Matthew 5:5: - Blessed Are The Meek, Gentle Or Is It The Humble?
Mat.5:5: Blessed Are The Meek, Gentle Or Is It The Humble?
Mat 5:5 (CEV) God blesses those people who are humble. The
earth will belong to them!
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
What does it mean - humility? The dictionary defines it thus:
The quality or state of being humble in spirit; freedom from pride
or arrogance. Augustine says, "It was pride that changed angels
into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels." Again, he
says, "Should you ask me, What is the first thing in religion? I
should reply, The first, second, and third thing therein - nay all- is
humility." Ben Franklin said, "After crosses and losses men grow humbler
and wiser." Jonathan Edwards said, "Nothing sets a person so much
out of the devil's reach as humility." And others have said, "The
fullest and best ears of corn hang lowest toward the ground" (Edward
Reynolds). "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility"
(Ruskin). "Humility is the Christian's greatest honor; and the higher men
climb, the further they are from heaven" (Jane Porter). "True humility
makes way for Christ, and throws the soul at His feet" (J. Mason).
THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 5:5 (KJV) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth.
Mat 5:5 (NNAS) "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit
the earth.
Mat 5:5 (CEV) God blesses those people who are humble. The
earth will belong to them!
Mat 5:5 (CWR) "Happiness comes from being submissive. When you
acknowledge God as the source of life and abilities, you will feel heaven's
joy. One day, people like this will fill the whole earth.
BLESSED
Each beatitude tells how to be blessed. "Blessed" means more
than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those
who are in God's kingdom. The Beatitudes don't promise laughter,
pleasure, or earthly prosperity. To Jesus, "blessed" means the experience
of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope
and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what
the cost. [Life Application SB]
Blessed: The Greek word was used in Greek literature, in the
Septuagint, and in the New Testament to describe the kind of happiness that
comes from receiving divine favor. [Nelson SB]
The beatitudes in effect say, "O the bliss of being a Christian!
O the joy of following Christ! O the sheer happiness of knowing
Jesus Christ as Master, Saviour and Lord!" . . . In Christianity there
is a godlike joy.
The Greek for blesses describes that joy which has its secret
within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and
self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and
the changes of life. The English word happiness gives its own case
away. It contains the root hap which means chance. Human happiness is
something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life,
something which life may give and which life may also destroy. The
Christian blessedness is completely untouchable and unassailable. "No
one," said Jesus, "will take your joy from you" (Jn 16:22). The
beatitudes speak of that joy which seeks us through our pain, that joy
which sorrow and loss, and pain and grief, are powerless to touch,
that joy which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or
death can take away.
The world can win its joys, and the world can equally well lose
its joys. A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of
a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the
weather, can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the
Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking for
ever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ. [Barclay]
MEEK, GENTLE, HUMBLE
There is no precise English equivalent for this Greek word.
Translations using: Meek are: KJV, NKJ, RSV, NRSV, NAB, NIV, ESV
Translations using: Gentle are: NASB, NNAS, NEB, NJB, NLT, GWB
Translations using Humble are: TEV, NCV, CEV
Meek. Mentioned only by Matthew. An obvious allusion to Ps
37:11. The source of this meekness is Christ (Mt 11:28, 29), who
bestows it when men submit their wills to his. [Wycliffe Bible
Commentary]
Meekness A personality trait of gentleness and humility, the
opposite of which is pride. Meekness does not refer to weakness or
passivity but to controlled power. [Holman's Bible Dictionary]
Meek. This beatitude is taken from Ps 37:11 and refers not so
much to an attitude toward man as to a disposition before God,
namely, humility. [NIV SB]
Meekness never implies weakness. In contrast to weakness,
meekness is controlled strength. It is an attitude of heart in which all
energies are brought into the perfect control of the Holy Spirit.
