Blessed Are The Meek | Matthew 5:5

Scripture

• Matthew 5:5

About this sermon

Introduction: As believers represent God’s truth in the world, we often meet with scorn on the ground of misunderstanding. How many times have you heard someone, or read someone, railing against “what Christians believe”, and you say to yourself, “but that’s not what we believe?” It happens a lot, doesn’t it? At the same time, we know that even if they RIGHTLY understood what we believe, they would still hate it. The natural mind is at enmity with God. It does not submit to God’s Word; it CAN’T submit to God’s Word. John 8:43 (ESV) 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. THE REASON WE LOVE GOD’S WORD IS BECAUSE GOD SAVED US. We give God thanks that when He saved us, He removed the enmity. The Christian has the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). The veil has been removed for us, and we are able to receive God’s Word. BUT THOUGH THAT IS TRUE, WE CAN ALSO STRUGGLE WITH MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THE TRUTH. When we misunderstand Scripture, we can find ourselves struggling in a couple of ways. We find ourselves struggling to practice something that the Bible doesn’t truly call for. The Spirit does not empower the living out of error. Or we find ourselves feeling guilty, because we are troubled by some concept that doesn’t seem quite right. And IT SHOULDN’T SEEM RIGHT, because what we are responding to is not what Scripture truly teaches, but a misunderstanding of what Scripture teaches. The beatitude that we examine this morning is one OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY CHRISTIANS. It is often misunderstood by unbelievers as well. The unbelieving world hates what it THINKS this statement means. They misunderstand it. But believers often misunderstand it also. THE QUESTION FOR US IS WHETHER WE WILL TRULY EMBRACE WHAT IT TRULY MEANS? The blessed ones, the saved ones, not only embrace it, they are being taught it. They will be characterized by it. We examine the third beatitude, “blessed are the meek,” by answering three questions. (1) What does it mean to be meek? (2) How is meekness manifested (3) What is promised to the meek? • WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MEEK? Let’s begin with some common misperceptions. In a sense, all those misconceptions can be summarized in this statement, “meekness is not weakness.” This is what we often think of when we hear the English word “meekness.” We think of someone who is passive, who sort of goes with the flow, who does not ever stand up or speak up, has no real sense of leadership about them. A very weak type of personality. That misconception often shows up in sincere believers who are trying to practice a misunderstanding of this quality. And, because the misunderstanding is not a fruit of the Spirit, they are left with what they can produce, and it is something external. Meekness is not defined by how you look or how you carry yourself. It’s not expressed in a self-deprecating kind of demeanor. It is true that pride, in Scripture, is often associated with a certain kind of demeanor. “Haughty eyes” is one of the most frequent. Proverbs 6:16–17 (ESV) 16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Isaiah 3:16–17 (ESV) 16 The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, 17 therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts. SO, IT IS TRUE THAT PROUD PEOPLE OFTEN CARRY THEMSELVES IN A WAY THAT MANIFESTS THEIR PRIDE. But even when that is the case it would be the result of what is in the heart. And we must be careful about those kinds of judgments because demeanor can be misinterpreted. Have you ever had the experience of misevaluating a person? Let that be a lesson to us. And because pride and humility are heart matters, what we must concentrate on is the heart. Simply attempting to have a humble or meek demeanor doesn’t equal having these character qualities. In fact, when one attempts to do that, they are practicing what the hypocrites of Christ’s day practiced. Matthew 6:16 (ESV) 16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. True meekness is not in opposition to godly leadership. You can be a leader and walk in meekness. True meekness is not in opposition to a godly kind of strength. You can embrace a responsibility that God given you, and do it well, with a confidence that trusts in Him, and be walking in meekness. True meekness is not in opposition to a godly kind of courage and forthrightness.

Topics

• Humility
• Blessing & Favor