Matthew 5:5       

This Sunday, March 30th the Fourth Sunday in Lent, I will preach from a single verse: Matthew 5:5. This verse is found in the part of Matthew’s Gospel known as The Sermon on the Mount. And it is, more specifically, part of The Beatitudes. Matthew 5:1-12 comprises The Beatitudes, a name taken from the first word in verses 3-11 in Latin. In English, the word is “Blessed”.

Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” See if you can find any commentary in your Bible or online that expands on the word “meek”. Does it mean something like a trembling church mouse, or something else?

We find the same Greek word translated as “meek” in Matthew 5:5 also in Matthew 11:29, where Jesus is describing himself. The Greek word “praus” is sometimes translated as “gentle” in Matthew 11:29. Does your Bible have “gentle” or “meek” there?

What do you suppose Jesus means when he says that the meek “will inherit the earth”?