[Believer's SB]
Meek. Meekness is the attitude of heart and mind and life that
prepares the way for sanctification. A "meek" spirit "is in the sight of
God of great price" (1 Peter 3:4). "Meekness" is often mentioned by
NT writers as a cardinal Christian virtue (see Gal. 5:23; 1 Tim.
6:11). "Meekness" toward God means that we accept His will and His
dealing with us as good, that we submit to Him in all things, without
hesitation. A "meek" man has self under complete control. [SDA Commentary]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus announced blessings for citizens of His kingdom (5:1-12).
He expects citizens of His kingdom to do good deeds (vv. 13-16),
for He requires a righteousness that surpasses that of even the
zealous Pharisees (vv. 17-20). Christ looked behind the acts the Law
regulated to call for purity of heart (vv. 21-42) and that crowning
expression of kingdom righteousness: a love like the Heavenly Father's for
one's enemies (vv. 43-48). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
SECTION HEADINGS
Jesus Teaches the People
The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes
5:3-12 There are nine blessings listed in vs. 3-11. But vs. 10,
11, refer to the same aspect of Christian experience, and are
therefore to be considered one beatitude, thus leaving eight rather than
nine beatitudes. [SDA Commentary]
On these precious Beatitudes, observe that though eight in
number, there are here but seven distinct features of character. The
eighth one-the "persecuted for righteousness' sake"-denotes merely the
possessors of the seven preceding features, on account of which they are
persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). Accordingly, instead of any distinct promise to
this class, we have merely a repetition of the first promise. This
has been noticed by several critics, who by the sevenfold character
thus set forth have rightly observed that a complete character is
meant to be depicted, and by the sevenfold blessedness attached to it,
a perfect blessedness is intended. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown
Commentary]
There are at least four ways to understand the Beatitudes. (1)
They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct
for all believers. (2) They contrast kingdom values (what is
eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). (3) They contrast the
superficial "faith" of the Pharisees with the real faith Christ wants. (4)
They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the
new kingdom. These beatitudes are not multiple choice--pick what you
like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe
what we should be like as Christ's followers. [Life Application SB]
The Beatitudes are comprised of three elements: a pronouncement
of blessing, a quality of life, and a reason why the recipient
should be considered blessed. The first element is found in the word
Blessed (see Ps. 1:1), which introduces each beatitude. The second
element does not describe different groups of people, but a composite
picture of the kind of person who will inherit Christ's kingdom. The
third element looks ahead to some aspect of the coming kingdom.
[Nelson SB]
Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which
represent to us the principal graces of a Christian [Matthew Henry
Commentary]
The Beatitudes are not primarily promises to the individual but
a description of him. They do not show a man how to be saved, but
describe the characteristics manifested by one who is born again.
[Wycliffe Bible Commentary]
The Beatitudes describe what we should be like as Christ's
followers. [Life Application SB]
The Beatitudes: These qualities Jesus mentioned are internal.
These come only when one is properly related to God through faith,
when one places his complete trust in God. [Bible Knowledge
Commentary]
The Beatitudes describe the inner qualities of a follower of
Christ. [Ryrie SB]
The Beatitudes describe the character traits of those accepted
as citizens of the kingdom of God and set forth both the present
and future blessings of those whose lives portray these virtues.
[Believer's SB]
The Beatitudes refer to both present and future blessings of the
kingdom. [Disciple SB]
5:1-12 Eight Characteristics Of Kingdom Dwellers
The Beatitudes (5:1-12) revealed eight characteristics that
should be true of the righteous remnant in the promised kingdom. The
truths implied in these characteristics all reflect pervasive themes in
the Old Testament. They revealed to the listeners what the lives of
people in the process of repentance should be like and caused them to
reflect upon their own character in relation to the character of God.
The Beatitudes were built upon an if/then logic and hidden in each
Beatitude was an if/then relationship. For example, the first Beatitude
says in essence, "If you are poor in spirit, then you will receive
the kingdom of God" (5:3). The Beatitudes both describe and demand.
