Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth... What does this mean?

Our question of the week concerns the beatitude taken from Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

What does this really mean?

Take a moment to centre yourself with this beatitude, written by P. Jacob, from Chile:

Blessed are the poor …
not the penniless
but those whose heart is free.
Blessed are those who mourn …
not those who whimper
but those who raise their voices.
Blessed are the meek …
not the soft
but those who are patient and tolerant.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice …
not those who whine
but those who struggle.
Blessed are the merciful …
not those who forget
but those who forgive.
Blessed are the pure in heart …
not those who act like angels
but those whose life is transparent.
Blessed are the peacemakers …
not those who shun conflict
but those who face it squarely.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice …
not because they suffer
but because they love.

The Beatitudes are a passage of contradictions – they reveal our judgements and preconceptions about what is “best”.

· The word beatitude means something blessed or holy, from the Latin. Latin also uses the word benedictus, literally the good word. In Greek to English translations of both OT and NT texts we have makarios, which means fortunate, and is translated as blessed in Matthew .
· Bless in English comes from blood, sprinkled on the ground in sacrifice.
· If you look up the definition of beatitude, sometimes you will find references to “supreme happiness.”
· Herein lies the contradiction: blood sacrifice involves dying, to achieve something good or holy, but the whole experience is not necessarily happy, particularly for the one being sacrificed!

Other beatitudes found in the Bible:

Hebrew scriptures: generally from the wisdom tradition, ie. Psalm 1:1-3; 41:1-3; Proverbs 8:32-36. Generally the message is “Be good and you will have a good life.”

Other Christian sources:
Luke 6:20-23: Luke’s beatitudes are more pointed and political, and are partnered with curses aimed at those who are rich, full of food and laughing. Paul uses the form of a beatitude in Romans 4:7 to teach about forgiveness. Beatitudes also appear seven times in the book of Revelation, primarily the blessing of salvation for those who heed God’s word and are faithful (Rev 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14.)

Three parts to Matthew 5:5:
1) What does it mean to be blessed?
2) What does it mean to be meek?
3) What does it mean to inherit the earth?

1. “Blessed”:

A friend of mine once berated me after a prayer I led, saying “You’ve got to stop thanking God for our blessings. It makes us rich people think that we have what we have because God wants us to have it, and it lets us off the hook for benefitting from an unjust global economy!”

That stopped me in my tracks. Do I really believe that God specifically predestined me to be born in Canada, to a privileged and educated family, and predestined others to be born in poverty, in nations beset by war or debt or injustice? Is that what I mean when I speak about how God has blessed me? Is that how others misunderstand the word blessing in my prayers of thanksgiving?

“Blessing” means a good or holy thing that comes to us, presumably from God. It might not always be “happy”.

Matthew uses makarios in the beatitudes. It was a term originally used for the (greek) gods, then was extended also to the dead, who were living in the world of the gods. Finally, it came to be applied to those who prospered in life and were “above” ordinary humanity. So it combines a sense of good fortune with holiness, spirit.

Biblically, in the wisdom tradition ,“blessed” came to mean righteous (on good terms with God) or ethical – and therefore prosperous.

Jesus’ gospel turns this convention on its ear. In both Matthew and Luke, those who are “blessed” are the ones that society has trampled down, not raised up. Jesus’ blessing of the marginalized is a radical revisioning of what “wisdom” might mean for the people of God.

2. “Meek”:

To summarize an article handed in with the question, J. Upton Dickson said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. H also founded a group of people called DOORMATS: Dependent Organization Of Really Meek And Timid Souls – if there are no objections. Their motto was “The meek shall inherit the earth – if that’s okay with everyone.” Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.

That is how many people understand this beatitude. In English, “meek” can mean submissive, weak, powerless. Applied in translation to the original Hebrew or Greek, however, it sends the wrong impression of this important spiritual quality.

Numbers 12:3 –
“Now the man Moses was very meek, more so than anyone else on earth.” (from the KJV – our more contemporary translations, NIV or NRSV, say humble or devout.)
Clearly Moses might have been meek, yet as the leader of God’s people, not weak.

