The preachers quoted here say meekness is not weakness. They describe it as yielding one's rights to God, a steady mind in honour and dishonour, and goodness that feels no need to prove itself. They add that it does not come from human nature but is fruit of the Spirit, growing out of poverty of spirit.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Jesus was quoting a psalm: "the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psalm 37:11). The Greek noun is praotes;1 the Hebrew word behind the psalm describes the lowly who wait for God instead of grasping for themselves.2
Meekness is first of all an attitude towards God. In Psalm 37 the meek are those who do not fret because of evildoers but commit their way to the LORD.
It is not weakness. "The man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3), and Moses faced down Pharaoh. It is strength under control. Thomas Watson defined it: "Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by the Spirit of God to moderate our passion."3
Christ is the pattern. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). He entered Jerusalem "meek, and sitting upon an ass" (21:5). "When he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).
The New Testament asks for meekness in particular situations: in restoring someone who has fallen (Galatians 6:1), in correcting opponents (2 Timothy 2:25), in receiving the word (James 1:21), and in giving a reason for one's hope "with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). Peter calls "a meek and quiet spirit" an ornament "which is in the sight of God of great price" (3:4).
It is listed in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which means it is grown, not put on. Its promise is the one Jesus gave: those who do not seize the earth will be given it.
- Strong's Greek 4236, praiótēs: "gentleness, by implication, humility".
- Strong's Hebrew 6035, ʻânâv: "depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)".
- Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12, "Christian meekness".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Meekness is yielding all my personal rights to God and being thankful for each one he returns to me as a privilege.
Jim Logan
in Attitudes on Humility
Listen at 5:07
Meekness is not limpwristedness, weakness or passivity.
Anton Bosch
in Blessed Are the Meek
Read in context
Meekness is the ability to be virtuous without feeling the necessity to prove it.
Michael Durham
in The Meekness of Christ
Listen at 7:06
Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which remains the same in honour and dishonour.
St. John Climacus
in Step 24 on Meekness, Simplicity, Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Habit, and About Malice
Read in context
And meekness is a fruit of being poor in spirit.
Don McClure
in Meekness
Listen at 26:56
Meekness is a quality that is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.
Tim Conway
in Blessed Are the Meek
Listen at 22:07
Meekness is not a quality inherent within the human nature.
Phil Beach Jr.
in Seven Deadly Sins Every Christian Should Hate - Introduction
Listen at 35:22
What Scripture says
- Matthew 5:5 blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
- Matthew 11:29 learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart
- Numbers 12:3 Moses was very meek, above all men on the earth
- 1 Peter 2:23 when he was reviled, reviled not again
- Galatians 6:1 restore such a one in the spirit of meekness
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