The Oxford dictionary gives the meaning of meekness as: “the quality of being quiet, gentle, and always ready to do what other people want without expressing your own opinion”. The dictionary on Google says: “overly submissive or compliant”. It’s little wonder then that being meek is not something that our modern-day culture would perceive as a virtue but, rather, as a sign of weakness. However, in Scripture meekness is not timidity or a lack of conviction and readiness to conform. It is not a character trait of someone who is naturally quiet and acquiescent. It is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV) and, as such, it is crucial that we all should mindfully and purposefully choose to “put it on” as we would an article of clothing.
Our primary example of meekness is, of course, our Lord Jesus Christ. He Himself said that we should learn this from Him (Matthew 11:29). Being meek is one of His attributes and He showed us how to be meek in all aspects of life; I would like to look at one – relationships, or how to interact with people.
As the Lord Jesus moved around Jerusalem and Galilee, He met many kinds of people. Recently I read Matthew chapters 14 and 15 and these two chapters alone catalogue the ways He dealt with a variety of people. Chapter 14 opens with the account of John the Baptist being beheaded. Despite His own sadness and desire to be alone, the Lord responded to those who sought Him out with great compassion. He healed the sick and fed them with loaves and fish. When He could have legitimately put His own needs first, He put theirs first. Having walked on water to come to the rescue of the disciples, He saved Peter from the waves, calmed the storm and then healed many more in Gennesaret. In Titus 3:2 (KJV) Paul reminds us that, because of the grace of God that has brought us salvation, we should remember “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men”. Like the Lord, we should put the needs of others first and show kindness despite our own circumstances. It’s not easy to do, but Paul points out in Philippians 2:3 that everyone, in “lowliness of mind”, should “esteem others better than himself”. This attitude would certainly make it easier to show meekness to everyone!
As we move into chapter 15 of Matthew we learn a lot from how the Lord Jesus dealt with those who were antagonistic towards Him. He certainly did not shy away from speaking the truth to them; nor was He “overly submissive or compliant”! His inherent meekness was not compromised by the strength of His answer. It is important that we, as His followers, are “speaking the truth in love” and in Ephesians 4:15 this is seen as a sign of spiritual maturity. Peter wrote his first letter to Christians who had known persecution, and in chapter 3 verse 15 he tells them, “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” John MacArthur puts this better than I can in his New Testament Commentary. He writes, “The believer’s defence of their hope before the unbeliever who asks must be firm and uncompromising but at the same time conveyed with gentleness and reverence. Gentleness refers to meekness, not in the sense of weakness but in the sense of not being dominant or overbearing.” I fear the argument is lost if we become arrogant or unkind in our manner and speech.
I love the second part of Matthew chapter 15 where the Lord blesses the Gentile woman because of her great faith. Graciously He met her need and raised her up to a position of blessing despite her unworthiness. There may be times in our lives when we are called upon to help someone who needs grace. Scripture gives us guidance on how to do this: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 KJV). We should never approach these delicate situations with pride and a feeling of “that could never happen to me”, but with humility and kindness. Again Philippians 2:3 comes to mind – “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Meekness begins with attitude, then it is worked out in action. It is both internal and external in its execution.
Finally, let’s have a look at what is possibly the hardest of all displays of meekness – in submission, as wives, to our husbands. In the third chapter of his first letter, Peter urges wives not to be taken up with their outward appearance so much as with the attitude of their heart. He asks them to be adorned with “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands” (1 Peter 3:4-5 KJV). The Lord Jesus, despite being equal in status, chose to put Himself in subjection to the Father to fulfil His will (1 Corinthians 11:3). With an amazing display of strength, He didn’t call for the angels to intervene so He could escape the cross but, instead, “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). It is not a sign of weakness for us, as women, to assume the role God has appointed us to, by freely and willingly submitting to our husbands. For most women it takes strength of character to actively and deliberately accept their God-given position.
So, meekness is not weakness, as some would assume. It is not resignation and a reluctant submission to events but a deliberate choice to act and react like our Lord and display the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s resolve that, each day, as we choose an outfit to wear, we will also put on meekness.
