Lesson 4:
The Meek
Matthew 5:5 Blessed
are the gentle [meek], for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5 [KJV] Blessed
are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:11 But
the humble [meek] shall inherit the land, and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psalm 37:11 [KJV] But
the meek shall inherit the earth;
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
MEEK
Meek 1. Mild of
temper; not easily provoked or irritated; patient under injuries; not
vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive. Now the man
Moses was very meek. Num. xii. 3.
2. Evincing
mildness of temper, or patience; characterized by mildness or
patience; as, a meek answer; a meek face. "Her meek prayer."
Chaucer.
Syn. -- Gentle;
mild; soft; yielding; pacific; unassuming; humble. See Gentle.
“meek.”
Webster's
Revised Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language 1913.
MEEK
MEEK, a. [L.
mucus; Eng. mucilage; Heb. to melt.]
1. Mild of temper;
soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to
forbearance under injuries.
Now the man Moses
was very meek, above all men. Num.12.
2.
Appropriately,humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the
divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish
and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, "Learn
of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to
your souls." Matt.11.
Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt.5.
"meek."
Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/meek (18 May 2014).
The main
points for this lesson:
Remember,
beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true
happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy
and why that person will be happy.
To be meek is to
be gentle toward others. (Some English Bible translations use the
word “gentle” in place of the word “meek.”) Further, to be
meek is to be a person who does not become angry easily when
mistreated. Instead, the meek person is patient with others. A person
who is meek does not fear others. Though he is gentle and patient, he
does not give in to demands or threats to do what is wrong. Rather, a
meek person trusts in the Lord. He trusts that the Lord will repay
the evildoer at the right time. He also trusts the Lord to take care
of him while he obeys God by being patient and gentle when others are
being unkind and angry. Meekness is seen in how we treat others,
especially those who treat us poorly. However, being meek must begin
(and continue) in our heart and mind. We can be only as meek as we
trust God.
Without always
using the word “meek,” the book of Proverbs give several examples
of what it means to be meek. When someone is angry, a meek person
responds with a gentle answer (Proverbs 15:1). The meek person does
not consider how to get even, but trusts the Lord to work out the bad
situation (Proverbs 20:22). The meek person does not get his way by
using angry words and threats, or violent actions. Rather, he
persuades others through patience (Proverbs 25:15).
Why will the meek
be happy? Jesus said that the meek person will be happy and blessed.
Being meek brings with it the joy that comes with obeying our Lord
Jesus Christ. While anger most often creates more troubles, meekness
allows for and leads to peace between people. We want to get many
things for ourselves. We use angry and mean words. We threaten, and
hurt others. We use violence and force to get our way. People who use
these ways to obtain and get will lose in the end. It is the meek who
will inherit and gain all that is truly worth inheriting and gaining.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read Matthew 5:5
with the children.
Give the children
a simple explanation of what it means to be meek. It is to be gentle
and patient both in our actions and in our heart toward others,
especially those who mistreat us.
Use the four
stories below (Luke 9:51-56; 2 Samuel 16:5-13; Matthew 26:46-57; Acts
4:1-22). Ask the children who is meek and who is not in these stories
and why. As you read the two stories about Jesus, it may be good to
emphasize that Jesus is meek, and that we are to learn of him
(Matthew 11:29). In this way we will find rest for our souls.
Remind the
children that Jesus taught us that this is the path to true happiness
and blessedness. As you read the stories, you could ask the children
or talk with them about who gained what. What did the person or
people gain who were not meek? What did the meek person gain in the
story? What will the meek person gain in the future?
If possible, as
they are able to understand, ask them with whom they would rather
deal, with the meek person or the one who is not meek? If they prefer
the meek person, then how should they be toward others?
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
Luke 9:51-56
[51] It came to pass, when the days were near that he should
be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem, [52] and
sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a
village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. [53] They
didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set
towards Jerusalem. [54] When his disciples, James and John,
saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to
come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
[55] But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind
of spirit you are. [56] For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy
men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.
