Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek,

As the previous Blog mentioned, ‘meek’ in Matthew 5:5 does not mean ‘submissive, mild and unassertive,’ but the meek are the ones ‘bent over by the injustice of the ungodly’. It is this affliction that calls down the advocacy of God. And it is having the advocacy of God that causes the meek therefore to be blessed. After all, if God is advocating for the meek, who can stand against them? (Rom 8:31).

Luke 5:29-31 (NASB) gives us further insight into these ‘blessed’ and ‘meek’ ones.
“And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick’.”

It was in the best interest of the Pharisees that the people maintain their socially ‘bent over’ and inferior place, so that they could maintain their socially superior place. Jesus on the other hand wanted to bless these meek individuals, lift them up, and treat them with equity. In fact, sharing a meal with another in that society “implied mutual acceptance” (Walter L. Liefeld, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 8:84).

This ‘mutual acceptance’ with ‘sinners’ should not be understood as Jesus’ lowering Himself in status. Rather, this table fellowship elevated these ‘sinners and tax collectors’ to a social status equal to Jesus and the Pharisees. It would be like royalty joining a commoner for a meal. The royal status is not diminished, but the commoner has been blessed and treated as a worthy and valuable individual. Likewise it would have been an honor and blessing to have such a prominent teacher as Jesus join them for a meal.

Table fellowship is but one way God blesses the meek. The many other ways God ‘blesses’ (or advocates), for these meek that have been ‘bent over by the injustice of the ungodly’ include:

He: - feeds and satisfies them (Ps. 22:26)
- guides and teaches them (Ps. 25:9)
- gives them the earth (Ps. 37:11; Mt. 5:5)
- saves them (Ps. 76:9)
- lifts them up (Ps. 147:6)
- beautifies them (Ps. 149:4)
- treats them with equity (Is. 11:4)
- increases their joy (Is. 29:19)
- brings them good tidings (Is. 61:1)
- hides them from His wrath (Zeph. 2:3)
- finds them very precious (1 Pet. 3:4)

As I discover whom the ‘meek’ are I cannot help but think of those that Christian Horizons serves. Just as the ‘sinners and tax collectors’ in Jesus’ day had been relegated to a second-class, so too people with developmental disabilities in our society have been relegated to a second-class. They are perceived and treated either with disdain or with pity. They are perceived and treated poorly or specially. They are often perceived and treated with anything but equality. Jesus treated the meek with ‘mutual acceptance’.

This above list that describes the different ways God blesses the meek can serve as a guide for those of us who provide direct or indirect support to the individuals Christian Horizons serves. Am I lifting them up? Is my support satisfying to them? Do I increase their joy? Do I find them very precious?

It is through a sincere and mutual acceptance of those who have a less than equal standing in society, that we too, alongside Jesus, can be a blessing to the meek.

My 1.5 cents

Jamie Hussien