BLESSED ARE THE MEEK
Matthew 5:5
12.04.16
SUMMARY
Humility is so central to the gospel that it appears on virtually all of the ‘ virtue lists’ in
Scripture. It is mentioned 270 times in the Bible, always in a positive light. As the antithesis
of a bravado mindset and a self-promoting way, humility is a counter-culture virtue today
just as it was in biblical times. Humility is not a sign of weakness but strength. It is the strength
to look away from oneself, to voluntarily ‘make oneself nothing’ for the sake of God and
others. It is to descend, as it were, into greatness. It is to have an ego that is not inflated
but is filled, and that therefore does not need to draw attention to self. Instead, it looks
toward others, considering others more significant than self. Humble people have
confidence but not a shred of self-importance. But humility is derailed by a fixation on
oneself. This is manifest through what Paul calls ‘selfish ambition,’ a rival spirit that is fueled
by a tendency to compare oneself with others, and also ‘ vain conceit ’ or empty-glor y. Vain
conceit shows up when we anchor our worth in human approval, become defensive, tend
to steer conversations toward ourselves, monitor our ‘likes’ on social media, and feel easily
slighted. Though the desire to be recognized can come from a healthy place, it can also
easily become toxic and needy. Humility is recovered by faith, in looking away from self
toward Jesus—receiving comfort from his love, encouragement from being united with him,
and resting in the fact that he, our bridegroom, has been exalted through his humiliation on
the cross.
QUOTES AND THOUGHTS FROM THE SERMON
Jesus descended to greatness. He was the ‘superman’ who never acted like Superman. His
greatness was revealed when he chose to make himself nothing, to set aside his glor y in
order to redeem us. For us it will be the same. Aim at meekness and you’ll get greatness
thrown in. Aim at greatness and you’ll get neither.
“The ego is like an elbow. You don’t pay attention to it unless it is bruised. But when it is
healthy, you don’t think of it at all. As C.S. Lewis once said, humility isn’t thinking less of
yourself. It ’s thinking of yourself less.”
- Tim Keller
“Level Five Leaders or the ‘humble CEOs’ were described by their co-workers as quiet,
humble, modest, reserved, shy, gracious, mild-mannered, self-effacing, understated, and
didn’t believe their own press.”
- Jim Collins
Meek people have an other-orientation. They are confident, but haven’t a shred of
self-importance. They are fully present, deeply interested in you, and make you feel like the
most important person in the world. You like them and you want to be like them. They make
you want to be a better wo/man.
Selfish ambition or the ‘rival spirit ’ make empathy virtually impossible. Where selfish ambition
is present, something inside us takes over and we find ourselves rooting for others to fail in
order to feel better about us.
“I had no idea who I was or what I could be away from tennis…I was depressed and afraid
because so much of my life had been defined by my being a tennis champion. I was
completely lost. Winning made me feel like I was somebody. It made me feel pretty. It was
like being hooked on a drug. I needed the wins, the applause, in order to have an identity.”
- Chris Evert, reflecting on her tennis career
Because Jesus gave up his esteem, you are highly esteemed. Because Jesus made himself
nothing, you will never be a nothing. You now have a resource to enable you to be the
kind of friend you always wanted to have.
GROUP QUESTIONS
From the sermon, the quotes above, or your direct reading of Matthew 5:5, share something
that surprises, encourages, or troubles you.
Describe someone who has consistently made you feel “like the most important person in the
world.” How have they done this? Would you describe this person as meek? Why or why not?
Read Luke 1:46-55. How does Mar y ’s prayer, in response to the announcement that she is
pregnant through the Holy Spirit, demonstrate a spirit of meekness? In what ways does her
prayer make you “ want to be a better wo/man?”
How do the following Scriptures, taken together with Matthew 5:5, help us better
understand the contrast between boasting and humility?
1 Samuel 2:1-8
Isaiah 40:28-31
Luke 1:46-55
Philippians 2:1-11
In what ways do you identify with the quote from Chris Evert (above)? In what ways do
you not identify? How is Jesus the answer to the struggle she articulates?
C LO S E I N P R AY E R
Consider using Isaiah 40:28-31 to guide you as you pray.