Sermon on the Mount

Message 4

The Strength of Gentleness

1. A contrast between two men.
   1. One meek the other prideful.
      1. One was Jesus Christ, the meekest man who ever lived.
      2. The other was Pontius Pilate, a man of extraordinary pride.
   2. They couldn’t be more different.
      1. I believe if you were a 1st century Jew the winner would be obvious.
      2. Pilate with all the power, money, and prestige.
      3. Jesus appeared as the essence of weakness.
      4. Frail, the crowd against him, condemned, powerless.
      5. Jesus about to be wiped from the face of the earth.
   3. A fascinating paradox.
      1. Jesus Christ, the prisoner, was the free man.
      2. He was in absolute control.
      3. Jesus, the meek, would inherit not only the earth but the universe.
      4. On the other hand, Pilate, the governor, was the prisoner of his own pride.
         1. Regulated to history as the person that crucified Jesus.
      5. Jesus not only taught the paradox “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”—he lived it.
2. The master teacher.
   1. Notice all the paradox as taught by Jesus.
      1. Last is first. Matthew 20:16
      2. Giving is receiving. Luke 6:30
      3. Dying is living. Matthew 16:24-25
      4. Losing is finding. Matthew 10:39
      5. Least is greatest. Matthew 20:26-28
      6. Poor is rich. Luke 12:33-34 (For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.)
      7. Weakness is strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
      8. Serving is ruling. Luke 22:26-27
   2. The purpose of these paradoxes
      1. They grab our attention.
      2. They make us stop and think.
      3. Doesn’t v:5 make more sense when said like this?
         1. Blessed are the proud, the intimidating, for they will inherit the earth.
         2. This is the way we live.
         3. This is the way of the world.
      4. Jesus is teaching the survival not of the fittest but of the meekest!
      5. How in the world are the meek going to inherit anything?
      6. Let’s be honest life simply does not work that way.
      7. We are Braveheart men and Wonder Women.
      8. People of grit.
      9. I love this about our church. From nothing to something.
      10. So, what is Jesus saying here?
      11. Understand this that the Beatitudes are infallible truths and laws for living out our Christian walk.
3. Tender Steel
   1. The meaning of meekness.
      1. One commentator called it “tender steel”.
      2. Many translators use the word “gentle”.
   2. Meekness is not weakness.
      1. It does not denote cowardice or spinelessness or timidity or the willingness to have peace at any cost.
      2. Neither does meekness suggest indecisiveness, wishy-washiness, or a lack of confidence.
      3. Meekness does not imply shyness or a withdrawn personality. i.e. introvert
      4. Nor can meekness be reduced to mere niceness.
   3. A kind word.
      1. Meekness/gentleness could be used to describe things like a tame animal, or a soothing medicine, a mild or kind word, or a gentle breeze.
         1. We can contrast that with exploding anger.
   4. Meekness/gentleness also implies self-control.
      1. Proverbs 14:29 (GW) — 29 A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity.
      2. Road Rage
      3. So, the person who is meek is able to balance his anger.
      4. It is strength under control.
      5. “He is gentle, meek, and mild, but he is in control. He is as strong as steel.”
4. Becoming Meek
   1. There are three paths to Christlike meekness.
      1. We must realize that a gentle, kind spirit is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
         1. Galatians 5:22–23 (NLT) — 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
         2. This comes through grace.
         3. Come to the Lord in a humble spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to instill in you a gentle spirit.
         4. Such asking ought to be continual because every soul needs to grow in grace regardless of one’s level of spiritual maturity.
      2. We must yoke ourselves to Jesus.
         1. Jesus was the incarnation of meekness.
         2. Matthew 11:29–30 (NLT) — 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
      3. We must give close attention to the progression of thought in the Beatitudes.
         1. Matt 5:3 There is nothing within us that would commend us to God. We fall short. We need God.
         2. Matt 5:4 Mourn over our sin. In our mourning we find forgiveness.
         3. When poverty of spirit and mourn are present meekness and gentleness naturally follow.
5. A contrast between two men.
   1. Did you ever work where there are threats and intimidation?
      1. It is not a pleasant place to work.
      2. I know as a pastor one of the worst things I can do is lose my temper.
         1. I’ve been mad plenty of times. But you will never know it.
      3. You will get more flies with honey.
   2. I think Jesus come out ahead.
      1. Meekness is not weakness.
      2. But being a bully is weakness.