Meek

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matt 5:5 ESV)

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Meek would not be in the top fifty or even one hundred words that my family and friends would use to describe me. It has long been said that “meekness is not weakness” yet, we tend to perceive meek with weak. Meekness means gentleness and self-control. Both gentleness and self-control are listed as fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer (Gal 5:22-23).

Meekness has to do with our attitudes toward people. It is one thing for us to confess our spiritual poverty (5:3) and mourn (5:4), it is far more difficult to respond with meekness when someone else confronts us about our bankruptcy, inadequacies, sin. Believers, myself included, need to start responding to this hostile world in meekness (gentleness and self-control). The last thing this world needs is more harsh and angry responses. I need to learn to respond in meekness so that I may deescalate a conversation rather than throwing and adding fuel to the fire.

The reward for the meek person is a fulfillment of Psalm 37:11, “But the meek shall inherit the land [in Hebrew land can also mean earth] and delight themselves in abundant peace.” While in Psalm 37:11 inherit the land refers to the Promised Land, here in Matt 5:5, Jesus extends this inheritance to all those who will believe in Him.

For the meek person, this promise of inheriting the earth is in the future; however, “it is an encouragement in the present, for Jesus’s followers know their present sacrifices will be worth it and they will be vindicated” (G.R. Osborne, Matthew, ZECNT, 2010, p. 167). May we persevere and endure in meekness knowing the great reward that lies ahead!

Father God, as the Greeks viewed meekness as a vice, so does our society today. Lord God, help us to be a people who are humble and gentle displaying self-control in this chaotic and out of control world. Lord God, thank You that when we actively call on You and authentically seek You, wanting to obey You, that You will help us to respond in a manner that brings You glory. Lord God, I am sorry for all the times where my attitude toward others has been anything but meek. Lord God, while the internet is a wonderful tool, it can also be wielded as a weapon. Lord God, help us to be meek when engaging in online discussions. May we not seek to provoke people whom we disagree with just for the because of it. Lord God, prepare us for whatever it is that we are to face next. Prepare our families and friends. Lord God, thank You for this reader. Thank You Jesus for the example of meekness that You have set before us. May we long to be more like You each and every day. In Your Name Jesus. Amen.

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Blue Collar Theologian

My name is Mandy Sweigart-Quinn, I live in Lancaster, PA and I am a “Blue Collar Theologian.” I love Jesus! I am passionate about His Word (The Holy Bible)! I come alive when I can encourage others in their walk with Jesus (whether by writing or speaking). As a “Blue Collar Theologian” it is my aim to live/practice/work out my Christian hope with sincerity, authenticity and genuineness. As a “Blue Collar Theologian,” I strive to meet people right where they are (“Incarnational Theology”). I graduated in May 2019 from Capital Seminary and Graduate School with a Master's in Biblical Studies. I am a passionate, excited and enthusiastic person! I love flowers, sports and sunsets. Since January 2, 2018 I have had the privilege of being married to Nathan.

70 thoughts on “Meek”

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  4. Wow!! Amen! We said, Mandy! You are right, we need to respond in meekness and gentleness even if we will be seen as week or ridiculed. Meekness is something not desired in this…world where fire is fought by fire. We should imbibe this trait especially in our sanctification process. Regardless how the world perceives us, we continue being meek in the Lord while we focus on the Triune GOD’s promise that in the future, we will worship Him in Heaven. GOD bless you, Nathan, and your parents! Watching our favorite show now.

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    1. Thank you brother for this well articulated response! I love the “fire fought by fire” I was thinking something along those lines and did not know how to express it! Thank you for that! “Imbibing…sanctification process” that is powerful! As our Triune God is Holy and Jesus Himself is the perfect example of meekness, so should we be meek as we grow in sanctification. Bullseye to this, brother! Thank you so much! Enjoy the show!!!

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  5. Excellent post! I have to admit that I lapse into non-meekness-mode too often.

    I’m glad you reference Obsorne’s ZECNT. I’ve been going through a portion of it of late, and I thought to myself how good it is while doing so. Osborne’s is the only one I have in the ZECNT series, but I must say I like the layout/design.

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    1. Hi, Craig! My references aren’t in italics as said function is laughing at me. With that said, thank you for taking the time to read and comment! The ZECNT is a really good and user friendly series! I also HIGHLY recommend the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT (BECNT). I have read all the NAC’s and Blomberg’s Matthew NAC commentary has good points, but not as in-depth. Another series that I like is the Revised Expositor’s Commentary. Sinclair Ferguson and Lloyd-Jones both have excellent commentaries on the SOM. I was surprised and disappointed that Carson and Beale’s NT use of OT had no real mention of Psalm 37 in that beatitude.

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      1. In my Accordance software, I have a number of full-catalog commentaries (NAC, Pillar, Anchor, IVP, NIGTC, e.g.)–which can be overwhelming!–and I have hard copies of a number of BECNT volumes (Beale’s Revelation, plus Luke, Acts, e.g.), Revised Expositor’s, NICNT, plus a bunch of WORD (WBC). Like all volume series, somes is excellent, somes not so much.

