Walking With Christ

We read in Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”(ESV)

This is found in the Beatitudes portion of the Sermon on the Mount.  This is an amazing sermon.  Most of the sermon is feet to fire with a serious heart to heart with God.  This particular verse may be one of the most often repeated verses in the whole sermon.  It’s also, likely, one of the least understood verses.

When most people read this, they read meek as weak.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.

The best explanation I’ve ever hear for this is to think of a Roman war horse.  Strong.  Powerful.  Willing to walk through fire, a raging battlefield, or even give up it’s life if that is what the rider demands.  The horse is far from weak.  It is meek.  Meek never meant weak but rather controlled strength.

Think about it.  A position of weakness cannot show mercy or make peace.  It is only from a position of strength that these things flow.  God is all powerful.  He shows us near infinite mercy.  He pursues peace.  He has the power to force us if we resist, but He won’t do that because it violates the laws of free will and love.

Carry it a little further, in verse 10 we read “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Having the strength and power to fight back against the persecutor and choosing not to do so is meekness.

Have a blessed day!