Blessed Are The Meek (Matthew 5:5)
When it comes to thinking about how to understand and engage culture as a Christian, if there’s any modern writer or leader that I’d encourage you to read, other than maybe Tim Keller, it would be Russell Moore. I had the privilege of being one of his first students, and I’ve been able to keep up with him over the years. He’s brilliant. And so helpful. In his recent newsletter, he talks about the “Revenge of Black Letter Christians.”
Maybe you’ve not heard of what have been called “Red Letter Christians.” Many versions of the Bible choose to put Christ’s words in red. “Red Letter Christians” are people who say, “Why don’t we just focus on what Jesus said? And not worry as much about all the other stuff?” Well, that perspective ignores that all of our Bibles are the words of Jesus. We need to hear and embrace all of what’s in Scripture. So that’s why I’m not the biggest fan of red letter Bibles.
But Moore’s talking about another problem - people calling themselves Christians but completely ignoring the words in red letters. Like we’re reading here in Matthew 5. Moore mentions conversations with pastors who’ve reminded their people to “love their enemies” and have been asked where they got their “liberal ideas.” And one church leader who preached through the Sermon on the Mount and had a congregant say, “We’ve tried the ‘turn the other cheek’ stuff; it doesn’t work. It’s time now time to fight.”
Moore also quotes Wendell Berry’s novel Jayber Crow, which I’ve read and love. The main character Jayber is waiting his turn in a barber shop. He overhears Troy, another customer there, in an earlier era, railing against the Communists - proclaiming how they all need to be shot. Jayber turns to Troy and says, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them who hate you.” Troy then replies, “Where did you get that crap?” To which Jayber responds, “Jesus Christ.” All Troy then can do is sheepishly respond, “Oh.”
Today, we’re hearing Christ’s words from Matthew 5:5 - “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Sadly, we’re in an age where people calling themselves Christians, are, though their words or actions, essentially calling these words crap. And calling believers cowards, those trying to live out these words. Screaming on social media as individuals, shouting in groups around government buildings, we’ve communicated that Christ’s words won’t get us where we want to go. That they’re not worth trying to follow.
Now this is nothing new. Shortly after the time of Christ, an emperor named Constantine declared himself a Christian and then began to take the world for Christ by force. Not too far down the road, a bishop named Ambrose, who was just as much a politician, fought for Christians to become the majority in the empire.
Not too many years ago, a group that called themselves the “Moral Majority” tried to rally Christians together to seize power in America. But these days, their children have decided that even being “moral” isn’t really necessary. But Jesus calls us to a different, nobler purpose. And to get there, different, nobler methods. And what we have to say is that this: that kind of behavior, those kind of tactics - sure don’t look like our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who Our Lord Is
And that’s where I want to start this morning, first, with who our Lord is. It shouldn’t be too controversial, I don’t think, that Jesus Christ wouldn’t be found excoriating someone on Facebook or Twitter or bludgeoning someone with a flagpole at a political rally. No! That’s because Jesus is described in our Bibles as One who is “meek.”
Many of us have read the book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund over the past year. There are some more free copies out in the foyer. And the title comes from what Jesus says at the end of Matthew chapter 11.
Matt. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matt. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Now those are some of the most comforting words in the Bible. That’s for sure. But hear again how Jesus describes Himself. “I am gentle and lowly in heart.” That word for “gentle” there. That’s the same word for “meek” we see in our verse for today. Jesus says, “Run into my arms. For I am meek.”
Back in the Old Testament, in the book of the Isaiah, there are these passages that point ahead to Christ. They’ve been called the “Servant Songs.” They’re poetic words that prophesy how Jesus will give of Himself. They show that “gentle and lowly” heart. Hear Isaiah 42, verses 1 through 4.
Is. 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Is. 42:2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
Is. 42:3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
Is. 42:4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
Do you catch how Jesus is described? He doesn’t need to raise His voice. He has the gentlest of touch. He’ll keep trusting God until all He came to do for Him is accomplished. Until justice comes for the weak and the powerless.
Take a look with me now at 2 Corinthians chapter 10. There are people in that church Paul loves in Corinth that are trying to tear down His ministry. False apostles there are saying that Paul isn’t a real one at all. And a big part of their critique has to do with his demeanor. That’s he’s too humble and soft-spoken. That he doesn’t act like the leaders of that day. To that Paul says this, there in chapter ten, verse one: “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”
The apostle says, “You say I’m all humble when I’m there right in front of you and then talk really tough when I’m far away. But no! It’s just who I am. I’m just trying to look like our Lord Jesus!” And catch how Paul describes our Lord. He’s full of “meekness and gentleness.” From the cradle to the cross. That’s who Jesus is. It’s who Paul is. And both want us to look like that, too.