The
people in a village of the Samaritans would not let Jesus stay in
their village because he was traveling to Jerusalem. The response of
James and John to this rejection is the contrast to Jesus' response.
Jesus is meek in this unfair rejection, that is, he was patient and
gentle.
2 Samuel 16:5-13
[5] When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the
family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son
of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came. [6] He cast stones
at David, and at all the servants of king David, and all the people
and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. [7]
Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood,
and base fellow! [8] Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the
house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered
the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught
by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!” [9] Then
Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead
dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his
head.” [10] The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons
of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him,
‘Curse David;’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
[11] David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my
son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this
Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has
invited him. [12] It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done
to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me
today.” [13] So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went
along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw
stones at him, and threw dust.
King
David's son, Absalom, was trying to take over the government. David
was the rightful king, but he chose to flee. This story took place
during that flight. Shimei cursed and threw stones at King David and
the people with him. Notice the difference between Abishai's response
to Shimei (16:9) and David's response to Shemei (16:10-12). Abishai
wanted to put Shemei to death right away. David responded with
patience and humility toward someone who was mistreating him, that
is, he was meek.
Matthew 26:46-57
[46] Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at
hand.” [47] While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the
twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs,
from the chief priest and elders of the people. [48] Now he who
betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the
one. Seize him.” [49] Immediately he came to Jesus, and said,
“Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed him. [50] Jesus said to him,
“Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on
Jesus, and took him. [51] Behold, one of those who were with Jesus
stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of
the high priest, and struck off his ear. [52] Then Jesus said to
him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who
take the sword will die by the sword. [53] Or do you think that I
couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than
twelve legions of angels? [54] How then would the Scriptures be
fulfilled that it must be so?” [55] In that hour Jesus said to the
multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and
clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t
arrest me. [56] But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the
prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him, and
fled. [57] Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
Judas
betrayed Jesus. He led a large crowd from Jesus' enemies to find and
capture Jesus. Jesus said that he is meek of heart (Matthew 11:29).
In this story, Jesus responds three times. First, he responds to
Judas who betrayed him with a kiss. He calls Judas friend. Second,
Jesus responds to his disciple who tries to use violence to fix
things. He corrects, and then patiently teaches his disciple. Third,
Jesus responds to the crowd who came to seize him. He speaks firmly
and clearly to them about their actions, but also patiently, with no
threats or unrighteous anger. He does not call them names, but offers
them the truth (which is able to set men free).
In
all these responses, we do not find Jesus weak. Rather, his strength
and firmness is shown in patience and humility. He does not fear man,
but trusts God to take care of the situations as he obeys.
Acts 4:1-22
[1] As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain
of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, [2] being upset because
they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from
the dead. [3] They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until
the next day, for it was now evening. [4] But many of those who heard
the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five
thousand.
[5] In the morning, their rulers,
elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. [6] Annas
the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as
many as were relatives of the high priest. [7] When they had stood
them in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in
what name, have you done this?” [8] Then Peter, filled with the
Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of
Israel, [9] if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a
crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, [10] be it
known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from
the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole. [11] He
is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders,
which has become the head of the corner.’ [12] There is salvation
in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that
is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
[13] Now when they saw the boldness
of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and
ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with
Jesus. [14] Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they
could say nothing against it. [15] But when they had commanded them
to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, [16]
saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable
miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who
dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. [17] But so that this
spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from
now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”
[18] They called them, and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. [19] But
Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of
God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, [20]
for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
[21] When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding
no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified
God for that which was done. [22] For the man on whom this miracle of
healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Peter
and John were arrested, put in jail, and threatened. How did they
respond? On the one hand, they stood firm in their obedience to the
the Lord of all. On the other hand, they responded to those who
mistreated them with patient and gentle words, in humility and the
fear of the Lord (1 Peter 3:15). The council found no offense in the
way Peter responded to them.
