Re-seeing the Kingdom of God: The Meek
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
As Jesus begins His public ministry, it becomes undeniable that people want to listen to Him. As he begins his Sermon on the Mount, His longest recorded sermon, He starts with a blessing. This first lesson to his followers is what has become known as the Beatitudes. A “beatitude” is a “supreme blessedness”, so who does Jesus call blessed?
As we continue to break down each of Jesus’s blessings, I think it’s important to pause and note what Daily Grace Co. authors mention about the Beatitudes:
“While it is common to hear the Beatitudes pulled apart or studied one at a time, it is wise to read and study them together. Jesus is crafting a sermon where each piece builds on the last. Many commentators have said that the first four beatitudes show the justification we receive from God, and the last four show the sanctification we receive from Him. Justification is when God declares us righteous because Christ’s righteousness covers us through salvation. Sanctification is the ongoing process believers go through over the course of their lives as they walk with God and He conforms them to His image.”
As we move onto the third Beatitude, let’s remember that Jesus’s blessing for the poor in spirit is that they will receive the kingdom of God, and that those who mourn will be comforted. When we acknowledge our own brokenness and spiritual poverty, our sin will grieve us; yet we can move forward in joy because we are able to inherit God’s kingdom and receive His free gift of salvation through Christ.
As Jesus moves to the third Beatitude, he declares that those who are meek will inherit the earth. Meek is defined as “quiet, gentle, and submissive.” Another word we could use is humble. Once we have acknowledged our sin and mourned its devastating effects, we can see what a mess we’ve made of our lives. Nothing we can do in ourselves can make things better (Isaiah 64:6).
We need a savior to make things right. We are powerless in our human sinfulness, but God is mighty. Because He loved us, He sent Jesus to be our Savior. His death on the cross rescues us from our sin and His salvation leaves us justified by God.
This is a free gift, but we have to be willing to humble ourselves enough to receive it. If we are too proud or self-sufficient to admit our brokenness and need, we will miss out on our inheritance as part of God’s family.
Where do you find yourself today? Humble enough to receive God’s grace and mercy? If so, take a minute to pray and thank God for His gift of salvation. Thank Jesus for being your savior. Admit that you are powerless to save yourself, and tell Him you receive His free gift.
If you find you’re not there yet and still feel pride in your heart, ask that God would soften you and make you aware of your need for Him. It can feel scary to admit you can’t fix things by yourself, but know that there is a good God who loves you and is here to help you live a better story than you could ever write for yourself.