What if everything the world teaches about power, strength, and victory is completely backward? In this illuminating study of Matthew 5:5, we explore Jesus’s counterintuitive words: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Our culture prizes self-assertion, conquest, and control. The philosophy of the world could be summed up in the oft-quoted (though misattributed) line: “When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.” This mindset—take until nothing is left to take, conquer until there is no one left to conquer—is deeply ingrained in human nature. But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus flips this value system on its head.

The original audience would have found His words shocking. The Jewish people had lived under centuries of oppression—first by Babylon, then Assyria, Greece, and Rome. They knew firsthand the brutality of a dog-eat-dog world. To hear “blessed are the meek” would have sounded nonsensical. Meekness wasn’t strength in their eyes; it seemed like surrender. Yet Jesus calls His followers to embrace a radically different posture.

So what does meekness actually mean? Contrary to modern assumptions, it is not weakness, passivity, or being a pushover. Biblical meekness—praus in Greek—is strength under God’s control, a quiet and gentle confidence born from deep trust in the Lord. It is not self-assertiveness or self-interest but a Spirit-led disposition that accepts God’s dealings as good, without disputing or resisting. Meekness requires removing ourselves from the throne of our lives and yielding to God’s kingship.

We see this illustrated in Moses, who was described as “very meek, more than all the people who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). When his leadership was challenged, Moses didn’t defend himself or fight for his position. Instead, he trusted God to act on his behalf and even interceded for his sister when she was struck with leprosy. Abraham showed similar meekness in allowing Lot to choose the best land first, and David displayed it when he turned to the Lord for strength instead of defending himself against his own men.

But the ultimate example of meekness is Jesus Himself. During His wilderness temptation, He refused shortcuts to glory and submitted fully to the Father’s plan. On Palm Sunday, riding humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus revealed both humility and authority. In Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” willingly surrendering to the Father’s will even though it meant the agony of the cross. Meekness doesn’t mean weakness—it means incredible strength restrained in perfect trust.

This third Beatitude reveals a beautiful spiritual progression: first, we recognize our spiritual poverty (poor in spirit); then, we mourn over our sin and find comfort in Christ; now, as we submit to God’s sovereign will, we embrace meekness and receive the promise that we will inherit the earth.

Inheritance is key here. Unlike the world’s way—where you take, fight, and grab for power—this is something given, not earned. Inheriting the earth means receiving what belongs to Christ as co-heirs with Him. It points both to a present reality and a future hope. Even now, as citizens of God’s kingdom, we can rest in His provision. One day, in the “not yet,” we will fully receive our portion in the new heavens and new earth, where all things a

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