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“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5
When you close your eyes can you see Your Savior standing on the rolling green hills along the Sea of Galilee? I can imagine His strong voice booming as He walked amongst those who were gathered on the hill that day, seated on the ground. These children of Israel from the land of Judah had gathered that day to hear His words and get a glimpse of this man who spoke wisdom with authority beyond anything they had heard from the Scribes and Pharisees of the day. He spoke with love, gentleness and confidence; but without the pride and demeaning tones of others. He was not placing demands on them as others had done, but rather educating them to a different calling.
He was advising them to be humble, peaceful, patient and willing to serve others. A complete contradiction to the lives of those in authority, that they were used to. In today’s world the word meek implies weakness, timidity and cowardness – a state of near helplessness. Jesus was telling us that the opposite is true. His words were that acts of authority and strength should be rooted in love and humility. Time has proven that those in positions of true authority and power, gain the respect of others through serving and struggling alongside of them. We observe the life of King David or Moses, Joshua or Paul the Apostle and see men who humbled themselves before the Lord to achieve that which the Lord had planned for and through them.
The inheritance of the earth can only be given by the Most High, the owner and creator of the earth. For one to receive an inheritance the owner must choose to give it. In this particular case I believe that Christ is describing the ultimate inheritance possible. For who could give anything greater than the whole earth? At the time of this sermon on the mount though, the term earth would have represented land, and more specifically the land God had promised their forefathers – the Land of Canaan. This land represented the perfect Kingdom of God, promised to the children of Israel. By stating that they could inherit the earth, He was actually stating that they could inherit the Kingdom of God by being humble, loving, peaceful, patient and by serving others.
This opened the door for all mankind to receive the inheritance, not just the select few in authority at the top of the hierarchy. From the smallest child to the oldest fisherman in the village along the Sea of Galilee, the Kingdom of God was made available. Walking amongst the people seated on the grassy hill, He reached out to them with a calmness, truthfulness and authority beyond Himself. His life had demonstrated this before their very eyes for that brief few years of His ministry. He had not come violently, full of pride and taken this position of authority. No He had come in love, a bond servant to mankind and filled with peace and humbleness before God Almighty. In doing so they found Him approachable, lovable and filled with a spirit unlike any other that had ever come through their cities. His meekness was intoxicating and His authority was believable because of this character trait.
We all need to learn this lesson as well. Through pride, arrogance and selfishness one can achieve great things in this life. But all of that is fleeting and means nothing when life comes to an end. The call of Jesus Christ is to live in meekness in this life and plan for the rich inheritance in the life to come with Him and the Father through eternity.
He was advising them to be humble, peaceful, patient and willing to serve others. A complete contradiction to the lives of those in authority, that they were used to. In today’s world the word meek implies weakness, timidity and cowardness – a state of near helplessness. Jesus was telling us that the opposite is true. His words were that acts of authority and strength should be rooted in love and humility. Time has proven that those in positions of true authority and power, gain the respect of others through serving and struggling alongside of them. We observe the life of King David or Moses, Joshua or Paul the Apostle and see men who humbled themselves before the Lord to achieve that which the Lord had planned for and through them.
The inheritance of the earth can only be given by the Most High, the owner and creator of the earth. For one to receive an inheritance the owner must choose to give it. In this particular case I believe that Christ is describing the ultimate inheritance possible. For who could give anything greater than the whole earth? At the time of this sermon on the mount though, the term earth would have represented land, and more specifically the land God had promised their forefathers – the Land of Canaan. This land represented the perfect Kingdom of God, promised to the children of Israel. By stating that they could inherit the earth, He was actually stating that they could inherit the Kingdom of God by being humble, loving, peaceful, patient and by serving others.
This opened the door for all mankind to receive the inheritance, not just the select few in authority at the top of the hierarchy. From the smallest child to the oldest fisherman in the village along the Sea of Galilee, the Kingdom of God was made available. Walking amongst the people seated on the grassy hill, He reached out to them with a calmness, truthfulness and authority beyond Himself. His life had demonstrated this before their very eyes for that brief few years of His ministry. He had not come violently, full of pride and taken this position of authority. No He had come in love, a bond servant to mankind and filled with peace and humbleness before God Almighty. In doing so they found Him approachable, lovable and filled with a spirit unlike any other that had ever come through their cities. His meekness was intoxicating and His authority was believable because of this character trait.
We all need to learn this lesson as well. Through pride, arrogance and selfishness one can achieve great things in this life. But all of that is fleeting and means nothing when life comes to an end. The call of Jesus Christ is to live in meekness in this life and plan for the rich inheritance in the life to come with Him and the Father through eternity.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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For additional Daily Thoughts, please visit: http://www.10minutereader.com
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