Matthew Chapter 5: The Beatitudes - “Poor, Mourning, and Meek” - what does this mean?!

In reading over this sermon of Jesus, it is apparent that it has been subjected to frequent and drastic warping from its original meaning. So, here are my thoughts on this important passage:

The first three declarations (regarding the “poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” and “the meek”) are all related. I believe these are references to humility, and the idea is repeated three times to emphasize importance. As this is the central prerequisite to approaching God, it must come first before Jesus can teach the other lessons. In the old testament, those who truly had remorse for sin, would clothe themselves in sackcloth and ashes, an outward demonstration of their mourning and contrite hearts (see Neh. 9:1-2). This was how they drew near to God when their need was great. Jesus would say later that the blessing of justification before God is more likely attained by the tax collector crying, “have mercy on me! A sinner!” than it is by the proud and self-righteous (Luk. 18:13). Before we can be blessed or forgiven, we must understand that we are desperate and broken! Thus, the sermon begins in verse 3 with the “poor in spirit.” True faith starts here, and only true faith is commended by God. It is first of all HUMBLE, then honest and sincere - resulting in real action. For, “he who is forgiven much, loves much.” - see Luk. 7:47 (And remember, love is an action, not a feeling, see the parable of the good Samaritan - Luk. 10:25).

In verse 4 he blesses those who “mourn.” This is clearly not a reference to those who are depressed in general, but rather those who MOURN FOR THEIR SIN. In other words, those whose hearts are contrite before God. As stated above, wearing sackcloth was a sign of this type of mourning in ancient Middle Eastern culture (often accompanied by fasting).

Then, in verse 5 we have the INCREDIBLY misunderstood statement where Jesus blesses the “meek.” In context, this is another reference to humility and pliability before Yahweh, the opposite of being a “stiff necked people.” (see 2 Chron. 30:8). If we are too proud to accept God’s forgiveness, we cannot be justified. And if we are too proud to follow God’s plan it will DESTROY our ability to execute his will on earth as it is done in heaven. This is NOT a proclamation against the masculine quality of confidence and assertiveness. Instead, meekness is an expression of faith, knowing that good will result when we trust God and “lean not on our own understanding.” (Pro. 3:5). Indeed it is from this position that we are not tempted to “take matters into our own hands” like Abraham did when (presumably, out of pride, fear and impatience) he slept with his concubine rather than trusting God to bring him a son in his old age (Gen. 16:4), or like David did when (rather than repenting) he murdered Bathsheba’s husband to cover up his sin (2 Sam. 11:15). With a humble spirit before God, we can trust him with our impatience and look for his solution. We can trust him with our anger, and not murder. We can trust him to satisfy our desires and not lust, - indeed all the exhortations that follow in The Beatitudes and the rest of Jesus’ sermon in Matthew chapter 5 (about being pure, peacemakers, enduring persecution, and shining our light) hinge on our ability to remain humbly looking to God and not acting in The Flesh. It cannot be overstated that the masculine qualities of confidence and assertiveness ARE IMPOSSIBLE absent the moral fortitude that springs from humble faith. This humble faith is an essential requirement in order to resist the temptations and pitfalls that even giants of faith like Abraham and David succumbed to in the examples above.

Awareness of our own sinful state keeps us humble befor Yahweh, so that we can submit to his will. Again, this is most emphatically NOT a command to be a pushover and a coward in the face of evil! On the contrary, it is a command to RESIST EVIL by NOT being stubbornly prideful toward God!!! We should be stubborn AGAINST evil, not meek TOWARD IT. We should be MEEK TOWARD GOD, And STUBBORN against evil. It takes courage to stand against this world and its evil. Jesus is NOT calling us to be cowards and weaklings, for cowards will NOT enter the kingdom (see Rev. 21:8 “the cowardly…their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire). You see, cowards have no faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:16). For every action that does not proceed from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). Again, Jesus is NOT commanding us to be pushovers! Did I mention that Jesus is NOT telling us to give in to evil and let it rule? Does this finally make sense now? We are broken and humble vessles of clay, to be molded by the potters hand (Isaiah 64:8) into warriors of light who courageously fight against the darkness… typically resulting in persecution and death! As king Théoden said in The Lord of The Rings, we may have no reasonable hope of victory against the darkness, but in faith, WE WILL MEET THEM IN BATTLE NONTHELESS!! Does this sound “meek” the way you have heard it? Who do you think wants you to be a weakling and a pushover? Who wants you to be passive, scared and uncertain, allowing evil to triumph in your life and in this world? God or Satan? You decide.