Mat 5:4; The Meek Inherit the Earth.

Class Outline:

Wednesday April 3, 2024

 

MAT 5:1-5

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

Praus: the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness.

 

The first three Beatitudes form a group. Poor, mourning, gentle (small, powerless). The results - theirs is the kingdom of heaven, they will be comforted, they will inherit the earth.

 

Jesus uses this word to describe Himself.

 

MAT 11:28-30

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  29 "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.  30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

 

The prophets use the word to describe Him.

 

MAT 21:4-5

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 "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.'"

 

That’s the adjective, let’s look at the noun:

 

Prautes (noun)

 

2CO 10:1; GAL 5:22-23; GAL 6:1; EPH 4:1-3; COL 3:12-13; 2TI 2:24-26; TIT 3:1-2; JAM 1:21; 3:13; 1PE 3:13-16.

 

Gentleness, meekness, powerlessness is a foundational virtue of the Christian life. It is poise and reliance upon the Lord, doing things His way, through His word, by His Spirit.

 

Poor, mourning, and meek describe the character of Jesus’ apprentice, but they are His character traits, which could only be ours by supernatural means.

 

The Beatitudes are a surprisingly countercultural way. This makes sense in light of:

 

ISA 55:5

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

 

“They will inherit (be granted) the earth” looks ahead to the end of history. You are going to inherit the earth some day, so rejoice and receive the Lord’s blessings with gratitude and be a blessing to others in this world.

 

Those who have a lot often do not know that what they have is of no value in eternity, which is the real home of humanity.  Psa 49.

 

Jesus Himself is praus (meek, gentle, and in His way, powerless - having emptied Himself of the expression of His deity).

 

During His trials, Jesus shows no aggression though with a command He could rain down heaven furiously upon the earth. Still, He is not a cowering weakling either. He is not moping, but He is mourning, and not for Himself, but for the others.

 

LUK 23:27-28

And following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were mourning and lamenting Him. 28 But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”

 

JOH 11:35

Jesus wept.

Why was He weeping?

 

Jesus’ meekness is quite the opposite of what the Jews expected their Messiah to be as a conqueror.

 

The overall impression of Jesus on trial is one of poise. It is the poise of not having to assert oneself. Hence, it is a strong weakness. Strong in the way of heaven and weak in the way of the earth.

 

Meek means that we do God’s will no matter how weak it makes us look in the world, 1PE 3:1-6.