How Jesus Remakes Us
And that’s where I want to turn now. Second, to how Jesus remakes us. We’ll turn from how He lives to what He wants from us. To His teaching in the red letters here. And yes, Jesus wants us to be “meek.”
Jesus again is sitting on this mountain. And He reminds us of another leader who spoke for God. Who was also known for being meek. In the Old Testament, back in book of Numbers, in chapter 12, Moses finds himself in a tough place. He’s guiding God’s people though the desert, en route to the Promised Land, and they’re getting restless and rebellious. And even his brother and sister stand up against him. They try to call out the way he’s living, trying to paint him as a hypocrite. But they’re more than likely being racists. But that seems to all be a pretense anyway. They’re just trying to question His authority. And worm their way up to the platform. But they say, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And I love this. It says, “And the LORD heard it.”
We try to teach our kids this plain truth - that God hears everything. And He hears these words right here. And the Lord’s about to get angry. But what does it say about Moses? Hear verse 3: “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” Well, the Father vindicates Moses here. And the fact that the Prophet waits for this, and doesn’t put up His fists, helps us understand what it means to be meek. Sinclair Ferguson defines it this way:
“The word meekness is notoriously difficult to define. It is certainly not a lack of backbone. Rather, it is the humble strength that belongs to the man who has learned to submit to difficulties (difficult experiences and difficult people), knowing that in everything God is working for His good. The meek man is the one who has stood before God’s judgment and abdicated all his supposed ‘rights’. He has learned, in gratitude for God’s grace, to submit himself to the Lord and to be gentle with sinners.” (Sinclair Ferguson)
That’s in part what it means to be meek. I may have told this story before. But our friend Darren Swanson - who has been doing a smashing job up here preaching by the way - once traveled over to St. Louis to hear Jackie Hill Perry speak - and maybe rap. And there he ran into a friend. A pretty large friend. A fairly intimidating friend. One whose name he couldn’t quite remember. Darren had played basketball with the guy. They knew each other. And I think they’re talking to Jackie, and Darren looks at him and says, “Hey, man.” And, “What’s your name again?” And the guy responds, “J’Den.” And Darren’s like, “Oh yeah. That’s right.” And yes, it’s J’Den Cox, the wrestler, the NCAA champion, the Olympic medalist. He’d played ball with him all that time, and he still didn’t know!
Now there’s a picture of meekness. You may be huge. You may be famous. But you don’t need to throw that around. Or expect attention from others. That’s because you trust the Lord.
I’ve heard others refer to meekness as “controlled strength.” It’s not weakness. Not at all. You’re just not aggressive or defensive. You don’t have to be. Because your future rests in the One who’s so much stronger. For that reason, you can be “gentle and lowly.”
Think about it with me. What takes more strength? To stand up for yourself? With your words or your fists? Or to stay silent? To not fight back? We all know the answer. To be meek - like Jesus - is way harder. That’s for sure.
This also isn’t just niceness - being affable, being agreeable. Sure, most of the time a meek person will come off as nice, certainly as kind. But, like Jesus, you’ll often have to rock the boat. You’ll break the awkward silence at times. You’ll speak the truth in love. But when you do, you won’t be sticking up for yourself, fighting for what you want. But thinking of others, of their good. And of the Lord, and of His honor. As David Murray has put it, meekness is opposed to “me-ness.” As D.A. Carson writes, it’s a “controlled desire to see others’ interests advance ahead of one’s own.”
I mentioned this last time, but there seems to be a progression in these Beatitudes. You first see how poor you are, just how much you need God. And then you grieve deeply over that reality. And that leads, as we see here, in verse 5, to a shift - in how we relate to others. We’re gentle. We’re humble. We’re not posturing, trying to get attention. We’re not defensive, fending off others’ attacks. We’re “meek.” This is a work of God. It takes the power of the Spirit. Because getting to that place is difficult. Right? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once explained that in this way:
“I can see my own utter nothingness and helplessness face to face with the demands of the gospel and the law of God. I am aware, when I am honest with myself, of the sin and the evil that are within me, and that drag me down. And I am ready to face both these things. But how much more difficult it is to allow other people to say things like that about me! I instinctively resent it. We all of us prefer to condemn ourselves than to allow somebody else to condemn us. I say of myself that I am a sinner, but instinctively I do not like anybody else to say I am a sinner. That is the principle that is introduced at this point.
So far, I myself have been looking at myself. Now, other people are looking at me, and I am in a relationship to them, and they are doing certain things to me. How do I react to that? That is the matter which is dealt with at this point. I think you will agree that this is more humbling and more humiliating than everything that has gone before. It is to allow other people to put the searchlight upon me instead of my doing it myself.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
I can make fun of my sister. But if you do it, I’m going to be mad. But try to call me out, to question me, then it’s go time.
