The Upside-Down Kingdom
we are diving back into our series “The Upside-Down Kingdom”
- So if you would please, open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5:1-12
- specifically today we are going to be looking at the third beatitude found in verse 5
1: THE RECAP
A couple weeks go – as we got started, we talked about that Jesus has just come on the scene – and he is healing people and he’s saying that the Kingdom of God is coming.
- And at the beginning of the passage here – in 5:1 – we see that the crowds have gathered around him – they are pressing in on him to hear about this kingdom of God that he is preaching about
- and the reason for that is that they had lived under oppressor after oppressor for generations, so when they hear about the kingdom of God is coming – they get excited – they start thinking that Jesus is going to take away Rome. That he is going to drive them out. That is going to give them their freedom back.
We talked about this all the way back in week one – and that is Jesus didn’t just die on the cross so you wouldn’t go to hell when you died. If you have placed your faith in him – your salvation is much bigger than just going to heaven someday.
- he wants to make you like him now. It’s a life long process we call sanctification.
the first one that he talked about that we walked through a couple weeks ago was found in verse 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”the first thing that God helps us understand when we come to him in salvation – but also every day as we walk with him is that on our own – we are spiritually bankrupt.
the next one Jesus says,“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4)
- this one flows right from the last one.
- and here that means – when we realize we are poor in spirit – or spiritually bankrupt – and that we bring nothing to him but our need
- it makes us mourn. it’s a natural response.
2: THE MEANING
(SLIDE 4) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5)
- We saw that with the first two beatitudes and now we are going to see it with this one.
- because as Jesus says the blessed life – the good life – or the deep gladness – belongs to the meek – because they will inherit the earth. this is a sentence that would have gone against everything the people believed in Jesus day.
In Jesus’ day. If you wanted to inherit the land – or you wanted to inherit the throne – i or if you wanted power – you had to take it violently.
In fact, to describe someone as meek – had this negative connotation to it that – like it was a character flaw or a bad thing.
Meek’s a word even in our culture today that we have a hard time with.
- when we think of meek – we think of timid – or shy or just avoids the spotlight – or someone who is a pushover or doormat for people.
- that’s not what Jesus is talking about here.
in fact, Scripture has a lot of individuals that it describes as meek – that were very strong people
- Moses was Meek –
- Jeremiah was meek.
- Jesus was meek
- and Jesus would say “Come to me all who labor all who are burdened and I will give you rest – take my yoke upon you and learn from me – for I am meek and lowly in heart.”in fact the word Jesus uses here is the greek word “PRAUS”
- our english bibles translate it as meek – but the words gentle and humble could be used almost interchangeably here.
- but perhaps the biggest thing this word means – is strength that has been brought under control.
in fact – PRAUS is a word to describe powerful stallion that has been tamed by a bridle
3: THE OBSTACLE
But we struggle with this don’t we? It’s difficult to let go of control
Yet, here we see this promise from Jesus – Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- What’s interesting is this is not the only place in scripture where we see this promise.
- What’s actually happening here is Jesus is using Scripture found in Psalm 37. I would actually love if you would turn there with me. because we are going to spend our last several minutes there.
Jesus is using a promise found Psalm 37:11 – which I will put on the screen – as he proclaims the kingdom of God. Here’s the passage –
- But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. (Ps. 37:11)
4: THE RESPONSE
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
- The psalmist here warns about the dangers of envy and comparison.
- he says embrace the life that God has given you – embrace the assignment that God has given you. trusting that God has a plan for the season that you are in.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
that’s not what this saying – in fact, it’s kinda saying the opposite. What this is saying is rather than fixing our eyes on less wild lovers give us joy – the meek find their joy in who God is. That we place him first. That we put him on the throne of our heart and say Lord what do you want me to do!?!
- If we do that – this psalm is saying that he will give us the desires of our heart – meaning – he will change our desires to be his desires.
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
- the next thing the writer says about the meek – is that not only do we find our joy in him so that our hearts align with his – but that we surrender our plans, and commit to walk in his plans for us.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
He says don’t worry about the person that’s living in sin or running around and hurting people and it seems like they are getting out unscathed. maybe even to the point where you are in the hurt of their actions.
- he’s reject anger – reject getting back at them – getting in another jab
God is going to deal with them. He says “Vengeance is mine. I will repay.”
- meekness says, I don’t have to get mine. I don’t need a pound of flesh. I don’t need worry what someone else is doing – God is going to take care of it.