In
a sense, both sides faced
a trial. The men of the council were offended that Jesus was being
preached. Peter and John were mistreated. The council used force and
angry words to try and get their way. Peter and John responded in
meekness, with patience and humility toward those who mistreated
them.
More Stories and Examples:
Numbers 12:1-16
[1] Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the
Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite
woman. [2] They said, “Has Yahweh indeed spoken only with Moses?
Hasn’t he spoken also with us?” And Yahweh heard it.
[3] Now the man Moses was very humble
[meek], above all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
[4] Yahweh spoke suddenly to Moses,
to Aaron, and to Miriam, “You three come out to the Tent of
Meeting!” The three of them came out. [5] Yahweh came down in a
pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron
and Miriam; and they both came forward. [6] He said, “Now hear my
words. If there is a prophet among you, I, Yahweh, will make myself
known to him in a vision. I will speak with him in a dream. [7] My
servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house. [8] With
him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles;
and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to
speak against my servant, against Moses?” [9] Yahweh’s anger was
kindled against them; and he departed.
[10] The cloud departed from over the
Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. Aaron looked
at Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. [11] Aaron said to Moses,
“Oh, my lord, please don’t count this sin against us, in which we
have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned. [12] Let her not, I
pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he
comes out of his mother’s womb.” [13] Moses cried to Yahweh,
saying, “Heal her, God, I beg you!” [14] Yahweh said to Moses,
“If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed
seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and
after that she shall be brought in again.” [15] Miriam was shut up
outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until
Miriam was brought in again. [16] Afterward the people traveled from
Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.
Miriam and
Aaron spoke against Moses. Moses did not respond by speaking against
them. He was patient and allowed God to deal with the matter.
Consider Moses' response when God put leprosy upon Miriam. He did not
rejoice that Miriam got what she deserved. He did not even remain
silent (Proverbs 24:17-18). Instead, Moses cried out to God to heal
Miriam. He truly was meek above all men (Numbers 12:3).
Numbers 20:1-13
[1] The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came
into the wilderness of Zin in the first month. The people stayed in
Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there. [2] There was no
water for the congregation; and they assembled themselves together
against Moses and against Aaron. [3] The people quarreled with Moses,
and spoke, saying, “We wish that we had died when our brothers died
before Yahweh! [4] Why have you brought Yahweh’s assembly into this
wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? [5] Why
have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil
place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of
pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.” [6] Moses and
Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent
of Meeting, and fell on their faces. Yahweh’s glory appeared to
them. [7] Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, [8] “Take the rod, and
assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to
the rock before their eyes, that it pour out its water. You shall
bring water to them out of the rock; so you shall give the
congregation and their livestock drink.” [9] Moses took the rod
from before Yahweh, as he commanded him. [10] Moses and Aaron
gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to
them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock
for you?” [11] Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with
his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation
and their livestock drank. [12] Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron,
“Because you didn’t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of
the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly
into the land which I have given them.” [13] These are the waters
of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he
was sanctified in them.
While there
are many examples of the meekness and humility of Moses in dealing
with a frustrating and contrary people, here is one (and only one)
example of his failure to respond with meekness. The children of
Israel were complaining and quarreling with Moses once again. God
told Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the people.
When Moses and Aaron gathered the people, Moses responded in anger
and disobeyed God by striking the rock. Meekness begins in our heart
and mind, but so does anger. Moses allowed anger to grow in his
heart, and so he spoke out of what was in his heart.
Other
Verses:
Psalm 37:1-11 [1] Don’t fret
because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work
unrighteousness. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither like the green herb. [3] Trust in Yahweh, and do good.
Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. [4] Also delight yourself
in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit
your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: [6] he
will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as
the noon day sun. [7] Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the
man who makes wicked plots happen. [8] Cease from anger, and forsake
wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. [9] For evildoers
shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the
land. [10] For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. [11] But the
humble [meek] shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in
the abundance of peace.
