In His “Sermon on the Mount,” the third beatitude Jesus taught was: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Earlier He had inspired David to declare that, along with that same inheritance, the meek “shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37:11).
These promises portray a wonderful, peaceable, eternal existence—but why is it that only the meek inherit it? What does meekness have to do with inheriting this earth with an abundance of peace and other blessings?
Meekness: Often Misunderstood
When we hear the term “meekness,” we may tend to think in terms of personality: someone who is somewhat compliant; who is not going to cause a fuss; who will do what is wanted. In lexicons and various language tools, the concept of meekness is so often expressed in that way: as gentleness, humility, and compliance. In reality, meekness is associated with—but not defined by—those qualities. The translation of the New Testament Scriptures readily shows that linkage. Take a concordance and a Bible, and look at the use of the term “meek” or “meekness.” You will find many of the newer translations do not use those terms. They tend to use “humility” or “gentleness.” So the concept of meekness is lost, because scholars have difficulty understanding it. Do we? That is important because without meekness we will not be inheriting the earth.
Meekness has a very distinct meaning. Many, in groping to find an appropriate definition for “meekness,” have mostly defined it by the negative—that it is not “weakness.” But that simple negation does not convey the full picture that Jesus Christ desired us to comprehend when He established that beatitude.
Two Examples of Meekness
We can better understand meekness when we examine it from a scriptural perspective, rather than from lexicons or dictionaries. The quality of meekness, and how it relates to our future of ruling with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom, can be illustrated well by considering the examples of two individuals who exemplified meekness. One example is found in the Old Testament; the other in the New. The terms used in the respective Hebrew and Greek languages are equivalent, so we can be confident we are considering the same quality.
Moses was the first individual described as “meek” in Scripture: “Now the man Moses was very humble [“meek” here is a correct, appropriate translation as rendered in the KJV], more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, NKJV).
Moses was anything but a weak person! He was skilled in the art of war so that he could lead the armies of Egypt (as Josephus records), and learned in Egyptian statecraft so that he was seen as a potential threat to the Pharaoh—both of which indicate a man of power and resolve. To be placed in charge of the children of Israel required a personality of some forcefulness and confidence. That role involved going before yet another Pharaoh to plead Israel’s cause and then to lead that multitude out of Egypt into the Wilderness of Sinai en route to the Promised Land. He certainly could not be characterized as weak! The Eternal’s summation of him was a “very meek” person. How could such an accomplished person be meek?
What was it about Moses that led to this assessment of him? For a major clue, we may take note of his attitude in a request He made of the Eternal: “Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people” (Exodus 33:13).
Moses clearly recognized that the Israelites were God’s possession, not his. He led them in the way revealed to him by the Eternal and not his own way. His life was deeply and totally committed to that mindset. That defined the kind of relationship he had with his Creator—and the kind we must have.
Moses was very capable, but he also was teachable regarding His Creator’s ways, and that is a key component of meekness and godly relationships.
Of course, the ultimate example of meekness is Jesus Christ. As a man, He never shrank from declaring the Way of His Father, even to the most unreceptive and inhospitable audiences. He faced the prospect of death on several occasions and eventually did not flinch from giving Himself as a sacrifice for humanity. He said of Himself: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29, KJV; see also Matthew 21:5 in the KJV).
Getting to the Heart of Meekness
We see here that meekness has much to do with an outgoing attitude toward another—giving to another. Jesus was offering rest as a result of His meekness—an interesting parallel to the peace offered to the meek by the Psalmist. Meekness has to do with a relationship. What was at the center of Christ’s meekness?
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day” (John 6:38–39).
Jesus Christ dedicated His entire life on earth to carrying out His Father’s role for Him. That included every last detail in His plan of salvation for all mankind, even to the point of being willing to suffer a horrific death on the cross. At the last Passover, prior to being arrested, scourged and crucified, Jesus Christ prayed to His Father and declared that He had finished that work (John 17:1–19).
The Hebrew term translated as “meek” describes a person who is a servant—in total subjection—in this case to the God of Israel. Meekness therefore describes the situation of one who subjects himself to God without reservation.
