Matthew 5:5-6 (NKJV) 5 Blessed are the meek,
   For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Sermon on The Mount: Meek & Hungry Matthew 5:5-6

SOM: Meek & Hungry Last week we began a Sunday night series covering the Sermon on the Mount We will spend several weeks covering Matthew 5-7 Last week we introduced the SOM and spoke of the poor in spirit as well as those who mourn

SOM: Meek & Hungry The Beatitudes speak of those people who are the blessed, the happy, the fulfilled If we can become the type of person Jesus speaks of here, then we too will be happy Tonight we consider the meek and hungry

SOM: Meek Jesus begins verse 5 by saying, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” Jesus is telling us that we are a blessed person if we are one of the meek Meek is the Greek word praus that means mild, humble, gentleness of spirit

SOM: Meek It’s what most of us think about when we think of the word meek, or a person who is meek This certainly has something to do with it’s meaning However, to dig deeper is to perhaps reveal the true meaning of this word

SOM: Meek The term meek is used to describe one as submitting to God’s will or relying on Him One who is meek is one who does not fight against God, who does not struggle or contend with Him Certainly this person would be described as humble, mild and gentle

SOM: Meek This term is normally used in reference to God, not our fellow man This definition would certainly fit the old saying that “meekness is not weakness” Jesus claimed to be meek in Matthew 11:29 (gentle is a form of the word praus)

SOM: Meek Jesus was certainly humble, but He also submitted Himself to God’s will When it came to even the cross, He did not contend with God (Phil. 2:8) Meekness is the opposite of self- assertiveness and self-interest

SOM: Meek Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth When we think of meekness before God as being submissive to His will, the reward will come as no surprise God has always promised blessings to those who obey Him and His will

SOM: Meek Deuteronomy 28 Joshua 1:5-9 Hebrews 5:9 – “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” A reward is there for those who obey

SOM: Hungry Jesus then says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” Jesus knew how to get us to understand something Here he uses the powerful feeling of hunger and thirst

SOM: Hungry A hunger is an intense desire for something; it literally means to famish or crave What do the blessed have a desire for? They desire righteousness, which is a term that can simply mean living right before God

SOM: Hungry We’ve also seen how the Bible itself defines righteousness in Luke 1:6… “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” Happy is the one who has an intense desire to follow God’s will

SOM: Hungry There are so many who have had that desire for God’s will “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Ps. 119:103) Job said he treasured God’s words more than food (Job 23:12)

SOM: Hungry It’s more than just a desire for His word, it’s a desire to do His will; to live right before God on this earth That person is blessed because they will be filled This world is full of empty promises; things that promise to deliver but never do

SOM: Hungry The physical things in this world cannot bring fulfillment They leave us longing for something different (just look around Hollywood) Jesus said the water He gives will fill us never to thirst again (Jn. 4:13-14)