Psalm 76:7-9 [KJV] [7] Thou,
even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once
thou art angry? [8] Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from
heaven; the earth feared, and was still, [9] When God arose to
judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Psalm 147:6 [KJV] The LORD
lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Psalm 149:4 [KJV] For the LORD
taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with
salvation.
Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to
anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays
folly.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer
turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man
stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
Proverbs 16:32 One who is slow
to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he
who takes a city.
Proverbs 17:27 He who spares his
words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of
understanding.
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of
a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an
offense.
Proverbs 20:22 Don’t say, “I
will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Proverbs 22:24-25 [24] Don’t
befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who
harbors anger: [25] lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.
Proverbs 25:15 By patience a
ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man
proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept
safe.
Meekness is
not the fear of man. Rather, it is trusting God to take care of both
us and the situation while we obey him by being patient, humble and
gentle toward those who are mistreating us.
Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit
of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for
gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
Isaiah 53:1-12 [1] Who has
believed our message? To whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
[2] For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of
dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there
is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He was despised, and
rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He
was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t
respect him. [4] Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our
suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and
afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was
crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was
on him; and by his wounds we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have
gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid
on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed, yet
when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb
that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its
shearers is mute, so he didn’t open his mouth. [8] He
was taken away by oppression and judgment; and as for his generation,
who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living and
stricken for the disobedience of my people? [9] They made his grave
with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had
done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it
pleased Yahweh to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you
make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed. He shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his
hand. [11] After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light and
be satisfied. My righteous servant will justify many by the knowledge
of himself; and he will bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore will I
divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the plunder
with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was
numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and
made intercession for the transgressors.
Matthew 11:28-30 [28] “Come to
me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you
rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle
[meek] and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Romans 12:16-21 [16] Be of the
same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things,
but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
[17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the
sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you,
be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves,
beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written,
“Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20]
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty,
give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his
head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faith, [23] gentleness [meekness], and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 [14] We
exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the
faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all. [15] See that
no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that
which is good, for one another, and for all.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 [24] The
Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to
teach, patient, [25] in gentleness [meekness] correcting those who
oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full
knowledge of the truth, [26] and they may recover themselves out of
the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my
beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
and slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce
the righteousness of God.
James 3:13-18 [13] Who is wise
and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that
his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. [14] But if you have
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and
don’t lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which
comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For
where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every
evil deed. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without
partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 Peter 2:18-25 [18] Servants,
be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the
good and gentle, but also to the wicked. [19] For it is
commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of
conscience toward God. [20] For what glory is it if, when you sin,
you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently
endure suffering, this is commendable with God. [21] For to this you
were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an
example, that you should follow his steps, [22] who did not sin,
“neither was deceit found in his mouth.” [23] Who, when he was
cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t
threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;
[24] who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes
you were healed. [25] For you were going astray like sheep; but now
have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 3:8-16 [8] Finally, be
all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender hearted,
courteous, [9] not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult;
but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called,
that you may inherit a blessing. [10] For, “He who would love life,
and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips
from speaking deceit. [11] Let him turn away from evil, and do good.
Let him seek peace, and pursue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are
on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of
the Lord is against those who do evil.” [13] Now who is he who will
harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? [14] But
even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.
“Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” [15] But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give
an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope
that is in you, with humility and fear: [16] having a good
conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may
be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
Jude 1:9 But Michael, the
archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body
of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but
said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
COMMENTARY
The meek -
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.
Christ insisted on his right when he said, “If I have done evil,
bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?” Joh
18:23. Paul asserted his right when he said, “They have beaten us
openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and
now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come
themselves, and fetch us out,” Act 16:37. And yet Christ was the
very model of meekness. It was one of his characteristics, “I am
meek,” Mat 11:29. So of Paul. No man endured more wrong, or endured
it more patiently than he. Yet the Saviour and the apostle were not
passionate. They bore all patiently. They did not press their rights
through thick and thin, or trample down the rights of others to
secure their own.
Meekness is the
reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us.