If we don’t understand the first Beatitude - that we’re poor - and then feel it as the second says - and mourn - when someone comes and spotlights our weakness and sin, or when they question our goodness or godliness - we’ll lash out. But if we understand those things, and we entrust ourselves to His grace, we’ll respond with meekness, or as Stott defines the term, with a “gentle Spirit.” This is the way Jesus lived - even to the point of death. As 1 Peter 2:23 puts it, Christ “continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” And this the life He calls us into. Emptying ourselves, making ourselves nothing. Walking down the road that leads to everything.
What Jesus Promises Us
And that’s where I want to turn now. Third, to what Jesus promises us. What’s promised to the meek? The world! Jesus says, “For they shall inherit the earth.” Have you heard the way G.K. Chesterton defined a paradox? “Truth standing on her head to get attention.” Doesn’t this promise raise our curiosity? And get us to pay attention? We’ve already seen that the poor get the kingdom. And the cryers get the comfort. But here, it’s the “meek” that will gain the world.
Well, what does Jesus mean by that? Again, this verse, like the others isn’t giving us a command, that, if we obey, we earn the reward. No, the people that are “meek,” those in whom God’s at work, are the people who’ll “inherit the earth.” Now we should first take this metaphorically. Back when I was dating my wife, if I had written her a song, I might write a lyric like this: “You’re all I need. And I’ll give you the world, baby.” Now obviously, I’m not going to literally hand her the earth. I’m trying to say that I’ll give her everything. Everything she needs. All that’s good for her. And I think that’s a way to think about that here.
In the book of 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul wears his heart on his sleeve. And in chapter 6, he hemorrhages out this list of all the sufferings he’s endured. And he ends it this way: “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” In Christ, Paul says He has found the world. He’s content. He has all He needs - despite all that the cruel world has brought Him. I think we understand it in this metaphorical sense.
But I also think there’s a way we, second, understand it very literally. Because what’s promised to those who know Christ? A new world. Now there has been this idea that’s been spread in American churches, that’s more akin to Greek philosophy than true Christianity. It’s that “heaven” is our goal. We fly away from this broken body. And our souls then float around with Jesus. But that’s not the way the Bible’s story concludes at all.
Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Rev. 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Now maybe Kirk Cameron told you otherwise, but the way this all ends isn’t with us flying up to heaven while we look back at the earth bursting up in flames. It’s with heaven coming down to earth. With Jesus and His saints. To renew all we see. And to set up a kingdom. That, Karis, is our hope.
There’s a sense in which it’s bad to be a material girl. Right here, right now, focus on spiritual things, for sure. But matter isn’t evil. God’s creation is good. One day it’s going to be restored. And we’ll reign with Him. When Jesus says we’ll inherit the earth, that’s what He’s talking about.
Christ’s words would have brought the hearers back to Psalm 37. Verse 11 says, “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundance peace.” Verse 9 just above says it’s “those who wait for the Lord” who will get that inheritance, and that of course isn’t a bad definition of meekness. “Those who wait on the Lord.” They will get the land.
Now those hearers would have also thought first of Israel. That God’s people were the heirs of that land. It would be theirs forever. They were Jews! But that land, church, points ahead to something bigger, to the whole earth, to the world that will be ours if we’re believers.
We can’t skip over that word “inherit.” We’re the heirs, those who are in Christ. This is a reminder that we’re part of God’s family, if we’re His. We’re children of the King. We’re brothers and sisters together. We’re heirs with Christ. He’s a good Dad. He’ll provide for us today. And we’ll be cared for forever.
And that’s a pretty amazing thing. In Jesus, God’s promise to Abraham is ours. A great people in a great land. A people blessed and meant to be a blessing to the world.
Who We Now Are
And that’s where I want to turn. Fourth, to who we now are. What’s the first word of each of these Beatitudes? “Blessed,” right? That’s us. We experience the fullness of His favor. That’s what that word means. And I want you to hear that understanding that - who we are - the blessed ones - is the key to helping us live as “meek” people. The fact that we live with meekness is the proof that we’ve among the “blessed.” But the fact that we’re “blessed” is also the pathway to living with meekness.
Whatever you think of Dolly Parton’s music, she seems like a pretty legit human being. You know, writing a check for the COVID vaccine is kinda cool. But recently she turned down an invitation to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She’s not a rock star, she explained, so it didn’t make sense. But deeper than that, she just was fine and ok with who she was.
I have a pastor friend who likes to say: “You have nothing to prove. You have no one to impress.” That’s true for us, if we are believers. Nothing to prove. No one to impress. We’re blessed. I look out now, at my family, right on that row. They know me. They really know me. At my worst. And they still love me. I’m going to be just fine. And I feel that by so many of you here. But we have our Father’s affection, His affirmation. We have His love. He has our back. We’re free to be “meek.”