They demand good character as they describe the "blessed" results of
following the demands of kingdom living.
The attitudes of "poor in spirit," "mourning," and "meekness"
all draw upon Old Testament themes and underscore the need for human
responsibility and the work of divine grace. The basic element demanded by all
the Beatitudes was a right relationship with God. The Beatitudes
were intended to inspire Matthew's readers to think about the
character of the repentant person so that they also could follow the path
of repentance.
Matthew 5:3-16 should be seen as one single unit of thought. The
word "blessed" (5:3; etc.) literally means "happy." For "poor in
spirit" (5:3) see Psalms 40:17; 69:29-30, 33-34; and Isaiah 57:15; 61:1;
66:2, 5. This characteristic describes the inner attitude of a person
when confronted with the holy God and his demands. Being "poor in
spirit" means admitting that no one can have spiritual wealth in and of
themselves--that all are dependent on God alone for spiritual
salvation and daily
grace. Such a person aligns with God's will, even against the desires
of his own.
For the attitude of "mourning" (Matt. 5:4), see Isaiah 1:17, 23;
2:11, 17; 61:2. The afflicted were often seen as God's favorites in
contrast with the powerful. This "mourning" was a reaction to seeing all
that God had demanded for the kingdom and then seeing how far all of
mankind had fallen short.
For the attitude of "meekness" (Matt. 5:5) read Psalm 37:7-11
and Isaiah 57:15. Having the quality of "meekness" would result in
possession of the new heavens and new earth (cf. Isa. 66; Rev. 21-22). The
Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole continually looked
forward to the time of judgment and reward in the end times.
To "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6) was to seek
to live life as God intended for it to be lived. Concepts drawn
from Old Testament Wisdom Literature were being applied here (cf.
Prov. 8:22-36). For "pure in heart" (Matt. 5:8), see what it meant
under the old covenant (Deut. 6) as well as under the new covenant
(Jer. 31; Ezek. 36).
The "peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9) will be called "sons of God." They
will be heirs to God's kingdom of which "peace" will be an important
characteristic (cf. Isa. 9:6-7; 66:12-13; Mic. 4:3). Note the emphasis in 5:3,
4, 9, 10. In each of these verses, an implied contrast was being
made between those who would be blessed in the age to come and the
religious leaders of Jesus' day.
Those "persecuted because of righteousness" (5:10) would also be
heirs to the kingdom. This relates back to 5:3 regarding the kingdom
and to 5:6 regarding righteousness. The idea of this verse carried a
bit of irony. These people were being persecuted because they were
hungry and thirsty for righteousness. But their persecutors would be
the religious leaders of Israel, the ones who claimed to strictly
follow the way of righteousness.
Jesus made a personal elaboration (5:11-12) of the comments in
5:10. He would become the cause for the persecution of the righteous
("because of me," 5:11). The people who desired to be among the "blessed"
of the kingdom would not find their time on earth easy. Matthew
wrote for people who faced a time of persecution prior to the
establishment of the kingdom. There was a parallel drawn in 5:12 with the
prophets of the past who had suffered for the sake of righteousness. [New
Bible Companion]
Of all the virtues Christ commended in the Beatitudes, it is
significant that the first is humility being "poor in spirit" (v. 3). That
underlies all the others:
You cannot mourn (v 4) without appreciating how insufficient you
are to handle life in your own strength. That is humility.
You cannot be meek (v 5) unless you have needed gentleness
yourself. Knowing that need is humility.
You cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness (v 6) if you
proudly think of yourself as already righteous. Longing to fill that
spiritual appetite demands humility. In a parable that Luke recorded, a
humble tax collector prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" He went
away justified, unlike a proud Pharisee who boasted of his
righteousness (Luke 18:13).
You cannot be merciful (Matt. 5:7) without recognizing your own
need for mercy. Jesus said that it's the person who is forgiven much
that loves much (Luke 7:47). To confess your sin and ask God and
others for forgiveness takes humility.
