Meekness and Humility

page l 1 l 2 l
- 1 -

 

The Nature and Source of Meekness

 

What promise is made to the meek?

 

“Blessed are the meek. For they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5.

 

Note – Meek: The Greek word thus translated means “gentle,” “humble,” “considerate.”

 

What did Christ say of His own character?

 

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29. 

 

What is said of the character of Moses?

 

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” Numbers 12:3.

 

Of what is meekness a fruit?

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.

 

Gods’ Fellowship With the Meek

 

With whom does God dwell?

 

“For this is what the high and lofty One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy; “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15.

 

Whom has God promised to guide in judgment?

 

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25:9.

 

Humble and Exaltation Contrasted

 

What does Christ say of those who exalt themselves?

 

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11. 

 

Note – The spirit of self-exaltation is of Satan. (See Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:17.) Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and became obedient even to the death on the cross.  (See Philippians 2:5-8.)

 

By what means did Jesus illustrate true humility?

 

“He called a little child and had him stand among them, And he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:2-4.

 

Note – Humility is “freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth.” It implies a sense of one’s own unworthiness through imperfection and sinfulness, and consists in rating our claims low, in being willing to waive our rights, and to take a lower place than might be our due. It does not require that we understand ourselves or our lifework. The humility of Christ was perfect, yet He had a true sense of the importance of His life and mission.

“Humility is like a tree, whose root, when it sets deepest in the earth, rises higher, and spreads fairer and stands surer, and lasts longer, and every step of its descent is like a rib of iron.” – Bishop Taylor.

 

 

page l 1 l 2 l
- 1 -

 

[TOP]