Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5

Summary
When we hear the word meek, we often contrast it with strength. I was recently watching the Wizard of Oz with my children, and after Dorothy and her friends meet the wizard who introduces himself as “Oz the great and powerful,” Dorothy introduces herself as “Dorothy the small and meek.” Spoiler alert: The wizard turns out to be the weak one and Dorothy exceptionally brave. However, the Greek word praus actually means strength under control, or power without undue harshness. To help us better understand what meekness looks like, we will look at a few character studies of those who exhibited meekness: 1) David, a leader, 2) Mary, a parent, 3) Amos, a prophet, and finally 4) our Lord Jesus.

Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Billy has called the Sermon on the Mount a manifesto about whom we are to be. How does this call to meekness challenge you?
2. What strikes you about David’s patience towards Saul?
3. How are you tempted to short circuit the blessing of meekness as an employer, employee, or as a temporary citizen under governing authorities?
4. What do you think it would have been like for Mary to parent Jesus?
5. How are you tempted to work for your own glory as a parent rather than as a servant of the LORD?
6. How does the example of Amos challenge or encourage you?
7. Read 2 Timothy 4:3-5. How are you challenged as a listener to “endure sound teaching”? How are you challenged as a truth-teller to “endure suffering”?
8. How does the fact that Jesus called himself “gentle (meek) and lowly” give you hope?