Message Nineteen: Blessed Are The Meek

Matthew 5:5

A woman was helping her husband select a new suit, but the two disagreed over the one to be chosen. “Very well,” cried the wife, “go ahead and please yourself. After all, you’re the one who’ll wear the suit.” “Well, dear,” replied the husband, “I did figure that I’d be wearing the coat and vest.” “That husband,” said the man who told me the joke, “is what I call a meek man.”
But that’s not the meaning of the word “meek” in the Bible. And the Lord Jesus didn’t have such a person in mind when He said, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

The word “meek” signifies a spirit of regulation. It describes an animal which has been tamed. It’s used of a horse which has become obedient to the reins, or of a dog who has been taught to obey. It describes a creature that’s under control. So a meek person is one who’s controlled by Christ. He’s spirited, but he’s under the control of the Holy Spirit; therefore he’s not shiftless. He’s lion-hearted, but he’s under the control of the Lord; therefore he’s not loose. The Savior does in the spiritual realm what science does in the physical realm. Science takes a Niagara River and transforms its turbulence into electrical energy to give us heat, light and power. The Lord took Matthew who was one of the crookedest crooks and made him into one of the saintliest saints. One day the Lord Jesus said to him, “Follow Me!” Instantly he left his thieving for teaching, he exchanged his wretchedness to write the book of Matthew. “Once a thief, always a thief?” Oh, no; not when the Lord transforms him into a real preacher. Think of Peter. The salty, hostile hands of the cursing sinner became the soft, healing hands of a Christlike saint. He took that diamond in the rough, and transformed and tamed him. Yes, when you submit yourself to the claims of Christ, your untamed nature is brought under His control, and you’ll become meek–tamed–fit for the Master’s use.

The word “meek” signifies a spirit of resignation. You see it in Job. He was the richest cattleman in his day. But one day a messenger rushed to his home, saying, “Your oxen were plowing, with donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us, drove away the animals and killed all the farmhands except me. I am the only one left.” While his messenger was still speaking, another arrived with more bad news, saying, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up all your sheep and all the herdsmen, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Before he finished, another messenger rushed in, saying, “Three bands of Chaldeans have driven off your camels and killed your servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” As he was still speaking, another said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting in the oldest brother’s home, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in and engulfed the house so that the roof fell in on them and all are dead; and I alone escaped to tell you.” Then Job fell down upon the ground and said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” You see this attitude of resignation in Paul. Threatening with every breath and eager to destroy every Christian, he hurried to Damascus to bring the Christians in chains to Jerusalem. As he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven spotted down upon him. He fell to the ground with all resistance broken, asking, “Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?” The meek man is the one who says to the Lord, “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Thy will be done.”

The word “meek” signifies a spirit of respect. The meek man is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time. He heeds the Bible verse, “Be angry and sin not.” When anger is for your own sake, it’s wrong. When it’s for the sake of others, it’s right. Look at Jesus. He was never angry at the insults and injuries He received. But His eyes blazed with anger when He saw the money-changers in His Master’s house. His anger wasn’t destructive but saving, not lacerating but healing.

The word “meek” signifies a spirit of reasonableness. It’s humble, not haughty. When Sammy Morris left Africa for America to train for Christian service, he came to a Christian college. When the President of the University asked him what room he wanted, Sammy replied, “If there’s a room nobody wants, give it to me.” That’s meekness. And the Bible says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

“Is the Lord speaking of a place?” you wonder. Oh, He’ll fill to the full all your needs. But in addition, He’ll give you His peace that nothing can destroy, and He’ll give you His power that no one can defeat.

But it’s not in our nature to be meek. That’s why our Lord said, “You must be born again.” Come to the Lord. That’s the first step. Then commit yourself to the Lord. That’s the second step. As you’re governed and guided by Him, He’ll give you everything you need, and you’ll enter into the happy life which He has promised and which He alone can give.
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association

All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.