Blessed Meek - The Sayings of Jesus

Matt 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Another verse still focusing on Christ's words and on the so called beatitudes. I suppose a good understanding of the word meek might be of worth to begin as we look into the passage.

Meek -
Barnes Notes - Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance.
Benson Commentary - Persons of a mild, gentle, long-suffering, and forgiving disposition, who are slow to anger, and averse from wrath; not easily provoked, and if at any time at all provoked, soon pacified; who never resent an injury, nor return evil for evil; but make it their care to overcome evil with good; who by the sweetness, affability, courteousness, and kindness of their disposition, endeavour to reconcile such as may be offended, and to win them over to peace and love.
Gill's exposition - Who are not easily provoked to anger; who patiently bear, and put up with injuries and affronts; carry themselves courteously, and affably to all; have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; do not envy the gifts and graces of other men; are willing to be instructed and admonished, by the meanest of the saints; quietly submit to the will of God, in adverse dispensations of providence; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the grace of God. Meekness, or humility, is very valuable and commendable. The Jews, though a proud, haughty, and wrathful people, cannot but speak in its praise: "Wisdom, fear, and meekness, say they, are of high esteem; but "meekness", is greater than them all.''
They had two very considerable doctors in the time of Christ, Hillell and Shammai; the one was of a meek, the other of an angry disposition: hence, say they, "Let a man be always meek as Hillell, and let him not be angry as Shammai.''

So we get a good sense of what a meek person is, not easily provoked an aspect we see in God too, "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." - Ecclesiastes 7:9 : Prov 29:22 - (Recommended readings - James 1:19-20, Ephesians 4:26, Proverbs 16:32, Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 25:28, Proverbs 15:18, Proverbs 15:18, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Psalm 103:8, Proverbs 25:15) and obviously in Jesus how he bore the unjust punishment, the haughty looks and jealousy of the religious leaders.

Now as to the inheritance it may be good to think of it in the same way as those listeners thought at the time which is the land of milk and honey the promised land but as Christians maybe think of the new earth and the new Jerusalem being surrounded by God's glory in total peace - which seems a great component of the meekness spoken of.

I would like however to bring a spiritual view/light/weight to bear on the verse though in Psalm 37:8 we read "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." and a sharp rebuke in Proverbs 14:17 "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools." This spirit spoken of here is not to be confused with the Holy Spirit but rather contrasted against it, for the Holy Spirit gifts us with self control, kindness, humility, Gill's exposition helps focus us with these words "Here meekness is to be considered, not as a moral virtue, but as a Christian grace, a fruit of the Spirit of God; which was eminently in Christ, and is very ornamental to believers; and of great advantage and use to them, in hearing and receiving the word; in giving an account of the reason of the hope that is in them; in instructing and restoring such, who have backslidden, either in principle or practice; and in the whole of their lives and conversations; and serves greatly to recommend religion to others"

There are also some stern warnings for those who decide not to practice meekness or consider it beneath them and ignore the call to be desciples of Jesus the Christ Ephesians 4:31 for instance "For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." Prov 25:25 "A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression." James 1:26 "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless"

In great contrast to the worldly teachings today which consider power and strength and other such things are those to strive towards, it is meekness we need to practice, the grace that we have received we must show and bring that to bear fruit, Jesus warns us that which comes out of us - that comes out of our heart - is as we are and what comes out of us can defile us. Of course these teachings are good for both physical and spiritual but are we worldly thinking of our mortal bodies and forgetting our spiritual life, naturally not, but it needs to be practiced as well as preached.

So I pray, even as I pray for you not to be robbed of your peace by diseases currently tormenting the world, that you will live in the certainty of the grace that you have received being at peace and not allowing your own pride or your own spirit to control you but that the Holy Spirit will work through you and that the humility and control that shines through you will bring many to the Lord Jesus.

Blessings