if someone talked about you behind your back, or if your faith was made fun of, or if someone else took advantage of you? We can try to defend ourselves, or we can ask God to provide us with a quiet dignity to move forward. One way leads to momentary relief, while the other leads to spiritual growth and can also be a witness to others.
To be honest, meekness is not always my first answer, because it goes against my human tendency to obtain justice and defend myself. My heart needs to change, but it won't happen without God's touch. With a prayer, I can invite it into the process. The Lord will strengthen each of us by revealing practical and powerful ways to get out of the stretch each day.
The meek mentality is a discipline that will strengthen us to deal with any kind of difficulty or bad treatment. Having this kind of spirit is one of the hardest but most rewarding goals we can set. Now that I see what it means to be meek and where it will take me, I am more determined to make the journey.