The examples of both Moses and Jesus provide this ultimate definition of meekness. They are examples of individuals who were prepared to put themselves totally, completely and unreservedly under the will of God. These men were exemplars of servant leadership.
Meekness is not then a matter of personality. It rather speaks of conversion and commitment to another way of life. As Jesus taught: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Paul understood this idea very well. He instructed the Church in Corinth—and us today—that we are to seek the will of God the Father and Jesus Christ, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Moses followed this principle as he placed the learning he had received from the Egyptians—his military training, his government instruction—under the will of the Eternal. To measure up to that standard is a very tall order, and takes a lot of effort over a long period for us to achieve. God worked with Moses for 40 years in the wilderness in preparation for that role. James explains how this standard can be achieved: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow [margin: abundance] of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:19–21).
Repentance from sin must be followed by the meek attitude—that is, to be totally submissive and teachable—imbibing of God’s word. That means firmly connecting ourselves to the vine that is Jesus Christ, submitting our will to His (and His Father’s) so that we increasingly take on His character—the living Word of God. Meekness—to be meek—is a fruit of living a Way of life. Being connected to that vine indicates that we are receiving the nourishment necessary for godly growth through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit given as a gift by God. So meekness is a spiritual quality (Galatians 5:23).
The World’s Wrong Approach
In the world around us, we witness a pronounced absence of meekness—even at a physical level. People seek their own wills rather than the will of the Father. Everyone feels entitled to his or her own opinions. Even among those who claim to have a relationship with God, some may feel tempted to express opinions, even in a combative or hostile way, that result in strife and division rather than righteousness and peace. Some such people believe that God is working with them and revealing things to them, but the fruits of their lives belie this. Such people have inflated opinions of their own ideas. Often they have a problem with Church government and create their own “living room Church of God.” Godly meekness does not blossom in this kind of confusion.
James describes both the cause and cure of the above malady: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:13–18).
For James, as well as the rest of the Bible, the litmus test of “the meekness of wisdom” is the polar opposite of “bitter envy and self-seeking.” That “meekness of wisdom” is described by the eight spiritual qualities listed in verses 17 and 18 (see also Paul’s instructions on this subject in Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12 and 2 Timothy 2:25).
The bottom line on meekness, then, is that it defines how we seek to do the will of our Father in heaven in our own lives. It is a simple step from that understanding to see why it is the meek who will inherit the earth. The Father once gave control of the earth to a being (Satan) who eventually refused to do his Creator’s will. The Father never again is going to entrust the rule of this earth, or His creation, to any being other than one who is unequivocally committed to seeking and doing His will in all things.
Furthermore, the meek will not only rule the earth with Jesus Christ under the Father, but they are offered protection from the troubles humanity faces. Zephaniah was inspired to record for us: “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3).
Once again, note that meekness is coupled with qualities of God’s own character—justice, righteousness and humility—picturing an active commitment to the ways of God.
In summary, we have established these points about meekness:
- Meekness defines a relationship with God the Father, and with Jesus Christ, in which we seek and obey the divine will. In such a relationship, we rely upon God, rather than upon our own instincts and thoughts. It is evidence of our New Covenant relationship with God.
- In such a meek relationship, God has defined the parameters, qualities and fruits. He does not leave those for us to determine. I had an acquaintance who said, “It’s just God and me.” Every time I heard that, I know who really defined the relationship; it was the self, not God.
- The meekness praised in Scripture is not a mere personality trait; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and can only be manifest through that Spirit dwelling in us (Galatians 5:22–26).
- While humility is very much a part of meekness, meekness is more than just being humble. People can maintain a false humility.
- Our meekness results in a relationship of trust and confidence in which, ultimately, God the Father is willing to entrust to us rulership over all things for all eternity (Hebrews 2:8), knowing that His children will do what He desires. There will be no repeating Satan’s rebellion against the Father.
- Above all else, meekness in our relationship with God ends up being reflected in our relationships with our fellow human beings, so that peace and righteousness prevail. Meekness produces those fruits, to the honor and glory of the Father’s name.
The result of having the quality of meekness, of having those types of relationships, is that you and I can inherit all things—eventually being born into that peaceable Kingdom for all eternity!