Blessed are...

Meekness Misunderstood

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

No other Beatitude has drawn such incredulity or derision as the third. The very notion that the meek shall inherit the earth seems counter-intuitive. In our world this simply does not happen. Those who sit in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies have not acquired their oak-paneled offices or their large salaries through deference. Wars are won by those who know how to fight, not by those who practice gentle humility. From the school yard to the field of battle, success belongs to the one who is strong, aggressive, and confident. If the meek survive long enough to inherit anything, it will be at the whim of whoever wears the victor’s crown.

There are two problems, however, with this popular assessment. First, it is a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be meek. Second, it is a distortion of what it means to win. Meekness has nothing to do with weakness. A meek person need not be shy or withdrawn, spineless or indecisive. A meek person need not be known for a lack of confidence, or for cowardice. To be meek is not to be timid, or to accommodate aggression. So what is it?

Meekness is the effect of poverty of spirit, and of mourning over sin. It is not quick to defend itself; it has the confidence to be secure. To be meek is to possess the humble strength that places all of its trust in our Covenant-Keeping God. It is slow to anger, swift to listen, and to love. Meekness knows that the greatest power in the world is not to be found in the barrel of a gun, but in God; meekness knows that the greatest victory of all time was won not upon a battlefield, but on a Cross.



Mighty God,
Awesome in power, splendid in might,
I acknowledge Your greatness and sing Your praise.
Since I fear You, let me be afraid of nothing and no-one else.
Give to me, I pray, the spirit, not of timidity but of strength.
So may I be bold to witness to Your goodness and Your love,
and to rest forever in Your providential care.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.