“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”

The Beatitudes in the book of Matthew chapter 5 was the beginning of Christ’s famous sermon on the mount. To the original first century audience these teachings were radical and went against the ideal of the heroic figure of being self- sufficient and confident and it undermined the military virtues of strength. Meekness was seen as weakness. But Jesus so accurately put it when He said “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

Meekness, as expressed in the Word of God, is essentially humility, gentleness and a willingness to submit and rely on God. Meekness is not weakness but it is a fruit of the spirit. A meek person knows that every good thing that he or she possesses is a gift from God. A meek person sees themselves as they really are. They are not puffed up because they understand who they are in the light of the grace of God and the Word of God.

For the meek, self is no longer the focal point because self has been dealt with at the cross. The meek is the one that prefers God to defend him rather than defending himself even though he has the means of self-defence. In the eyes of the world a meek person is a weakling and a fool but in the eyes of God such a person is blessed.

In the Old Testament, Moses was a great man. He was a pace setter. As far as meekness was concerned it seemed at that time, he held the world record to which scripture affirmed “now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).

Apostle Peter in the New Testament learnt a hard lesson in the area of meekness. Peter was the one who rebuked Jesus after He told the disciples that He would be going to Jerusalem to be betrayed. Even at the last supper when Jesus said you all are going to fall away from me tonight, Peter says not me Lord. Yet, it was Peter who denied Jesus three times. However, when Peter eventually saw himself in the mirror of God’s glory, it produced meekness and made him mouldable in the hands of God.

Let’s take our example from our saviour who said, “take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29).

Meekness is not weakness but those who are meek are blessed.

God Bless you.