Matthew 11:29 –
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.”
Likewise, Jesus was a leader passionate about God’s mission and ministry. Yet he knew that he needed gentleness and compassion to really demonstrate God’s spirit.

The Greek word used in both the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures) and in the Christian scriptures, which we translate meek is praos.
Beyond the Bible, it was used to describe (1) a soothing medicine, or (2) by sailors to describe a gentle breeze, or (3) by farmers to describe a broken colt. All describe power or energy channeled under great control.

Ephesians 4:1-2 – (KJV)
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.”
Paul called the early Christians to “meekness”, knowing that it would take self-control to live together faithfully, with all their differences. Christian witness required courage, not wimpiness! But to work together in a ministry that crossed boundaries of class, ethnic origin and gender, “gentleness” (NRSV) was also required.

3. “inherit the earth”:

Inherit – the English word comes from French (heredité) and possibly connected to the greek khera – meaning widow, derived from empty or left behind.
- Emphasizes that “to inherit” is a passive verb, one receives an inheritance
- Does it make sense, then, that one who inherits, MUST be “meek”?

There is also a sense of identity – the one who inherits is the “true” child of the one who gives – the chosen one, whether by biology or other bond. God created the earth and wills it to the one/s who reflect God’s own spirit and compassion.

Psalm 37:11 (NRSV) – “But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight in abundant prosperity.” Again, in wisdom tradition – those who do good, receive good.
This is a very physical understanding of the earth as land, farmland, capable of sustaining those who inherit it. Jesus’ beatitude includes a more eternal understanding of “inherit the earth”. When the reign of God on earth begins, the faithful (everyone?) will have what they need, there will be no more poverty, we will share in creation’s wealth with justice.

We end with a quote from A.W. Tozer about Christian “meekness” – note that I have left the exclusive male imagery from his original quote!

“The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be but, paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is, in the sight of God, of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.”

Who is Satan?

Welcome to the first installment of Rideau Park United Church's Lenten Study 2010. This week it is our Minister of Worship and Community, Elizabeth Bryce, who will lead the session.

We asked our members to submit questions about passages of scripture that puzzled, stumped or mystified them. Ash Wednesday's question is: Who is Satan? with reference to the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, from Mark 1:12-13. Another question was asked about Matthew 6:13 - "lead us not into temptation."

I found a great story by Lori Brandt Hale, a professor at a Lutheran theological college, in Feasting on the Word, vol 2, Year C.

It is a story about her three year old son, going off to a children’s program and learning about the temptation. On their way home, her son suddenly asked: “Mom, what do you know about the devil?” Remember, this mother is a professional theologian – it’s fair to say that she knew A LOT about the devil. But she was talking to a 3 year old, so instead she answered his question with a question: “What do YOU know about the devil?” “I know that the devil talked to Jesus.” He said “The devil was mean. Like, if we were shopping at a store, and you and Dad were in the next aisle, and I was in the aisle with all the candy, the devil would say to me “You should take some of that candy!”

She writes: I thought about telling him that the story is about the responses Jesus made more than about the temptations themselves. Obedience to God will bring persecution, misunderstanding, and the cross – not an attractive prospect to a young child. Many of his followers wanted Jesus to restore an earthly kingdom with much honour and glory. To say yes to the world’s temptations would have meant saying no to God. I didn’t know whether my son had absorbed that part of the message: “So, what would you say back to the devil?” I asked.

A genuinely sweet grin lit up his face, and without hesitation, he replied: “Oh, Mom, I know my manners. I would say thank-you!”

We have the impression that temptation is being invited to do something clearly immoral, like commit adultery or steal or murder. But the real test is when the end is something good, and it is the means that are the problem.

Temptation: the encouragement to commit wrong, through the hope of achieving or getting something “good” a definition by Roy Davison, who continues: temptation itself is not sin. It is an enticement to do wrong by a promise of pleasure or gain. Being tempted is not a sin. The sin only occurs when we give in to temptation.

