The title “The Meek Will Inherit The Earth” seems contrary to all that we have been taught. We think of meek as weak and weak people live a life in subject to others. We think of fighters, independent, strong-willed people as those who gain things on earth. We think this way because of our definition of meekness. However, this is not the definition of meekness that Jesus talks about. Meekness is not weakness. It is not acting in the fashion of a coward. It is the patience we show in situations where we have been treated wrongly. It is the opposite of the normal human response of anger and vengeance toward others that have inflicted pain upon us. It is power under control. It does not mean we silently take the harm others do to us, but we think and act under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Jesus himself questioned the wrong done to Him in John 18:23 when he said, “If I have done evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smites thou me?” Jesus was not seeking to free himself. He already knew why they did this deed, but He was giving them and those in His presence the opportunity to see their sinfulness in the situation. If he had said these things to secure His freedom no laws or court could have held Him. Jesus was the picture of meekness. In Matthew 11:29 he declares himself as “meek and lowly.” He certainly was not implying that He was weak. However, he was assuring them He was not harsh or overbearing in His dealing with those who follow Him. He was meek and mild in His government, unlike the Pharisees. Jesus was reasonable and tender in His dealing with them and us.
Meekness does not try to retaliate when done wrong. The thought process of those who are meek is derived from Romans 12:19 where Paul teaches what God gave in Deuteronomy 32:35, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” A meek person trusts a just God to take care of things in His time and in His way. They are not full of pride but are full of humility. Meekness will produce peace. The heart of the meek person is focused on the big picture of life and is not changed by insults but sees the person who is treating them wrongly as pitiful. They understand the damage this person is doing to their own soul. Though trials and troubles will come He is focused on the one who controls everything. He trusts that what God is allowing in His life will work for His good to make Him more like Jesus.
Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
When we are meek, we are most like Jesus. Meekness involves a surrendered spirit. It exemplifies the attitude of Jesus’ submission to His Father. It is shown in His surrendering to the government for crucifixion. It is shown in His healing of those who are sin-sick and physically sick. It is shown in His becoming a man, lowering Himself to live and suffer for us.
The idea of inheriting the earth would have been understood in Jesus’ time as a great blessing. The Jews believed that the land of Canaan was a type of Heaven on earth. This was considered a special blessing conveyed to them by God. As Christians, we understand this reward as eternal. In Revelations chapters 21-22, this new earth is described, and it will be better than anything we can imagine. We who have remained faithful to Him and have demonstrated a life of meekness will inherit this new earth we call Heaven!
It is time we examine ourselves by the scriptures and determine if we are meek. Christ did not say these words to fill time or offer a suggestion, He gave it as a command for all who seek to follow and please Him. Where do you stand in obedience to this instruction? Do you seek vengeance? Are you quick to want your own way and get mad when others don’t agree with you?
