What Does Meekness Mean?
Meekness is not an expression most people use in everyday speech. In common understanding, to be meek is synonymous with being gentle and mild. The Bible speaks about meekness in several places. It’s written there about being quiet and calm, enduring injustice and sorrows, and trusting God as a righteous judge.
Meekness is described as the opposite of being quick-tempered, hot-headed, impatient, and anxious. The opposite of arguing and causing conflicts. (Matt. 5:5; 1 Pet. 3:3–6; 2:18–19; Phil. 4:5.)
Inheriting the Whole Earth
Today we live in a materialistic and individualistic society. Many people are primarily concerned with themselves, and the pursuit of a good reputation, a full bank account, power, and great influence often comes at the expense of good values, empathy, and compassion for their fellow man. Other people’s opinions, needs, and desires are often pushed aside so that they can climb higher and get ahead.
Jesus, on the other hand, was very clear that it is the meek who will ultimately inherit the whole earth— the quiet, peaceful, and humble. Can we get a better understanding of what it means to live meekly by looking at Jesus’ life? How did he respond to the various trials he faced?
Learning Meekness from Jesus
Being meek does not always mean being silent, withdrawn, and reserved. Jesus himself says that we are to learn meekness from him: “…learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart…” (Matt. 11:29).
The Bible is full of examples of Jesus being meek and humble. He remained silent when he was insulted, slandered, or mocked. He left it to God to judge such actions.
But when he saw others suffer injustice, or when God’s name was dishonored, he held nothing back. He drove the money changers out of the temple with power and authority.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, it is written that he prayed to God with loud cries and tears, in deep humility (Heb. 5:7). At the same time, he was fearless in the face of unrighteousness and hypocrisy. He lived out what the prophet Isaiah described: He lifted his voice like a trumpet to warn the people against sin (Isa. 58:1).
Not because he was personally provoked or irritated, but because he burned with zeal for God’s cause and was obedient to God. Meekness, therefore, is not merely about being quiet and cautious. We can learn much about meekness by looking at the life Jesus lived.
Blessed Are the Meek
Jesus’ promise to the meek is crystal clear: they shall inherit the earth. It is not those with sharp elbows, striving after material wealth and a good reputation. The meek do not feel the need always to be right, to defend themselves, or to stand up for themselves every time they experience injustice. Like Jesus, they have complete confidence that God judges righteously.
They are humble, calm, and happy. But when necessary—when the gospel is distorted or people are led away from the truth, when God’s name is dishonored or people suffer injustice— the meek are both clear and decisive.
The meek always fight for God’s cause. Just as Jesus did.