Meekness is also translated as “gentleness.” However, we translate the word, “proates” in the Greek, it does not mean weak. In our day “meekness” could we be spelled “weakness,” but that is definitely not the meaning of meekness as translated from the Greek. The word has three main meanings in the New Testament. (This was derived from The Daily Study Bible.)
It means submission to the will of God. The “meek” that are mentioned in Matthew 5:5 are an example of what this means. “Blessed are the meek” means “blessed are those who are submitted to the will of God.” Matthew 5:5 tells us that the meek “will inherit the earth.” People who will inherit the earth are not wilting flowers who are afraid of their shadows; rather, they are people of faith who have submitted to God’s will for their lives. This means that they are under God’s control, not the control of the world. They are like horses that have been broken. They still have their innate strength, but that strength is channeled in a more creative way. Their strength is now at the command of God instead of self or Satan. It means that one is teachable. A meek person is one who is not too proud to learn. A meek person would certainly not be a know-it-all, who never has anything to learn. The meek person is quick to see the error of his or her way, and turn from it. The meek person is willing to learn, even if he or she has to change his or her mind based on what he or she has learned. Only God is omniscient – all-knowing, and the meek person accepts this truth. It means that one is considerate. According to scholars, this is the way meek is used most often. In 1Corinthians 4:21, Paul used the word in this way: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip or in love with a gentle (meek) spirit?” The meaning: Shall I “clean your plow,” or shall I be considerate. Jesus is the best example of meekness as considerateness. This meekness is beautifully illustrated in Jesus’ consideration for His mother, Mary, at the cross. He gave her over to the care of the beloved apostle John. If we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our fellowship, we will be considerate of each other. The Holy Spirit teaches us, and leads us, to be submissive to God’s will, teachable and considerate to each other. The truly meek person will have each of these qualities simultaneously. We need all three of these qualities if we are to be the best witnesses for Jesus Christ that we can be. This is certainly the aim of the Holy Spirit who is at work in our lives. Bro. Joe
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