Controlled Strength - Himalayan Heights – July 22 Readings: Matthew 5:5 – Meek

Matthew 5:1-12  The Beatitudes

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Matthew 5:5

Jesus' most famous sermon took place on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There is enough meat packed into the three brief chapters of Matthew 5-7 to sustain years of Bible Study. The passage begins with the Beatitudes, expressions of blessing. The principles here run counter to everything people instinctively believe in this world. We want to be rich but Jesus invoked blessings on the poor in Spirit - and on and on it goes.

Again, this week, read the entire passage daily, then give special focus to the highlighted passage.

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Through the Bible Readings: Esther 3-4, Acts 18:1–17, Psalm 86:1–8, Proverbs18:6–8

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Controlled Strength     

Language can be a huge huge hurdle in understanding the Bible. There simply is not an English word that translates the Greek word "prautes" - rendered as humble, gentle, or often, meek. Translators have gone away from the familiar "meek" because it has connotations we do not want. The biblical word does not carry the idea of a wimpy weakling.

Numbers 3 tells the story of Miriam and Aaron criticizing Moses for marrying a Cushite woman, very possibly a racial issue. They challenged his place as God’s spokesman and asked if he was the only person through whom God spoke. His response was not vindictive or angry, but he let the Lord defend him. Verse 3 says, “Moses was a very humble (meek) man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.” Our “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” who walked on this earth, having humbled himself and left heavenly glory, in Matthew 11:29 invites the weary to find rest in him, promising that his yoke is light. He says, “I am lowly (meek) and humble in heart.” What an odd thing for the King of kings and Lord of lords to say. He was no weak-kneed wimp. He confronted the money-changers, rebuked the religious leaders, and marched purposefully toward the cross. He endured the shame of the Cross without demonstrating cowardice of any kind. He was no weakling!

If these two strong, courageous men were meek, it must mean something different than we've come to think. Meekness is the quality that resists vengeance, angry, hurtful treatment of others. When you talk about me, my flesh drives me to respond. When you injure me, my soul cries out to return wound for wound. When you humiliate me, my pride wants to return wound for wound. But the Spirit calls us to humility and meekness.

Consider Jesus on the Cross. People beat him and mocked him. They drove nails in his hands and feet and hung him to suffer in agony on Calvary’s hill. At every point during his suffering, he had the power to call angels to deliver him and destroy his accusers. “He could have called 10,000 angels…” HE COULD HAVE. He had the power to blast every tormenter, every liar, every inflictor of pain to eternal hell-fire and torment. What did he do? He submitted to the Father’s plan, endured the pain, and acted in the best interests even of those who hurt him. That is what meekness is.

Scripture reveals three specifics about meekness. 

• Meekness is power under control. The word is used to describe animals who have been tamed. They are still powerful, but under control. The meek have strength, but it is under God's authority and direction. 
• Meekness is a determination not to injure others. The physicians oath says, "First, do no harm." That is a believer's commitment as well. Even when a rebuke is necessary, it is done with kindness, for the good of the other. In Galatians 6, Paul told the church to restore sinners gently (with meekness). 
• Meekness is a rejection of aggression, bullying, pushing others around. It is the opposite of violence, whether verbal, emotional, or physical. Walking in the Spirit, we do use others, abuse others, bully others, or treat them badly.

This Beatitude continues the process. The blessed man or woman recognizes their need for Christ, their spiritual poverty, mourns over sin, and reacts in humility and meekness to the sins of others. When we recognize our own sin, we can react with God's grace toward the sin of others.

Father, tame me and make me meek and humble, that I might serve you with power. 

Think and Pray:

Do you "fight fire with fire?" Treat people as they treat you?
Can you be described accurately as meek? No one is naturally meek - it is a fruit of the Spirit.