Inheriting the Earth

The third of the seven qualities of the one who stands in God’s favor (blessed) is meekness: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Meekness is a difficult quality to identify. Scripture often pairs meekness with qualities that are used to define it. For example, meekness is not humility or lowliness because Jesus self-identified as one who is meek and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29). The verse that most closely identifies this grace is Titus 3:2 where Paul reminds Titus to teach believers “to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy [meekness] toward all people.”

As previously stated, each of these graces builds on the previous grace. Poor in spirit begins the list and is defined as understanding one’s true state before God as utterly bankrupt and wholly unable to correct the situation. This condition leads to mourning over the horrible disorder that human sin and evil has inflicted on God’s created order and activity. Meekness is deference to God, recognizing the problem and submitting to God’s grace for real and permanent change. This is supported by Psalm 149:4: “He will beautify the meek with salvation.” 

There is a meekness that is constitutional, characterized by a natural lack of conviction and a love of ease. Many sinners have a pliant and impetuous spirit and are, thus, easily led into sin and evil. Eli and Jehoshaphat are biblical examples of this natural meekness. This is also why many confuse biblical meekness with weakness.

Godly meekness is a grace resulting from much suffering that is recognized as designed to moderate temper, destroy resentment, and curb carnal assertiveness. A meek and Spirit-filled Christian will not exercise self-will. He quietly submits to God’s sovereign authority as revealed in His Word, complies with His designs, submits to His rod. Meekness is bowing to one’s circumstances, even when such are negative and seemingly difficult to endure. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9).

Jesus was the example of meekness. In His incarnation, He made Himself nothing, humbled Himself in obedience even to death (Philippians 2:7, 8). Nothing in Him resisted the judgments of God but fully yielded to the will of God (John 18:11). He was led, not coerced, as a lamb to the slaughter. When reviled, He did not retaliate; when battered, He did not threaten. In like manner, a believer who has matriculated in the school of divine meekness will become mild, patiently enduring insults and injuries, teachable and easily admonished.

  However, a meek saint will never appear to be weak, yielding a principle of righteousness or compromising with evil. He will be jealous of his Lord’s glory, even to taking a whip to those who desecrate the Lord’s house or zealously confronting those who defile His glory (Numbers 12:3 compared with Exodus 32:19, 20). Such believers will literally inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11).