But think of the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet….” Exodus 20:17
Matthew 5:27-28 – goes even further: “You have heard that it was said: “you shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Is even being tempted a sin?

Is it wrong to want something that tastes or feels good? Or is it what we are prepared to do to get it that is the temptation? – ie. disregard a marriage covenant, disrespect a neighbor, steal, lie, cheat…

Question for Reflection: Is it human nature to want more? Jesus was tempted with bread, power, security – what are we tempted with today?
Where do you believe temptation comes from? God? Satan? Advertisers?

Who is Satan?

What are your images of Satan or the devil?

Mark uses the legal term the satan, tou satana, which in secular terms means the adversary or prosecutor – not a personal first-name, but a descriptive noun.
Matthew and Luke use diabolos – which literally means “to tear apart” – ie. the force that makes our choices absolutely clear – you cannot have both, you have to give something up.

A similar name is found in the Hebrew book of Job, where “Ha-satan”(in Hebrew – meaning the accuser) is a heavenly being, one whose role is to point out to God all the contradictions and weaknesses of human nature. Ha-satan has no power, unless the human being chooses to DO evil or be unfaithful to God. In Job, ha-satan sets the stage for Job to be tempted to do a particular evil, which is condemn God, but Job will not.

Another tradition that gets mixed in is the apocryphal tradition (Book of Enoch) of the “the fallen angels” who mingle with humanity and lead them astray in the story of Noah. So, in our minds, the adversary who works alongside God to trip up humanity blends with the fallen angels who lead humanity into evil and “Satan” becomes personified as a supernatural being who is God’s adversary or opponent.

Lucifer, comes from Latin, meaning Light Bearer, or Morning Star – the first sign of dawn’s light in the darkness of night. In Isaiah 14:3, 12, the prophet describes the king of Babylon in this way – one who sets himself up as a light that will fall to the depths. In 2 Peter, in the Latin traslation, the noun lucifer is actually applied to Jesus Christ. John Milton used this imagery and made it popular among Western Christians as the proper name of the devil.

Tradition also blended the notion of devil/satan with eternal punishment in hell,
Tartarus – where demons (never humans) were imprisoned (2 Peter 2);
Sheol – where ALL human souls go after death (Hades in greek);
Gehenna – the garbage dump outside Jerusalem where fires burned continually and sometimes bodies were cremated if considered beyond God’s care.

What are some other names “the devil” gets labeled with?
- The serpent in Adam and Eve (Gen 3)
- Beelzebub – after the Philistine god Baal
- The dragon (in Revelations)
- Mephistophiles – from Faust
- Old Nick – from the Dutch demon Nikken
- Old Scratch – from a Norse myth about “scrat”

Whatever we may call him, however, it is clear that the gospels' perspective on satan and temptation always start with the Spirit – that it is the Spirit that drove Jesus out into the wilderness and his encounter with “Satan” – it is a battle of wills, between good and evil, somehow ordained by God. We always have the Spirit with us, and had better choose the Spirit over satan or give in to the temptation to choose against God’s will.

3 Temptation stories: Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4

We cannot survive temptation without the Spirit – like an antidote or immunization against temptation, the strength to resist evil or choose faithfully must come from spiritual depth. In Luke, Jesus is “full of the spirit”(4:1, 14.) The Spirit is not beyond but within him.

Question for Reflection: In what way does your spirituality provide you with strength to resist temptation or choose faithfully?

A Prayer to close:

Gracious God, it is so easy to fall into patterns of behavior that separate us from you and others. We want to do the right thing, the good thing, the loving thing, but temptation stalks the rim of our lives like a prowling animal. Before we know it, we’ve fallen into the grasp of wanting more and more, for less and less effort and thus we begin the downward spiral into what is less than full life. Help us, O god, to see when temptation is near, and our choices are being tested. Give us the strength and fortitude to make choices for health and spiritual wholeness, for a stronger relationship with you. Keep us faithful in our love for you and faithful to the wonder of being given the gift of life. We ask this for the sake of your love, for the assurance of forgiveness when our choices are unfaithful, for the name of Jesus, in life and in new life, Amen