Blessed Are The Meek: For They Shall Inherit The Earth ( Matthew 5:5 )

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Tonight I continue in the beatitudes. I must say it has been a joy and a delight these past two devotionals going verse by verse into the richness of the beginning of Jesus first sermon. With Thanksgiving on the horizon in a few days how fitting to share with you this particular verse from the beatitudes. You know I may or may not have mentioned this previously,but it has been on my heart to want to expound and go through the Beatitudes. To me there is such richness and I believe even with most evangelicals being so familiar with the passages I don't think too many take the time to really soak them in and really chew on them. For as I believe I stated before the word beatitude means blessed. Right there we can see Jesus was stating the blessedness of being one of His. How blessed it is to be called an heir and know we are family. It humbles me daily to know God has adopted me. That by the redeeming work of His Son, I am what was it says in the gospel of John, I have become a son and shall dwell forever in the house of the Lord forever as David wrote( John 1:12,Psalm 23:6) . As I mentioned a bit earlier this verse is very fitting before Thanksgiving which is a few days away. For it says the meek shall inherit the earth. I will divulge in more depth as I get into the passage in a bit, but my brethren as we head toward Thanksgiving be thankful for one more thing knowing we are part of those who are to inherit as being adopted in the family of God. Now time to dig into the passage and I pray this both edifies you my brethren and encourages you.

Jesus continues His sermon with, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. " First I'd like to start with the word I do believe most people do get confused about and that is meek. First off I will go ahead and be to some measure blunt and say meek does not equal weak. While they do rhyme they do not mean they same thing. Let me give you both of the word's definition and go from there. By definition meek is appropriately humble, self-sufficient, not proud, or refractory. Alright now here is the definition of weak- lacking strength and not able to sustain or exert much weight. Can we see already a difference? By the definition alone we surely can see the contrast in the person. For while the weak person may not be able to sustain themselves it by no way suggests they don't think in anyway they can't handle it. See there is quite a difference in being weak and being meek. For it takes a great measure of humility to admit when you need help. Cause no matter who you are we all need help, especially from God. I know daily I rely on God to make it. For it is Him who sustains and upholds me.

Let me draw an example from this. How many times have you seen where someone despite them not being physically able to handle a task try to undertake it. They do it because simply put they feel they need no one and can get by on their own even though they know the lack of ability in areas and short comings. Still the biggest problem is pride.


By nature we are prideful and it is something that must be dealt with for it will lead to much greater errs. Truly the meek while not perfect sees their imperfections and humbly bows and looks to heaven for help. Knowing with God they shall not make even one step each day for it is Him who provides each breathe. Let me provide a quote from Matthew Henry which I came across while reading a book a month ago and this should shed some more light on this subject.

"Humility softens the soul like wax that we may receive the impression of the seal, whether it be "for doctrine, for reproof, or correction, or for training in righteousness." Humility opens our spiritual ears to discipline, silences the objections of the flesh, and suppresses the risings of the carnal mind against the Word of God. It agrees that the law of God is good and esteems all its precepts to be right even when they give the greatest check to our fleshly pride."
-Matthew Henry
(The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit,19 )

Matthew Henry put it so eloquently by capturing the essence of humility. For since we who have had our hearts of stone replaced with those of flesh now are being humbled daily by the mercies of God. That truly we see how blessed it is to be meek and in this no longer do we object to things of God,but delight in them and esteem them the more even when chastening occurs.

Notice at the end of the verse it says they shall inherit the earth. Much like the previous verses Jesus does not just say blessed are they and move on,but give explanation. Jesus states blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. I believe to get an understanding for this we must look to the scriptures for the infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself. Look at the 37th psalm and do you see the theme or what the writer is addressing. David there clearly shows his confidence in God, he also contrasts the ends of the wicked and the godly. While it may seem the wicked flourish and rise up like the grass they shall perish. Another Psalm which may shed some light is the first psalm. For read what it says in the sixth verse and this gives us clear indication to what end the righteous and the wicked see. You see the wicked shall perish, but the righteous shall be established or as Jesus states in this verse in Matthew inherit. Another point to really draw is what makes the difference and that is God. Notice in verse six, it says God knoweth the way of the righteous. Think about what it says in scripture that He is our shepherd(Psalm 23:1), our light, and as it is written ," The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. ( Psalm 37:23 ). "

Consider also when Jesus said for they shall inherit the earth that He meant it. Look at this verse in the book of Revelation," He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ( Revelation 21:7 )" While yes this points to the future what a blessing it is for if you look at verse eight in contrast these verses paint the same picture as seen in Psalm 37. Granted David did not write lake of fire or about a new heaven and earth, but David understood the difference between the godly and the wicked and to what end they have to look forward to. He understood those who served the Lord with all their hearts and put their trust in Him had eternal life to look to(Psalm 23:6). Those who were wicked and lived by their own means they would perish. David may have had a somewhat veiled understanding as opposed to the Apostle John, but it was clear David knew there was only one way to heaven. One day we as believers will inherit the earth and there our temple will be the lamb and God almighty(Revelation 21:22 ), for the presence of God shall be there among us, not saying His presence isn't with us now, but in such a way we will need no light nor fire for He will be our light( Revelation 21:23 ). So yes truly blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Oh what a blessing we have to look forward to. To spend eternity with the Lord our God in His presence forever worship Him.


Brethren be encouraged that while it seems literally these days we can relate to David in Psalm 37, as it seems the wicked of our age flourish extravagantly. Worse off it seems as we suffer and can't seem to rise above as far getting ahead. Brothers and sisters may I encourage you to have the attitude David took in the 37th psalm and that is continue to wait patiently and place total confidence in God. I know we all have days where it gets tough,but we must hold on fast and look to heaven for strength. I know for myself it can be discouraging knowing how many wicked men and women are getting this and that, yet brethren like myself struggle for simple things. Of course I can say personally in not having everything being easily obtained I've grown in trusting the Lord more and more daily. I appreciate everything more and more from daily provisions to the very clothes on my back. For I know the Lord will provide exactly what I need and that is most comforting knowing I have a Heavenly Father who looks after me. Brethren may you also consider the very theme of the beatitudes and that is blessed. As believers we truly are blessed. Blessed to be sparred from the wrath to come. It often has humbled me and even once I wrote or maybe more than that, that if God saw fit to never bless me again that Him saving me was enough of a blessing. For in that He gave me a gift of such value that could not be priced and no other blessing to be compared other than what followed immediately and that was being adopted as an heir. Now may I leave you my brethren with these words of encouragement from the Apostle Paul,

" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. "


( Ephesians 1:3-14 )


Good night and God bless,
John W. Whybrew III <><