The first two Beatitudes point inwardly. Once a Christian admits they’re spiritually empty a sacred grief over their sinfulness arises in their soul. After they concede their inability to please the God who graciously adopted them into His eternal family, their sorrow over that inability increases. However, Jesus declared that those who experience both conditions are blessed. That alleviates the guilt and shame that would otherwise rob them of the joy that comes with being redeemed.
The third Beatitude is aimed outwardly. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth“ (Matthew 5:5). Accordingly, it’s of a higher order than the two preceding it. Spurgeon explained, “The man mourns; that is, he laments over his state of spiritual poverty. But now there’s something given to him by the grace of God – not a negative quality, but a positive proof of the work of the Holy Spirit within his soul. He has become meek.”
Meek doesn’t mean weak. Sinclair Ferguson wrote, “The word meekness is notoriously difficult to define. It’s certainly not a lack of backbone. Rather, it’s the humble strength that belongs to the man who’s learned to submit to difficulties (difficult experiences and difficult people), knowing that in everything God is working for his good. He’s learned to submit himself to the Lord and to be gentle with sinners.”
Our Savior demonstrated repeatedly what meekness looks like. He’s asked all His followers to “…learn from me, because I’m gentle and humble in heart…” (Matthew 11:29). Christ was no spineless pushover. He boldly spoke the truth to everyone, even to His enemies. Yet in His personal interactions He never treated anybody rudely or without compassion. Indeed, it was his meekness that endeared Him to thousands.
The meek remain submissive to God’s will and His Holy Word. In other words, they don’t quarrel with God. Even when they’re being harassed or suffering severe health issues, they don’t accuse God of being unfair. Despite his many hardships Paul wrote, “I’m content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I’m weak, then I’m strong“ (2 Corinthians 10).
There’s an all-too common complaint heard nowadays. Some confused people accuse God of goofing up when He created them and they’re struggling to correct His supposed “mistake” by pretending to be something they aren’t. The Scriptures confront that mindset directly. “Who indeed are you – a mere human being – to talk back to God? Does what’s molded say to the molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’“ (Romans 9:20). The meek don’t gripe about their lot in life. Nor do they call themselves “victims.”
The meek subdue their personal preferences. Spurgeon wrote, “They don’t imagine what the truth ought to be and then come to the Bible for texts to prove what they think should be there. Rather they go to the inspired Book with a candid mind, and they pray, with the psalmist, “Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!“ (Psalm 119:18). When, in searching the Scriptures, they find deep mysteries they can’t comprehend, they believe where they can’t understand.”
The most noticeable trait of Christians should be their humble attitude. A true disciple never considers themselves better than anyone. They openly confess they’re “less than the least of all saints“ (Ephesians 3:8). Paul wrote, “For since I’m free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews… To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I’ve become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some“ (1 Corinthians 9:19-20, 22). Telling everybody about our Savior was his only goal.
The meek display a gentleness of spirit. “Hold on,” some will say, “Didn’t Jesus lash out sometimes?” Dane Ortlund wrote, “Yes. For example, Jesus pronounced searing denunciations on those who cause children to sin, saying it’d be a better fate if they were drowned, not because He gleefully enjoys torturing the wicked but most deeply because He loves little children. It’s His heart of love, not a gleeful exacting of justice, that rises up from His soul to elicit such a fearsome pronouncement of woe.”
Spurgeon wrote, “The meek-spirited man may be naturally very hot and fiery, but he’s had grace given to him to keep his temper in subjection. He doesn’t say, ‘That’s my constitution, and I can’t help it,’ as so many do. God will never excuse us because of our constitutions. His grace is given to us to cure our evil constitutions and to kill our corruptions.”
I doubt there’s any characteristic less respected by the unsaved than meekness. It’s why so many of them ridicule Christianity. I wonder how many scoffed, chuckled and rolled their eyes in disbelief when they heard our Lord preach, “I say to you, don’t resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, give him your coat also. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two… Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you“ (Matthew 5:39-41, 44).
They thought Jesus was a fool. Many still do. His teachings contradict everything society insists individuals must be in order to not only survive but to succeed. Yet throughout His earthly life Christ was the meekest person in history. He didn’t incite riots against the Romans. He didn’t assault his accusers. He took the worst humiliation His adversaries could heap upon Him but never cursed them in retaliation.
When they unjustly condemned our Lord to death and shouted insults while He suffocated on the cross His response wasn’t soaked in vitriol. On the contrary, He prayed aloud, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing“ (Luke 23:34). Fact is, through meekness Christ triumphed and conquered the world.
Even Christians Get the Blues 