Matthew 5:5 Blessed Are The Meek

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." [Matthew 5:5 NASB]

The King James Bible translates this as "Blessed are the meek". Either word fits the definition of the Greek word "prays", which can be translated as meek, gentle or humble. The problem with the traditional translation of "meek" is the image it conjures in the mind of the 21st century American.

We think of a meek person as a doormat. A weakling who is incapable of showing strength of character. We picture a person who is run down, bent over, and fearful. This is not the image of a man who is meek before God.

A strong man can be gentle. Often, a man possessing great physical strength will be particularly gentle out of concern that he may inadvertently hurt others.

But what Jesus is talking about is not meekness as the world sees it, nor is it a gentle touch, but it is humility before God. Gentleness requires strength of character.

For an example of spiritual meekness, we can look to Jesus. He said, "“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." [Matthew 11:29 NASB] It was also said about Jesus, "Say to the daughter of Zion, "behold your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." [Matthew 21:5]

Jesus was gentle, yet he stood boldly before the religious leaders and condemned their hypocrisy. He entered the temple and drove out the merchants. He spoke boldly to the crowds in the synagogue, on the hill, and in the temple. He healed the masses. And he led His disciples.

Jesus is the King of Kings. He entered Jerusalem as a King. Then, submitting Himself humbly to the will of the Father, He allowed Himself to be arrested, condemned and crucified.

Gentleness is neither cowardly nor effeminate. It is not looking down and scraping of your toe and saying "aww shucks" when you receive a compliment. Rather, it is the complete humility and submission to God.

Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will. Galatians 5:23 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is...gentleness..."

A godly man is a gentle man. If you draw close to God, and walk in the Spirit, then He will make you gentle, just like Jesus.