This is the third sermon in our series "The Way To Happiness". Everyone wants to be happy, and the New Testament is our greatest authority on the subject. Jesus Christ gives us the key that will unlock the door to happiness in the eight Beatitudes.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The word translated “blessed” is sometimes translated “happy.”
In this sermon, the third in the series Jesus says that meekness is the way to happiness
The audio recording of the sermon is at the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
The word translated “blessed” is sometimes translated “happy.”
In this sermon, the third in the series Jesus says that meekness is the way to happiness
The audio recording of the sermon is at the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Matthew 5:1-12 ESV Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Introduction
Now that the new year and decade have started we’ve been looking at the things that Jesus says brings happiness to those who follow Him. We’ve been doing that by looking at the Beatitudes. The word Beatitude means extreme blessing or happiness. Most of the things we just read don't seem to be happy things.
The first thing that Jesus says will bring happiness is humility
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Last Sunday we saw that Jesus said that Sorrow is the way to Happiness.
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Today we want to talk about the fact that Jesus says that being meek leads to happiness.
Text:
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Can you truly be meek and happy at the same time? Can you picture a meek person who is also a happy person?
You might find it rather challenging, because our misunderstanding of meekness. In a world that thinks only an aggressive and ambitious person can get ahead in life, it is hard to believe that those who are meek will inherit anything, much less the earth!
Yet Jesus said meekness as the way to happiness. “Blessed [happy] are the meek” (Matt. 5:5).
Jesus wasn’t implying that being fearful or weak brings happiness. Instead, Jesus was talking about an, attitude or an outlook. The meekness he described requires us to be strong people who are grounded in Him. It demands us to have a personal relationship with God. This kind of meekness really does bring happiness.
Meekness is the way to happiness for several reasons.
1. Meekness maintains an even temperament.
Aristotle defined meekness as the mean between two extremes—intense anger and excessive indifference. It is the happy medium between too much anger and too little passion.
William Barclay, a Scotish minister and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow, suggested that this beatitude should be translated, “Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
When is the right time to be angry?
When insult or injury is suffered by others, not us.
It’s hard for us to maintain an even temperament and not get angry when we are injured or insulted, so how do we develop this even temperament? How can we avoid the extremes of severe anger or apathy?
It won't surprise when I say that we can’t! We can’t but God can do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
How does God give us an even temperament?
First, through salvation; nothing happens before salvation we must be born again. We must become new and different people.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Once we become that new person the Holy Spirit who comes and indwells us can work in our lives, developing the fruit or characteristics that result in our ability to have an even temperament, which allows us to be meek.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Introduction
Now that the new year and decade have started we’ve been looking at the things that Jesus says brings happiness to those who follow Him. We’ve been doing that by looking at the Beatitudes. The word Beatitude means extreme blessing or happiness. Most of the things we just read don't seem to be happy things.
The first thing that Jesus says will bring happiness is humility
Matthew 5:3 ESV "Blessed are the poor in spirit (or humble), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Last Sunday we saw that Jesus said that Sorrow is the way to Happiness.
Matthew 5:4 ESV "Blessed are those who mourn (or who are sorrowful), for they shall be comforted.
Today we want to talk about the fact that Jesus says that being meek leads to happiness.
Text:
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Can you truly be meek and happy at the same time? Can you picture a meek person who is also a happy person?
You might find it rather challenging, because our misunderstanding of meekness. In a world that thinks only an aggressive and ambitious person can get ahead in life, it is hard to believe that those who are meek will inherit anything, much less the earth!
Yet Jesus said meekness as the way to happiness. “Blessed [happy] are the meek” (Matt. 5:5).
Jesus wasn’t implying that being fearful or weak brings happiness. Instead, Jesus was talking about an, attitude or an outlook. The meekness he described requires us to be strong people who are grounded in Him. It demands us to have a personal relationship with God. This kind of meekness really does bring happiness.
Meekness is the way to happiness for several reasons.
1. Meekness maintains an even temperament.
Aristotle defined meekness as the mean between two extremes—intense anger and excessive indifference. It is the happy medium between too much anger and too little passion.
William Barclay, a Scotish minister and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow, suggested that this beatitude should be translated, “Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
When is the right time to be angry?
When insult or injury is suffered by others, not us.
It’s hard for us to maintain an even temperament and not get angry when we are injured or insulted, so how do we develop this even temperament? How can we avoid the extremes of severe anger or apathy?
It won't surprise when I say that we can’t! We can’t but God can do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
How does God give us an even temperament?
First, through salvation; nothing happens before salvation we must be born again. We must become new and different people.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Once we become that new person the Holy Spirit who comes and indwells us can work in our lives, developing the fruit or characteristics that result in our ability to have an even temperament, which allows us to be meek.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2. Meekness maintains an even temperament, which allows us to develop self-control.
The word translated “meekness”, praus, has a second meaning. Often it was used to express the idea of “self-control, which we just read is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. So this beatitude could also be translated, “Blessed are they who are entirely self-controlled for they shall inherit the earth.”