You cannot be pure in heart (Matt. 5:8) if your heart is filled
with pride. God promises to exalt the humble, not the proud (James
4:10).
You cannot be a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9) if you believe that you
are always right. To admit your own fallibility takes humility Peace
results when both warring parties move toward each other.
Finally identifying with Christ no matter what the reaction of
others (vv. 10-12) demands a certain death to yourself and a
renunciation of your own rights. Standing up under persecution demands
Christlike Humility. [Word In Life SB]
Is it possible to live up to these standards? (5:3-10)
Even though the Sermon on the Mount has been called the
constitution for citizens of the kingdom of God, we will never see flawed
human beings, though they are Christians, reach this level of
perfection. Jesus begins the Beatitudes, the preamble to this constitution,
with our inability in mind - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who begin by admitting their
shortcomings are in the best position to experience God's blessing and enjoy
his kingdom.
Nevertheless, we cannot escape the fact that Jesus gave his
followers these lifestyle goals. Those who respond out of love for the
Lord, grateful for his grace in their lives, will better approach
these ideals. The Beatitudes are a model of perfection requiring our
declaration of dependence on God: we can't, but God can. Even when doing so
involves failure to follow perfectly, we're to press on in obedience.
The Beatitudes describe the quality of life God intended for
humanity from the beginning - a life of blessing. The word blessed can
also be translated happy, but it is something more than an emotion.
The closer we come to Jesus' standards, the more we experience the
blessing of God. [Quest SB]
When we first read the statements of Jesus they seem wonderfully
simple and unstartling, and they sink unobserved into our unconscious
minds. For instance, the Beatitudes seem merely mild and beautiful
precepts for all unworldly and useless people, but of very little
practical use in the stern workaday world in which we live. We soon find,
however, that the Beatitudes contain the dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They
explode, as it were, when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do
so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of these
Beatitudes we say--'What a startling statement that is!' and we have to
decide whether we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that
will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is
the way the Spirit of God works. We do not need to be born again to
apply the Sermon on the Mount literally. The literal interpretation of
the Sermon on the Mount is child's play; the interpretation by the
Spirit of God as He applies Our Lord's statements to our circumstances
is the stern work of a saint. The teaching of Jesus is out of all
proportion to our natural way of looking at things, and it comes with
astonishing discomfort to begin with. We have slowly to form our walk and
conversation on the line of the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit
applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set
of rules and regulations: it is a statement of the life we will
live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us. [My Utmost for
His Highest by Oswald Chambers]
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Numbers 12:3 (KJV) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all
the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Psalm 25:9 (KJV) The meek will he guide in judgment: and the
meek will he teach his way.
Psalm 37:34 (KJV) Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he
shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off,
thou shalt see it.
Psalm 147:6 (KJV) The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the
wicked down to the ground.
Psalm 149:4 (KJV) For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people:
he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Isaiah 29:19 (KJV) The meek also shall increase their joy in
the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of
Israel.
Isaiah 60:21 (KJV) Thy people also shall be all righteous: they
shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work
of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;
because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty
to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are
bound;
Zeph. 2:3 (KJV) Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth,
which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it
may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.
Matthew 11:29 (KJV) 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.
Galatians 5:23 (KJV) Meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law.
Ephes. 4:2 (KJV) With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Col. 3:12 (KJV) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering;
1 Tim. 6:11 (KJV) But thou, O man of God, flee these things;
and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience,
meekness.
