Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
In typical American usage, the stereotypical use of “meek” often implies weakness, passivity, or submissiveness—someone who is cowed, avoids conflict, and lacks assertiveness. Definitely not what Jesus intended to convey in this third Beatitude.
The Greek word, praus, on the other hand, is the usual word meant to speak of a wild animal which has been domesticated, obeys commands and responds to reins or control. The third Beatitude can be translated, “Blessed are those who have every instinct, every impulse, every passion under control.”
In the case of this Beatitude, it is not self-control to which it refers, but rather to God’s control over us. By this nuance, meekness means placing one’s impulses under the control of God. Like a wild animal that allows its trainer to enter the cage and control its behavior.
To illustrate how meekness works, consider Alexander the Great, famous general and ruler of the Greek Empire. Once, in a fit of uncontrolled drunken temper, Alexander hurled a spear at his best friend and killed him. With nothing controlling his life, he was a victim of whatever was going on in his life at any moment. Under God’s control, a better outcome can be expected.
I like the way William Barclay elaborates on this Beatitude:
O the bliss of those who are always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who have every instinct, impulse, and passion under control, because they themselves are God-controlled, who have the humility to realize their own ignorance and their own weakness, for such people can indeed rule the world!
Prayer:
Dear Father, may we learn the attitude of meekness. May we know instinctively our place in relationship to you and that no good thing comes from asserting our own control and power. We want to be like Jesus who gave himself to you in obedient surrender. In Jesus’ name. Amen.