Weakness is giving in to the worst that is in you. Meekness is mastery over it. To be meek does not mean that you are cowardly, but it does mean that you are strong enough not to retaliate when wrongly treated.
We all do have rights but, those who are meek do not insist on them.
1 Corinthians 8:8-9, 13 ESV Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Now Paul was talking about food and eating food that was sometimes part of pagan ceremonies or sacrifices but you see his point. Even though Christians are free to eat these things, under certain conditions we shouldn’t allow this freedom to injure or confuse others. To get the full picture read chapters 8 and 10 of 1 Corinthians.
Having great freedom, those who are meek do not flaunt it. They would rather forgive than accuse. That kind of self-control results in an inner peace. People who cannot control their anger, greed, lust, tongue, or ambition will never be at peace within. They will constantly be at war with themselves.
3. Meekness expresses itself through gentleness.
A third meaning of the Greek word for meekness tells us something else about this quality of a happy life. Meekness may be translated “kindness” or “gentleness.” Let’s go back again to the fruit of the Spirit;
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 6:1 ESV Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
A gentle person is considerate of others even when they have done wrong.
James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Proud, arrogant, or insecure people can never bring themselves to do this. However, meek, gentle, and secure individuals have the courage to admit their mistakes to others.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault or acknowledge himself in error.” Humble people bravely admit their shortcomings, which leads to happiness for all involved.A gentle person encourages others. Titus 3:1-2 ESV Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
As long as you maximize others’ faults while minimizing your own, you can never be happy.
4. As Jesus said the meek are assured of victory.
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
This truth is affirmed many times throughout the Bible. Listen to these four passages from Psalms.
Psalms 37:9-11 ESV For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
Psalms 22:26 KJV The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psalms 25:9 KJV The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalms 147:6 KJV The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
It is significant that Jesus said the meek shall “inherit,” not “capture,” the earth. An inheritor is a receiver, not an aggressor. God in his providence has structured the world so that the meek are certain to inherit it.
Conclusion
If you think that meekness is hard to develop, you’re right. I cannot tell myself to be meek and and then I become meek. God never intended for us to be able to make ourselves meek. That is not our nature. But remember as I said before what we cannot do for ourselves God does for us—first through salvation and then continuing his work through the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Have you been born again? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you? When you do, the wonderful quality of meekness will be yours, and you will enter the way to happiness!
The word translated “meekness”, praus, has a second meaning. Often it was used to express the idea of “self-control, which we just read is a part of the fruit of the Spirit. So this beatitude could also be translated, “Blessed are they who are entirely self-controlled for they shall inherit the earth.”
Weakness is giving in to the worst that is in you. Meekness is mastery over it. To be meek does not mean that you are cowardly, but it does mean that you are strong enough not to retaliate when wrongly treated.
We all do have rights but, those who are meek do not insist on them.
1 Corinthians 8:8-9, 13 ESV Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Now Paul was talking about food and eating food that was sometimes part of pagan ceremonies or sacrifices but you see his point. Even though Christians are free to eat these things, under certain conditions we shouldn’t allow this freedom to injure or confuse others. To get the full picture read chapters 8 and 10 of 1 Corinthians.
Having great freedom, those who are meek do not flaunt it. They would rather forgive than accuse. That kind of self-control results in an inner peace. People who cannot control their anger, greed, lust, tongue, or ambition will never be at peace within. They will constantly be at war with themselves.
3. Meekness expresses itself through gentleness.
A third meaning of the Greek word for meekness tells us something else about this quality of a happy life. Meekness may be translated “kindness” or “gentleness.” Let’s go back again to the fruit of the Spirit;
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- Meekness and gentleness are characteristics of a strong, not weak, person.A gentle person is considerate of others.
Galatians 6:1 ESV Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
A gentle person is considerate of others even when they have done wrong.
- A gentle person can admit their faults to others.
James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Proud, arrogant, or insecure people can never bring themselves to do this. However, meek, gentle, and secure individuals have the courage to admit their mistakes to others.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault or acknowledge himself in error.” Humble people bravely admit their shortcomings, which leads to happiness for all involved.A gentle person encourages others. Titus 3:1-2 ESV Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
As long as you maximize others’ faults while minimizing your own, you can never be happy.
4. As Jesus said the meek are assured of victory.
Matthew 5:5 ESV "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
This truth is affirmed many times throughout the Bible. Listen to these four passages from Psalms.
Psalms 37:9-11 ESV For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
Psalms 22:26 KJV The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Psalms 25:9 KJV The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
Psalms 147:6 KJV The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
It is significant that Jesus said the meek shall “inherit,” not “capture,” the earth. An inheritor is a receiver, not an aggressor. God in his providence has structured the world so that the meek are certain to inherit it.
Conclusion
If you think that meekness is hard to develop, you’re right. I cannot tell myself to be meek and and then I become meek. God never intended for us to be able to make ourselves meek. That is not our nature. But remember as I said before what we cannot do for ourselves God does for us—first through salvation and then continuing his work through the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Have you been born again? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you? When you do, the wonderful quality of meekness will be yours, and you will enter the way to happiness!
Sermon Audio
RSS Feed