2 Tim. 2:25 (KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose
themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the
acknowledging of the truth;
Titus 3:2 (KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but
gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
1 Peter 3:4 (KJV) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in
that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
Throughout the Beatitudes there is an advancing line of
Christian experience. Those who have felt their need of Christ, those who
have mourned because of sin and have sat with Christ in the school of
affliction, will learn meekness from the divine Teacher. . MB14-18
The meek (humble) are those who quietly submit themselves to
God, to his word and to his rod, who follow his directions, and
comply with his designs, and are gentle towards all men ;
who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it; are either
silent, or return a soft answer; and who can show their displeasure when
there is occasion for it, without being transported into any
indecencies; who can be cool when others are hot; and in their patience keep
possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of
any thing else. They are the meek, who are rarely and hardly
provoked, but quickly and easily pacified; and who would rather forgive
twenty injuries than revenge one, having the rule of their own spirits.
(Matthew Henry's Commentary)
What does it mean - humility? The dictionary defines it thus:
The quality or state of being humble in spirit; freedom from pride
or arrogance. Augustine says, "It was pride that changed angels
into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels." Again, he
says, "Should you ask me, What is the first thing in religion? I
should reply, The first, second, and third thing therein - nay all- is
humility." Ben Franklin said, "After crosses and losses men grow humbler
and wiser." Jonathan Edwards said, "Nothing sets a person so much
out of the devil's reach as humility." And others have said, "The
fullest and best ears of corn hang lowest toward the ground" (Edward
Reynolds). "I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility"
(Ruskin). "Humility is the Christian's greatest honor; and the higher men
climb, the further they are from heaven" (Jane Porter). "True humility
makes way for Christ, and throws the soul at His feet" (J. Mason).
Through all the lowly experiences of life He (Jesus) consented
to pass, walking among the children of men, not as a king, to
demand homage, but as one whose mission it was to serve others...
Jesus emptied Himself, and in all that He did, self did not
appear. He subordinated all things to the will of His Father. When His
mission on earth was about to close, He could say, "I have glorified
Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to
do." John 17:4. And He bids us, "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart." "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself"
(Matthew 11:29; 16:24); let self be dethroned and no longer hold the
supremacy of the soul....
The independence and self-supremacy in which we glory are seen
in their true vileness as tokens of servitude to Satan. Human
nature is ever struggling for expression, ready for contest; but he who
learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy,
and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of
the Holy Spirit. Then we are not anxious to have the highest place.
We have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves into notice; but
we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour. We
look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice
to guide. The apostle Paul had this experience, and he said, "I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2:20.....
No storm of human or satanic wrath could disturb the calm of
that perfect communion with God. And He says to us, "Peace I leave
with you, My peace I give unto you." "Take My yoke upon you, and
learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest." John 14:27; Matthew 11:29. Bear with Me the yoke of service for
the glory of God and the uplifting of humanity, and you will find
the yoke easy and the burden light.
It is the love of self that destroys our peace. While self is
all alive, we stand ready continually to guard it from mortification
and insult; but when we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in
God, we shall not take neglects or slights to heart. We shall be deaf
to reproach and blind to scorn and insult. "Love suffereth long,
and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not
puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not
provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness,
but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all
things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth." 1
Corinthians 13:4-8, R.V.
Happiness drawn from earthly sources is as changeable as varying
circumstances can make it; but the peace of Christ is a constant and abiding
peace. It does not depend upon any circumstances in life, on the amount
of worldly goods or the number of earthly friends. Christ is the
fountain of living water, and happiness drawn from Him can never fail....
Far better would it be for us to suffer under false accusation
than to inflict upon ourselves the torture of retaliation upon our
enemies. The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan, and can
bring only evil to him who cherishes it. Lowliness of heart, that
meekness which is the fruit of abiding in Christ, is the true secret of
blessing. "He will beautify the meek with salvation." Psalm 149:4....
It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered
into the world, and our first parents lost the dominion over this
fair earth, their kingdom. It is through self-abnegation that Christ
redeems what was lost. And He says we are to overcome as He did.
Revelation 3:21. Through humility and self-surrender we may become heirs
with Him when "the meek shall inherit the earth." Psalm 37:11.
MB14-18
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