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MATTHEW 5: 5

"BLESSED ARE THE MEEK"

I. SCRIPTURE SPEAKS MUCH ABOUT THE MEEK.
        A. It is related to lowliness.
                1. Jesus said, "Learn of Me for I am meek and lowly in
                   heart."
                2. Eph. 4:1,2  "Walk worthy...with all Iowliness and
                   meekness!"
        B. Related to gentleness.
                1. II Cor. 10:1 "I beseech you by the gentleness and
                   meekness of Christ."
                2. Titus 3:2,  Paul exhorting Titus on how to exhort the
                   church.
                        "Be gentle showing meekness to all men."
        C. Related to receiving tile Word.
                1. Isa. 61:1 "Preach good tidings to the meek."
                2. James 1:21 "Receive with meekness the engrafted word."
                        Cannot learn apart from meekness.
        D. Zeph. 2:3 "Seek meekness."

II. WHAT IS MEANT BY GREEK WORD "PRAUS" TRANSLATED MEEK.
        A. The middle of the road between two extremes. 
                1. Spendthrift and miser.
                2. Excessive anger, and excessive angerlessness.
        B. Word is used of a domesticated animal.
                1. An animal that has learned to accept control.
                2. A God-controlled life.

III. HOW CONTRASTED THIS IS TO THE WORLD VIEW.
        A. The earth inherited by the meek?
                1. We think the powerful men will inherit the earth.
                2. Those who are aggressive and assertive.
        B. This must have come as a shock to the Jews of that day.
                1. They expected their Messiah to overthrow the Roman
                   yoke.

IV. LOOK AT ITS RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BEATITUDES.
        A. Poor in Spirit.
        B. Mourn.
        C. Meek.
                1. Seeing the truth about myself - meek
                2. Having others see the truth about me.
                        a. I may condemn myself, do not want others to
                           condemn me.
                        b. I may say, "l am a sinner."

V. SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES.
        A. Abraham - giving Lot choice.
        B. Moses.
        C. David.
        D. Paul.
        E. Jesus.

VI. WHAT IS MEEKNESS?
        A. Not a natural quality, not something you are born with.
                1. Good dogs, bad dogs.
                        Sweet dogs, mean dogs.
                2. Something produced by the Spirit of God.
        B. Not laziness, not flabbiness.
                1. Christ made a scourge and drove out money changers.
        C. My attitude towards others in the light of the truth about
           myself.
                1. Absence of pride or holier than thou.
                2. He does not demand his rights.
                3. He doesn't defend himself.
                4. Amazed at the goodness of God.

VII. "THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH."
        A. He already has. He is content, satisfied. 
        B. It is yet future.