Many New Testament texts are misunderstood because they refer to the truth that faithful believers will co-reign with Christ in His Kingdom. Among other places, this truth is clearly stated in such passages as 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 2:26, 27 and 3:21. It is elaborately dealt with in the famous parable about the minas (or pounds) in Luke 19:11-27. In the last issue of The Kerugma Message, we considered Matthew 5:3. The series continues in this issue with Matthew 5:5.
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. — Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
Even a casual reading of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 shows us that they are dealing with the subject of rewards. In opening His Sermon on the Mount with them, the Lord Jesus Christ pronounces specific blessings on His disciples (see 5:1) based on their character or experiences. The final verse (5:12) specifically uses the word reward.
There is nothing in the Beatitudes about the free gift of eternal life. As we suggested last issue, the Sermon should be viewed as a “lecture” by a great Teacher (Jesus) to His pupils (the disciples). The larger audience (the crowd) is allowed to listen in on this.
The initial Beatitude (5:3), as we saw, holds forth the Kingdom of Heaven itself as a reward for disciples who have developed humility and submission of heart before God. Such people are “poor in spirit” because they have renounced the qualities so treasured by the world, such as pride, self-confidence, and self-glory.
But such people may also be described as meek. The Greek word for meek (praus) suggests not only humility, but also characteristics like gentle, considerate, and unassuming.
We may say that being poor in spirit is primarily an inward quality, while meekness is especially an outward one. Meekness is the natural outward expression toward others of that inward lowliness which the poor in spirit possess. Thus, God is looking for disciples who are both inwardly and outwardly Christlike.
Those who are will own the Kingdom of Heaven (5:3). They will also “inherit the earth” (5.5). The key word here is inherit. In the Old Testament this term was frequently used of ownership, especially ownership of land or property (see, among many other texts, Gen. 15:7, 8; 28:4; Lev. 25:46; Num. 18: 24; 26:55; 32:32; Deut. 2:31; 25:19; Josh. 13:14; 17:14). The Levites, for example, are said to have had no inheritance (that is, land) in Israel (e.g., Num. 26:62), yet they lived in the land.
Individuals, too, could be awarded land as an inheritance. Thus, Caleb was given Hebron as a reward for his loyalty to God. In Joshua 14, Caleb claims that inheritance:
“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’’’
And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. — Joshua 14: 7-9, 13-14 (italics added)
This passage effectively illustrates the principle behind Matthew 5:5. To “inherit the earth” is to possess it as an award from God Himself. Against the Old Testament background, it means quite a bit more than simply to inhabit the earth. Rather, the term inherit suggests ownership.
As Revelation 21:1-5 makes plain, the Kingdom of Heaven will be centered on this earth, so that the King Himself owns or possesses the earth. Yet those who share His kingly authority — those who co-reign with Him — will also possess the earth. In fact, we may correctly say that the King Himself inherits His Kingdom and the earth. This is made quite plain in Psalm 2, where the Son reports God’s words to Him:
“I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”— Psalm 2: 7-9 (italics added)
What is the destiny of disciples who are truly meek? It is nothing less than to share the marvelous inheritance of God’s kingly Son! It is to possess the Kingdom — to possess the earth itself — as those who co-reign with Him. For, “if we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2: 12).
Who can estimate the immense joy of such a privilege? In fact, it will be a joy that the King shares with His kingly companions, as the writer of Hebrews (quoting Psalm 45) so well expresses it:
But to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness:
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”— Hebrews 1: 8, 9 (italics added)
The companions (Greek=“partners”) of the King are the co-heirs. His joy exceeds theirs, just as His perfect and unswerving loyalty to God exceeded theirs. But who can doubt that the joy He shares with them — specifically here the joy of kingship — is very great indeed?
Christ will someday rejoice over the possession of an eternal throne bestowed on Him by His Father. The truly meek will enter into “the joy of their Lord” and will possess the earth in fellowship with Him.
May the Lord work this fruit of the Spirit in each of us, for the gentleness of Galatians 5: 23 is the meekness of this Beatitude!