The Meek (Part 2)

By Clifton Angel       “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). As a reminder, meekness is not weakness; rather, it is strength subdued, or controlled. One of the greatest ways we can exhibit meekness is by surrendering our will to the will of God. In today’s article, let us consider the question “What is it that the meek shall inherit?”     Jesus said, “They shall inherit the earth.” Did Jesus mean that they would inherit the physical earth after Jesus returns? Such is certainly a popular idea among many religious teachers. It is taught by many that because the majority of the Jews rejected Jesus while He was upon the earth, that He did not establish His kingdom at that time, but He will establish it at His final return. There are many logical and scriptural problems with such a teaching. Consider a few: (1) Jesus equated His church with His kingdom (Matthew 16:18–19); (2) Jesus taught that His kingdom would come in His generation (Mark 9:1); (3) Jesus said His kingdom “is not of this world” (John 18:36); (4) Paul indicated Christians of his day, including himself, were in the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13); (5) Paul wrote that Jesus would deliver up His kingdom to the Father after His coming (1 Corinthians 15:23–26); (6) John wrote that He was “in the kingdom” while he was upon the earth (Revelation 1:9). No, Jesus was not referencing a physical kingdom at Matthew 5:5.     Did Jesus mean the physical blessings that Christians would enjoy while living on earth? It is certain that faithful Christians will be provided what they need in this life (Matthew 6:33). It is also asserted by some that faithful Christians can expect more than what they need: “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29–30). Even so, I am not entirely convinced that Matthew 10:29–30 is all about the physical. Furthermore, the context of Matthew 5:5 and the citation of former scripture in the passage points to a spiritual inheritance more than a physical inheritance. Lord willing, we will expound on this possibility in our next installment.     Until then, are you among the meek who “shall inherit the earth”? Have you surrendered your life to Christ, recognizing the mournful and impoverished state of living in sin? “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Have you accepted that gift?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/