“Vengeance is his; he will repay,” Rom 12:19. It little becomes
us to take his place, and to do what he has promised to do.
Meekness produces
peace. It is proof of true greatness of soul. It comes from a heart
too great to be moved by little insults. It looks upon those who
offer them with pity. He that is constantly ruffled; that suffers
every little insult or injury to throw him off his guard and to raise
a storm of passion within, is at the mercy of every mortal that
chooses to disturb him. He is like “the troubled sea that cannot
rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
They shall inherit
the earth - This might have been translated the land. It is probable
that here is a reference to the manner in which the Jews commonly
expressed themselves to denote any great blessing. It was promised to
them that they should inherit the land of Canaan. For a long time the
patriarchs looked forward to this, Gen 15:7-8; Exo 32:13. They
regarded it as a great blessing. It was so spoken of in the journey
in the wilderness, and their hopes were crowned when they took
possession of the promised land, Deu 1:38; Deu 16:20. In the time of
our Saviour they were in the constant habit of using the Old
Testament, where this promise perpetually occurs, and they used it
“as a proverbial expression to denote any great blessing, perhaps
as the sum of all blessings,” Psa 37:20; Isa 60:21. Our Saviour
used it in this sense, and meant to say, not that the meek would own
great property or have many lands, but that they would possess
special blessings. The Jews also considered the land of Canaan as a
type of heaven, and of the blessings under the Messiah. To inherit
the land became, therefore, an expression denoting those blessings.
When our Saviour uses this language here, he means that the meek
shall be received into his kingdom, and partake of its blessings
here, and of the glories of the heavenly Canaan hereafter. The value
of meekness, even in regard to worldly property and success in life,
is often exhibited in the Scriptures, Pro 22:24-25; Pro 15:1; Pro
25:8, Pro 25:15. It is also seen in common life that a meek, patient,
mild man is the most prospered. An impatient and quarrelsome man
raises up enemies; often loses property in lawsuits; spends his time
in disputes and broils rather than in sober, honest industry; and is
harassed, vexed, and unsuccessful in all that he does. “Godliness
is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now
is, and of that which is to come,” 1Ti 4:8. Compare 1Ti 6:3-6.
St.
Augustine. Our Lord's Sermon On The Mount, According to Matthew. –
Book
1, Chapter 2. [De Sermone Domini in Monte secundum
Matthaeum.] Translated by The Rev. William Findlay, M.A., Larkhill.
Revised and Annotated by The Rev. D.S. Schaff, Kansas City. Book 1,
Chapter 2. [found in The Early Church Fathers Series. NPNF106.]
[Matthew 5:]4.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall by inheritance possess the
earth:" that earth, I suppose, of which it is said in the Psalm,
"Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."
For it signifies a certain firmness and stability of the perpetual
inheritance, where the soul, by means of a good disposition, rests,
as it were, in its own place, just as the body rests on the earth,
and is nourished from it with its own food, as the body from the
earth. This is the very rest and life of the saints. Then, the meek
are those who yield to acts of wickedness, and do not resist evil,
but overcome evil with good. Let those, then, who are not meek
quarrel and fight for earthly and temporal things; but "blessed
are the meek, for they shall by inheritance possess the earth,"
from which they cannot be driven out.
Elsie
Dinsmore by Martha Finley.
"It would
indeed be cowardly and wrong to give up principle," replied
Rose, "but surely it is noble and generous to give up our own
wishes to another, where no principle is involved."
"Certainly,
you are right," said Adelaide, musingly. "And now I
recollect that, readily as Elsie gives up her own wishes to others on
ordinary occasions, I have never known her to sacrifice principle;
but, on the contrary, she has several times made mamma excessively
angry by refusing to romp and play with Enna on the Sabbath, or to
deceive papa when questioned with regard to some of Arthur's
misdeeds; yet she has often borne the blame of his faults, when she
might have escaped by telling of him. Elsie is certainly very
different from any of the rest of us, and if it is piety that makes
her what she is, I think piety is a very lovely thing."
