Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." So much to understand here. So much to learn. Not only does this not make a lot of sense to me, but I certainly have problems when applying this to my own life.
In one of my previous posts title "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit", I described the word "blessed" as meaning a "satisfaction from experiencing the fullness of God." This word denotes a happy acceptance of whatever situation it is that you are living in. This 5th verse of Matthew 5 makes me uncomfortable...not satisfied. Meekness and the world for me don't seem to coexist. We are taught, and we teach, to "go get it", "make it happen", "give it 110%", "the early bird gets the worm", "you have to fight for what you want", "stand up for yourself", "fight the good fight". I don't see meekness here. But maybe I just don't understand what meekness really means. Dictionary.com says that meekness is "humbly patient; overly submissive; spiritless; tame; gentle; kind". See...that doesn't jive with standing up for yourself and fighting the good fight.
But, maybe I don't really understand what Jesus was saying? Maybe I understand this word differently from when it was used in Biblical times. But, the word used in Matthew 5:5 for "meek" was only used two other times in the New Testament and one was used quoting an Old Testament verse, so really, it was only used one other time than when it was used here in the Beatitudes. This one other time it was used to describe how a wife should act in 1 Peter 3:4. It says that a woman's beauty should not come from "outward adornment" but from her "inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet (meek) spirit."
So...you're saying she's really, really nice?!?!
Even the Old Testament verse that is quoted in Matthew 21:5 describes this word as when Jesus was riding on a donkey into the city and that he did so with meekness. The Old Testament passage quoted in Matthew 21:5 comes from Zechariah 9:9. The NIV describes it as "your King comes to you righteous and victorious, lowly (meek) and riding on a donkey." The word used in the Old Testament passage seems to lend a better understanding. It is the Hebrew word "`aniy". It is described by the Lexicon as would be expected "poor, afflicted, humble, wretched". But the Lexicon also says that the etymology of this word comes from the Hebrew word "`anah". This word is described as a verb meaning "to afflict, oppress, humble, be afflicted, be bowed down". But the Lexicon goes on to suggest that this word is also used in the Old Testament in ways that we would not normally associate with "meekness". It defines is as "to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout". Okay....just got goose bumps!
Now maybe Matthew 5:5 is becoming more clear. It's beginning to have a farther reach than when I first read it. But, I wanted to look at one more thing. I had remembered Bonhoeffer had written about this in "The Cost of Discipleship" so I went back and want to share with you what he said. "When reproached (the disciples of Christ), they hold their peace; when treated with violence they endure it patiently; when men drive them from their presence, the yield their ground...They are determined to leave their rights to God alone - non cupidi vindictae...Their right is in the will of their Lord - that and no more." No vindictive ambition. Not desirous of vengeance.
When you take all of this together, now things seem to be a little more clear. It sounds to me like Jesus is calling us "to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout" with a life of faith and of trust in the will of God. Jesus is calling us, in that trust, to be kind and gentle, not acting with a vengeful heart, but with a heart of love for those around us. SHOUT WITH YOUR LOVE. SHOUT WITH YOUR GENTLENESS. Let your light, your life of meekness, shine and testify to those around you that the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart.
Have a blessed day...and remember...when you are looking for God, when you are looking for understanding...He is there.
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