        Blomberg authored the Matthew section in the Carson/Beale OT-in-NT volume.

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      2. True about Blomberg! I love commentaries! I have not worked with Pillar very often. The one book I signed out from my Sem library had a disclaimer the guy plagiarized! Why wouldn’t you just pull it from the shelf entirely? It was God I even saw the disclaimer and didn’t use the work in my paper! I didn’t even think of WBC what a resource!

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  9. Mandy,

    Was the one accused of plagiarism Peter T. O’Brien? I have two of his commentaries in hard copy (Ephesians on Pillar, and Colossians/Philemon on WBC), one of which was duplicated in Accordance and subsequently removed in an update. I recall reading about this, and O’Brien claimed he’d done so inadvertently. I’m inclined to believe him. I like the two commentaries I have (and I’m sure I’ve referenced him in footnotes in articles over the years).

    In fact, I recall one book by a different author that I was going to review who cited O’Brien as support for his position, when O’Brien’s work actually supported the opposite–on a view with which I agree with O’Brien!

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    1. Yes. Eerdmans stopped publishing his works (Pillar Hebrews and Ephesians as well as NIGTC Philippians) because of this, that is why I was surprised my school library didn’t remove it as well. I was going to use O’Brien’s Ephesians for a massive paper on Eph 1:3-11. I am thankful that I learned about this before writing my paper because my Greek professor put him on the list of sources not to use.

      While I am glad to hear he said this was unintentional, it would still be difficult for me to use his work (that is NOT anything against you!).

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      1. To be clear, I’d never source his work on any paper submitted on a professional/academic level (I’ve never done that anyway, and I have no idea how to go about that sort of thing as a non-degreed ‘forever student’). What I meant is that it is quite likely I sourced his works on my blog before I’d found out about the plagiarism charge.

        I agree the library should have either pulled the work(s) altogether, or placed a very prominent mark on the work noting the charge.

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      2. I was trying to share my experience! I did not mean to suggest that you would use his resources in a formal setting, I did not explain that well! It’s a tough from one. From what others have said he contributed significantly to evangelical theology. I did not mean to come across or suggest to know how you would or would not use said sources. My parenthesis didn’t come across the way that I intended and I am sorry for that!

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  10. Mandy,

    LOL! 🙂 Sometimes these sorts of discussions get misinterpreted. I understood your intent with your parenthetical comment, I just wanted to clarify mine! That’s all. No harm, no foul, NOWHERE!

    I try hard to just present facts in a neutral way. I’m rarely offended by something said or written about me. Unfortunately, I suppose the intended neutrality is sometimes misinterpreted as something else. What-are-ya-gonna-do, right?

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    1. Thank you, Craig!
      I am one of those people who are chronically concerned that I have offended people unintentionally with my comments. A lot of my Seminary experience was online discussion post/forums much like this and I was always fretting if my comment was being misconstrued.

      Because I am such a passionate, enthusiastic and excited person I try to write like I talk and at times that back fires! I am really thinking about vlogging so people can see and hear my tone etc, however, I would still be at the mercy of written communication with comments! I am thankful for you, brother!

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    1. Thank you for reading, Sheila! I pray that people will take God’s creation mandate more seriously. We are to steward and care for the earth. According to Edgar subduing the earth is not done in violence but in gentleness. How cool that from the beginning the meek will inherit the earth. If you’re interested here’s Edgar’s article on The Creation Mandate (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-creation-mandate/). Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it!!!

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  13. No doubt, this is the perfect season to make huge efforts in meekness attitudes and personal inventory. We can look no further than the manger setting for a model to follow. Merry Christmas, Mandy. Grateful for you. God’s grip – Alan

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  15. Thanks for this good post, Mandy! I’m trying, with God’s grace, to be better about avoiding/defusing spats with fellow believers over secondary and tertiary differences. We must also reach out to unbelievers with the love of Christ, although without compromising the Gospel. When I have my “discernment ministry” hat on, I tend to become a bit un-meek. Grace and truth.

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  17. Fantastic! I got myself a Vine’s Dictionary of the Old and New Testament for Christmas. So I want to let you know I’m a geek for meek! It defines meek as an inwrought grace of the soul and exercises itself chiefly toward God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us are good, and that we can accept it without disputing or resisting.

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  18. I’m two days behind my reader! Wow didn’t realized you posted this! Will read this after my errand to the seminary library but wanted to say thank you for sharing your testimony with our youth group!

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  19. Responding to your comment: I just prayed for your brother’s salvation. That’s neat you actually spent time in my city and saw Christmas lights and Palm trees which I think is so cool too!

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  20. Amen, dear friend! Meekness is such an overlooked thing today. It’s not an easy thing to choose by any means, but the rewards are great. I still have much to go in this regard though I am ever pressing for more of it. I join you in your heartfelt prayer. Love, hugs, and blessings to you! ❤

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  21. Finally got to reading this. Love how you pointed out Psalm 37:11 and Jesus’ promise in Matthew 5. This is an important virtue even if the world won’t have this as their important top words.

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