1. The meaning of meekness
2. The promise attached to
meekness
Summary: In every
Beatitude, Jesus is inviting us to experience deep joy in the Father by describing the character qualities that attract
the Father's blessing and favor. Thus far Jesus has taught us that God
lavishes blessing on those who recognize their need for Him ("Blessed
are the poor in spirit") and on those who grieve over what grieves
Him ("Blessed are those who mourn"). Now, with the third
Beatitude ("Blessed are the meek"), we progress in level of
difficulty, for now we are to not only grieve over what grieves God but also respond in a God-honoring way to those who grieve us. To be meek is to respond in a godly way to those who mistreat us. The meek person will respond to mistreatment in a
self-controlled and gentle manner, returning good for evil, because he is
trusting in God to make things right in His time and in His way and because he
knows that he has a glorious inheritance awaiting him.
Discussion Questions:
- Review: Define "blessed." Beatitudes are invitations, invitations to what?
- What is the meaning of meekness?
- How does meekness relate to the first two Beatitudes?
- How is meekness described in other places in the NT (Matt. 11:29; 21:5; 1 Pet. 3:4 )?
- Why is Psalm 37 significant in understanding what Jesus meant by "meek"?
- What do we learn about meekness from Psalm 37?
- What does this promise mean: "they shall inherit the earth"?
- How does the promise of inheriting the earth help us respond rightly to being mistreated?
- How should the meekness shown by Jesus in his life and death shape our responses to others?
Application Questions:
- How
do you tend to respond to those who
mistreat you?
- How
would God have you respond to those who
mistreat you?
- If
you are being mistreated, what would it look like if your response was
controlled not by your emotions but by trust in God and a willingness to
wait upon God?
- What
would it look like to respond to God with meekness in troubling
circumstances in your life?
Prayer points:
- Confess your ungodly responses to people who have mistreated you.
- Praise Jesus for His meekness—that He
did not return evil for your evil.
- Thank God for putting the very Spirit
of the Meek One inside you to help you become meek.
- Ask God to help you depend on the
Spirit and respond to mistreatment in a God-honoring way.
