After his preaching teaching and healing Jesus goes up a mountain to find a bit of peace and quiet and to blow the minds of his disciples on what it means to live for his kingdom.
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is no ordinary talk. It is not a grab bag of ethics or a good living guide on how to live "the happy life". On the contrary Jesus declares do these things and there is a good chance someone will want to wipe the smile off your face 5:12. Rather in his 15min talk he declares how one enters the kingdom 5:3-5 and how one lives as a member. Jesus compels them to listen to his words 5:2 and to put them into practice 5:6 (see also 7:24).
For their troubles the disciple may be persecuted 5:11 or they may bring praise 5:16. Whatever the response Jesus calls his disciples to live for the kingdom; to be merciful, peacemakers, hungering to live God's way; he calls on them to be lights, cities and salt 5:13-16. Jesus' disciples are to stand out. The kingdom has come; it's time to show the world what the kingdom is like.
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Granted that it's part of a longer address about what it means to be God's people ... but what does it mean for God's people to be "meek" (v5) and why do they inherit "the earth" (emphasis on earth)?
ReplyDeleteThis is the beatitude that always puzzles me most...
Hi Dan, weren't you listening on Sunday???
ReplyDeleteI tend to downplay the causal connection between the first and second part of each beatitude. I'm not saying you can mix and match, but the meek will also be called sons of God, and the peacemakers will also inherit the earth. Each of the 'blesseds' describes a type of person who will be in the kingdom...the 'for' statement then is an aspect of the blessing - some of these seem more obviously linked - like mourning and comfort. Note also the repetition in the first and last beatitudes - two different types, same 'blessing'.
having said that - the ideas are connected...meekness is certainly not seen as a quality of those who will get ahead and be successful in this life - but those who are humble before God will inherit the earth. In that way it is counter-cultural, counter-worldly, a foolish message.
As for the verse itslef. I think meek = humble = humbling yourself before God in repentance. In this way it belongs with the other four beatitudes which describe the heart of those who humble themselves before God and thus enter the Kingdom.
Inherit the Earth is what it says. Those who belong to the kingdom will reign with Jesus (whatever that will look like) - 2 Tim 2:12, Rev 5:10. Inheriting the earth is one part of the big picture of blessing that the 8 'promises' within the beatitudes give us - the current and future blessings of those who are in Christ.
This is one of the reasons why I think we need to read the beatitudes in two parts, I think the connection between meek and inheritance works otherwise.
last sentence should read "I don't think the connection..." sorry.
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