“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

I’ve had to wrestle with this verse this week, because, in my flesh, I have a lot of reasons not to choose meekness. But Jesus talks about meekness, and blesses the meek. And this is important: He’s not praising passivity or a lack of conviction. In Scripture, meekness is about gentleness and humility, especially in how we relate to God and to others. It’s the posture of someone who doesn’t feel the need to be harsh, domineering, or reactive. Jesus Himself describes His own heart this way: “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Meekness grows out of trusting God enough to live without posturing or self-promotion.

This fits naturally with the flow of the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3) reminds us that we begin by recognizing our dependence on God. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4) shows us what happens when we bring that reality honestly before Him. Meekness is what that inward posture starts to look like on the outside. Humility before God slowly shapes gentleness toward people.

That doesn’t mean meek people are inactive or silent. Scripture never presents meekness that way. Moses is called “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3), yet he confronted Pharaoh and led Israel with courage. Meekness doesn’t remove strength or conviction. It shapes the way they are expressed. Paul expresses this concept when he urges believers to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)

Jesus gives us a very clear picture of this posture in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the night before the cross, He prays honestly, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” and then submits fully, saying, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus is neither resentful nor resistant. He entrusts Himself to the Father with humility and obedience, embodying gentleness even in the face of suffering (Hebrews 5:7–8).

And finally, we need to remember that Jesus attaches a promise: “the meek shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5), echoing Psalm 37:11. Inheritance in this case isn’t seized or demanded. It’s received from God. The meek are willing to walk humbly and respond gently, trusting that God is faithful with what comes next. And Jesus says that kind of life, shaped by humility and gentleness, is blessed. It reminds me of Micah 6:8, and I think we all ought to consider living by this standard: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” May we do this very thing!