LESSON, The Radical Teachings of Jesus Christ #3: Blessed are the meek...

In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.

Radical Concept #3
 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." [Mat 5:5 KJV]

Definition of “meek”: mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness
Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).

Is "meekness" the equivalent of "weakness"?

How is Moses described in Numbers 12:3? What are the circumstances of this passage?
(Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.) [Num 12:3 KJV]

How does Jesus describe himself in Matthew 11:24? What impact does this have on us as individuals?

What are realistic ways in which "meekness" (strength under control) will manifest itself in the life of the believer?

How does this contrast with advice the "world" will give?

What is the opposite of meekness? 


What is God's opinion of the proud?

"These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. [Pro 6:16-19 NKJV]

What will be the end result of proud people? Of the meek?

The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. [Pro 15:25 KJV]

Review the following verses:

[Pro 8:13 KJV] The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.[Pro 11:2 KJV] [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.[Pro 13:10 KJV] Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.[Pro 14:3 KJV] In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.[Pro 16:18 KJV] Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.[Pro 29:23 KJV] A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.[Mar 7:22 KJV] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:[1Jo 2:16 KJV] For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Is it possible that the meek inherit the earth because they are the only ones left standing?

To go to the next lesson click HERE.

Radical Teachings of Jesus Christ #1: "Blessed are the poor in spirit".

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF LESSONS ON THE BEATITUDES FOUND IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 5.

To his listeners, the Sermon on the Mount must have seemed to turn the world upside down!

In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking. 

Radical Concept #1
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3 KJV]

• Is Jesus making a statement in this verse that endorses physical poverty?

IMPORTANT TRUTH: Despite the pervasive popularity of the “prosperity gospel” personal wealth or lack thereof is NOT an indicator or either God’s approval or disapproval in your life.

…[the Father] gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. [Mat 5:45b NLT]

• What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”?

HINT: How would you describe someone who is “poor in dollars” or “rich in dollars”?

• Identify the correct statements:

God needs everything I am and have… 
God needs nothing I am and have…
God wants everything I am and have…
God wants nothing I am and have…

• Identify the correct statement:

God will never ask us to do anything we cannot do…
God will never ask us to do anything we can do…

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, [2Ti 1:9 KJV]

• Why does a spiritual balance of “zero” qualify as blessed?

HINT: We cannot be filled with the "kingdom" until we are first emptied of "self".

Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. [1Co 6:19-20 NLT]

• We will never be "poor in spirit" until we see God in his greatness.

Biblical examples:

Job: Job considers himself righteous until he has an encounter with God. 

"My righteousness I hold fast." (27:6)"I have heard of thee, but now I have seen thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." (42:5,6)

Isaiah: Isaiah is able to identify sin in others, then when he sees the Lord, he is able to identify it in himself.

Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. [Isa 3:11 KJV]Woe unto them that join house to house, [that] lay field to field, till [there be] no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! [Isa 5:8 KJV]Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine inflame them! [Isa 5:11 KJV]Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: [Isa 5:18 KJV]Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! [Isa 5:20 KJV]Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! [Isa 5:21 KJV]Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: [Isa 5:22 KJV]Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. [Isa 6:5 KJV]

Peter: Peter recognizing the superiority of Jesus is able to see his own inferiority.

"And when Peter saw that he fell at Jesus knees and said, Depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man." Luke 5:8

To read the next lesson click HERE.