If we’re defensive, we’ve forgotten we have a Defender in heaven. If we’re easily offended, we’ve lost how accepted we really are. If we’re easily angered, we’ve forgotten just how loved we are by Him. And if we walk around with pretense, we’ve forgotten we’re royalty.
We have His grace. That’s far more than we deserve from our Father in heaven. So if we get less than we feel we deserve from people here on earth, we don’t freak out. We don’t fight back. Our Father is the King of the earth. So we don’t need to fret. We can just rest. And be gentle and lowly. Like His Son. We are fully known. We’re fully accepted. By the work of Jesus. Who lived for us. And died for us. If we trust in what He’s done, we can put down our swords.
This is us as individuals. It’s us together as a church. We’re blessed. And living with this mentality allows us to be a blessing. Being meek was seen as a vice back in that day. And it sure gets portrayed as cowardice today. But it’s the way the children of the King live. And it’s His means for bringing His Kingdom to earth. It’s not the strong who inherit the earth. It’s the meek. This battle isn’t won by force. It’s by faith.
We’re all watching the news and witnessing Putin try to take over the earth. But it’s really not about Ukraine or whatever nation is next. It’s about Vlad and His reputation. About showing His muscles. And building a legacy. But Putin doesn’t have a Father in heaven. And he thinks he has to show off his strength.
Friends, that doesn’t have to be us. I once knew a man, a ministry leader, who was surrounded by love. But it was just too good to be true. Some brothers tried to guide him to health. But it was just something he couldn’t quite take.
So he kept fighting and fighting until there was nothing but wreckage for as far as his eyes could see. And what I kept thinking was, “If you would just put down your fists, I could give you a hug.” Put them down, Christian. Put them down, Karis. We have His embrace. That’s more than enough.
The other day, my son and I were trying to move his basketball goal. It’s the kind that’s moveable, with a base of sand. And we’d find ourselves working against each other. One was pushing while the other was pulling. One was lifting while the other was resting. And it can get frustrating really quick. That’s what happens when we don’t live out these Beatitudes, and, here, walk with meekness. We work against God’s purposes. And we wonder why we can’t get any traction.
That’s because again, we’re meant to be a blessing. And we want to see all the nations of the earth come to Jesus. I stumbled upon an article by Dane Ortlund, the author of Gentle and Lowly, and he lists four reasons why our meekness, our gentleness, is so important. First, it surprises people. In our angry world, it stands out. Second, it woos people. People lower their defenses. They open up to us. Third, it dignifies people. When we’re aggressive, we convey superiority, but gentleness communicates, “You matter.” Fourth, and most important, meekness gives people a living picture of Jesus Himself. Again, because Jesus is “meek.”
But don’t think for a second that’s all Jesus is. He’s also majestic. He’s the King. The One who came in humility will one day return in glory. And He’ll reign over the earth. And us with Him. Karis, if we believe, that’s our hope and our future. But until that day, what do we do? We love. I love this quote from Henri Nouwen:
“For Jesus, there are no countries to be conquered, no ideologies to be imposed, no people to be dominated. There are only children, men and women to be loved.” (Henri Nouwen)
His Kingdom and His Ways
I want to close the way I began - with that quote - about the Sermon on the Mount “not working.” Now if someone said that to me, I’d want to ask a few questions. First, “You say it didn’t work. It didn’t work… to what? What were you trying to do? What was your goal?” If the person responded, “You know, get power back, reclaim our place at the table, so we can have a Christian nation.” To that, I’d respond, “What gives you the indication that we’re to have that right now?”
Second, I’d say, “How were you trying to get there? What were you doing that you don’t think worked?” And if the person responded, “You know, fight. Tell people how it is. Get our people in office. Whatever it takes.” To that, I’d say, “What makes you think God wants you to do that?”
Moore again writes:
‘To be clear, the Sermon on the Mount doesn’t ‘work,’ and it never has—if what we mean by working is seeing the world’s definition of success on the world’s timetable. Ending up crucified is no society’s definition of winning.” (Russell Moore)
Shouldn’t our goal be that God be glorified? And that the earth comes to honor Him? Shouldn’t our methods be what He calls for? And what are those? Sharing our hope. Washing their feet.
God chose the foolish things of this world, our weakness, the low things, the despised things - 1 Corinthians 1 says - to bring about His kingdom. That no one could boast, and He would be glorified.
God willed that His Son - and all His children - would win the world through meekness and not might. Not through the sword but through service. But the irony is that by doing things His way, we get to what we ultimately want. We’ll gain the whole world. But suffering comes before glory.
Those gentle in Spirit experience the fullness of His favor, because they have their Father’s care now, and His inheritance forever. Let’s pray.