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Greek Word Study
Meek(ness)
Translit-eration |
Pronun-ciation |
Part of Speech |
praotes |
prä-o'-tas |
noun |
pra˙tes |
prä-ü'-tas |
noun |
pra˙s |
prä-ü's |
adjective |
praos |
prä'-os |
adjective |
(other translations: poor, lowly, humble, gentle)
The meekness of Jesus
As believers grow in faith, their life will reflect the meekness of Christ in us. The starting point in understanding such meekness is Matthew chapter 21:
When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me"....All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, meek and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. Matthew 21:1-5
Comparing all the gospel accounts of the "triumphal entry", we read that the colt was not only taken from its mother, but no one had ever yet sat upon it. Furthermore, 1Kings 1:32-40 tells us that when Solomon was similarly presented as king of Israel, the mule upon which Solomon rode had to be led by others, but there is no such leading of the colt on which Jesus sat. This young donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem led solely by God---picturing how the meekness of Jesus was based on his willingness to submit to the Father's leading and care.
Christ's display of meekness while being led on a young donkey was in fulfillment of Zechariah chapter nine:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey. Zech. 9:9
As we trace the above Hebrew word for "lowly" to other OT prophetic references to the Messiah, we see in Psalm 69:29 the suffering Messiah at Calvary made low and sorrowful. The Messiah would be led by God to Calvary's cross where he looked to God for deliverance.
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. Psalm 69:29
A preacher once decribed the meekness of Christ as "power under control". And so it is. Meekness is like an ox, willingly under the yoke controlled by another. Jesus did not take matters into his own hands, but in meekness followed the leading of His Father, even to the cross---relying on the Father's faithfulness, power and care to lead Him through Calvary to greater blessings that the Father had set before him.
Old Testament examples of the meekness of the Messiah
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7
Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word Isaiah 66:1-2 ["Humble" is the Hebrew word for "lowly" we read in Zechariah 9:9 and "contrite" is a Hebrew word that appears three times in the OT and means "stricken" or "smitten". The one who would build God's spiritual home is the one who would say in meekness "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done".]
What does it mean for believers to be meek?
Christ is our example of meekness.
The meekness of a believer is most evident when he enters into trials, especially those brought on by persecution. When Jesus first called Peter to follow him, Peter was a long way from meeknes. But by the time he wrote 1st Peter, he was following the Lord closely and could write authoritatively and experientially on trusting God to lead him, care for him and to fight his battles.
The call to meekness:
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,an example, that you should follow His steps WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1Peter
2:21-23
The meek trust in God to lead, protect and fight for them.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the propertime, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1Peter 5:6-10
The meek know their neediness and will follow fast after the Shepherd by following His voice.
Just as the Lamb of God humbled himself under the hand of His Shepherd while he was led through the shadows of death at Calvary, so believers are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our Shepherd as He faithfully leads us by his word through this fallen world of sin and persecution toward our hope in heaven.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 1Peter 3:15 [We sanctify the Lord in our needy hearts by following the voice of our Shepherd, that is done by heeding his word]
Our needy hearts first enter the sheepfold as we become broken over our sin. Then as we walk on in the Way, we continue to receive God's word with meekness and lowliness of heart, confessing our sins as we look to Him fom deliverence from the power of sin, lest we drift away by the deceitfulness of our hearts.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves James 1:21-22
How do the meek inherit the earth?
Jesus said:
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
These words from our Lord in his sermon on the mount refer to Psalm 37 where David prophesies that the world will not always be controlled by the ruthless and shrewed, but by the meek; those who don't act of their own accord, but wait on the Lord, as sheep wait on the leading the shepherd or as a yoked bullock in service.
For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalm 37:9-11
The yoke of the meek
Jesus said:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
In old testament typology, the bullock that becomes the burnt offering is a prophetic picture of Jesus. As Christ walked this earth, he was meek under the yoke of the Father being led toward Calvary. He now calls us to follow him and enter into his rest, enduring persecution for His sake if that is where we are led. All other labor is empty; only what which is done in obedience, under the yoke of the word of Jesus is fulfilling and joyful in this life, leading to eternal rewards and an inheritance in heaven.
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:2-4