Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

Who are the meek that Jesus blesses in this beatitude? As I wrestled with this, a source of help was found in a later passage in Matthew’s gospel, this one:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Why is passage helpful in identifying the blessed meek? Because Jesus describes himself that way! When Jesus says, “I am gentle and humble in heart,” he is using the Greek word, praus, that is translated most other places as meek. Jesus is gentle, he is meek, and he blesses the meek. If we look at Jesus’ life, we quickly realize that being meek is not the same thing as being weak! Instead, being meek means being willing to submit to the will of our heavenly Father, just as Jesus did. When you think about it, it took a certain strength for Jesus to be meek in this way, because obeying God often went directly against what the world demanded of Jesus (and even what his own disciples asked of him). And so it goes for us – being meek takes a certain strength because it often means going against what the world asks of us. 

My favorite image for the meekness that Jesus models and teaches us is from a poem by Mary Karr, “Who the Meek Are Not.” (From her collection of poetry, “Sinners Welcome.”) To understand this meekness, Karr writes, “picture a great stallion at full gallop in a meadow, who—at his master’s voice— seizes up to a stunned but instant halt. So with the strain of holding that great power in check, the muscles along the arched neck keep eddying, and only the velvet ears prick forward, awaiting the next order.”

That is the meekness that Jesus teaches and demonstrates! There is nothing gentle about it, in the eyes of the world. It is as powerful as a great stallion. And as powerful as the Son of God, who blesses the meek, and who invites us to show others the same gentleness and meekness that he shows us. 

So, how do we become this meek? By trusting in God. When we believe that God is in control of this world, we can be meek and gentle. We don’t have to always get our way. We don’t have to always be in control. We simply trust God, and await the next order from on high. We remain gentle and humble in heart, just like Jesus, and discover the hidden strength that is found in this approach to life. 

No wonder Jesus blesses the meek! And no wonder that Jesus promises that the meek will “inherit the earth.” The poor in spirit receive the kingdom of heaven, but the meek inherit the earth. Why is that? There might be many explanations, but perhaps the simplest is to remind us that God cares about this earth, not just about heaven. Jesus teaches us to pray that God’s will be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” And who but the meek will do God’s will on earth? Those who are willing to obey God’s will, no matter the cost? And so, who best to inherit the earth, if not the meek?

This is my fourth in a series of devotions on the Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel. You can find the others here: The Path of Blessedness, What Does It Mean to Be Poor in Spirit?, and Mourning with Jesus.