Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
Jesus is up there on the top of a large hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee while thousands of villagers are seated on the hillside below him. The cup shape of the valley gives excellent acoustics, so everyone can hear clearly. But Jesus is declaring another shocking teaching: people who are mourning are blessed because they will be comforted. At this time, due to a high infant death rate, the average lifespan is approximately 33 years, although if you survive beyond the age of ten, you might live into your fifties or even longer. But disease, accidents, and catastrophes such as windstorms and earthquakes also take a toll. Grieving is such a normal part of daily life that there are professional mourners who will weep and wail when hired to do so. Widows who lose their only sons are particularly vulnerable because that son should be their protection and their guarantee that they will not be removed from a family dwelling or from an inherited piece of land.
Knowing all these things, Jesus’ audience must be scratching their heads in bemusement. Where is this comfort going to come from? Jesus has a radical answer: that comfort will come from God. For many of these listening, they believe in God but feel that He is too far away to impact their lives. True, these people observe the feasts and make sacrifices, but most of them feel they are simply going through the motions. Now Jesus is claiming that God really cares and that God will comfort them. But Jesus has more than comfort for earthly losses in mind.
Here the language in the ancient Greek implies deep sorrow that penetrates one’s soul. Such sorrow can only come when we confront our sinful natures and then regard God in His holiness and perfection. If we honestly examine ourselves, we realize we fall very short of God’s holiness. Jesus’ audience are realists; they know they are sinners. Most of these people are poor enough that observing all the religious rules and regulations is a total impossibility. These people know they are sinners, but what can they do about it? Contemplating sin produces grief because we know that sin makes an insurmountable barrier between us and God. But here Jesus is promising that God is going to do what we cannot, that God is going to destroy those barriers, forgive us our sins, and comfort us. God wants to come into our lives and transform us. Nobody has ever taught anything like this in the synagogue!
If these people think this idea is radical, Jesus’ next statement is even more shocking. Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” At this point, land in Israel is supposed to be inherited by tribal traditions; however, it’s likely that the rich are buying up land while the poor are becoming poorer. Anybody foolish enough to behave meekly is likely to be ripped off and left with nothing. What does Jesus mean by the term “meek?”
David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary offers the following information:
“It is impossible to translate this ancient Greek word praus (meek) with just one English word. It has the idea of the proper balance between anger and indifference, of a powerful personality properly controlled, and of humility.
i. In the vocabulary of the ancient Greek language, the meek person was not passive or easily pushed around. The main idea behind the word “meek” was strength under control, like a strong stallion that was trained to do the job instead of running wild.
ii. “In general the Greeks considered meekness a vice because they failed to distinguish it from servility. To be meek towards others implies freedom from malice and a vengeful spirit.” (Carson)
iii. “The meek, who can be angry, but restrain their wrath in obedience to the will of God, and will not be angry unless they can be angry and not sin, nor will be easily provoked by others.” (Poole)
iv. “The men who suffer wrong without bitterness or desire for revenge.” (Bruce)
To be meek means to show willingness to submit and work under proper authority. It also shows a willingness to disregard one’s own “rights” and privileges. It is one thing for me to admit my own spiritual bankruptcy, but what if someone else does it for me? Do I react meekly? This blessed one is meek:
· They are meek before God, in that they submit to His will and conform to His Word.
· They are meek before men, in that they are strong – yet also humble, gentle, patient, and longsuffering.”
The Sermon on the Mount is the first record of Jesus’ teachings; however, it’s possible that Jesus is announcing his teaching agenda and that the rest of his three-year ministry serves to reinforce the lessons he is teaching on this hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is introducing the principles of the Kingdom of God. From this hillside, Jesus is going down to the seaside where he will begin calling his disciples.
One of the many miracles of Jesus’ ministry is the way the disciples respond when he calls them. It’s quite possible that some of these future disciples are part of the crowd on that hillside, listening and wondering if Jesus can be right about the Kingdom of God.
Cultures may change but human nature doesn’t. Our needs are the same as those in that crowd on the hillside. We too have a sin problem and realize that we cannot do enough to save ourselves. What the crowd on that hillside doesn’t know is that their Savior is speaking to them, and that Jesus is the One who will shed his life for the sins of the world. Only the blood of a sinless man will wipe out our sins and only when we accept what Jesus has done for us and believe in him will we be able to claim that redemption.
We too struggle with the concept of meekness. To quote a line from the musical Camelot, “It’s not the earth the meek inherit, it’s the dirt!” Only when we realize that Jesus is not advising all of us to become doormats can we begin to accept his concept of meekness. Jesus himself will demonstrate holy meekness throughout his life. As a carpenter and stone mason, Jesus is no wimp; he is physically tough with wiry muscles. Even though Jesus is the Son of God, he refuses to throw his spiritual weight around. Jesus will emphatically demonstrate that he is humble, gentle, patient, and long-suffering. As long as we insist on our own way and try to be our own amateur providences, we block blessings, but when we follow Jesus’ example, we too will be blessed.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, teach us Your messages from these verses. Help us to trust You and to strive for Your meekness. Thank You for comforting us and for blessing us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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