“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5.5). Who are “the meek,” and what “earth” will they inherit? Let’s look at the first question today, and the second tomorrow.
The American Heritage Dictionary offers two definitions of the word meek[1]:
1. Showing patience and humility; gentle.
2. Easily imposed on; submissive.
The first definition is active. The meek person voluntarily shows patience, humility, and gentleness. The second is passive. The meek person is easily imposed upon and submissive, whether voluntarily or not. The first kind of meekness is a virtue, the second a weakness. Which kind does Jesus bless?
In Greek, the words for “meek” and “meekness” are praus and prautes, respectively. Usually, they are translated as “gentle” and “gentleness.” In Matthew 11.29, Jesus says, “I am gentle and humble in heart.” Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 10.1, Paul writes of “the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” Gentleness is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5.23), and a characteristic of “God’s chosen people” (Col. 3.12). In his long argument with the Corinthians, who badly needed apostolic discipline, Paul asked, rhetorically, “Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit” (1 Cor. 4.21). Peter counseled believers to “give the reason for the hope that you have…with gentleness and respect…so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
In each of these cases, it seems to me that the person has a choice whether to be meek and gentle. Meekness, in other words, is active and voluntary, not passive and imposed. Of all the things I could say about Jesus, the very last thing I would say is that he was easily imposed upon or submissive. (Remember the cleansing of the Temple!)
But he was absolutely patient, humble, and gentle. Moreover, he exercised that meekness in the teeth of opposition, just as we should. Take a quick look at Psalm 37.7–11: “Be patient before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace” (verses 7–11).
Notice two crucial elements of these verses: (1) In this life, evil men succeed in their wicked schemes. And (2) we must choose how to respond: with fretting and anger, or with patience, hope, and meekness. If God is God, we can be meek, for he will make things turn out right. Through him, we will “inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”
The meek, it turns out, are truly blessed because God is on their side.
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