Beatitudes 3
Bible passage: Matthew 5:5
5. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Dear brothers and sisters, The Bible records numerous blessings that God has promised to His children.
To fully receive these promises, we must diligently prepare our vessels. Embracing the words of the Beatitudes as spiritual nourishment is one way to do so. I pray in the name of the Lord that today’s message will bring you great grace and power. Brothers and sisters, Today is the third sermon on the Beatitudes, focusing on the blessing for the gentle. Matthew 5:5 says, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." As with the earlier blessings, this verse is not meant to be understood literally.
Being poor in spirit or mourning, as mentioned in the first two Beatitudes, differs greatly from common understanding. It requires us to grasp the spiritual significance. Likewise, the gentleness described in the third blessing is not the same as the worldly gentleness or meekness. According to the dictionary, "gentleness" is defined as being "meek and mild in character, soft and tender, or exuding a warm and gentle feeling." In general, a gentle person is often seen as someone with a meek nature, not easily angered or overly assertive. It can also refer to someone who is passive, timid, soft-spoken, or quietly attentive. Someone might be called "kind" or "gentle" simply because they avoid outward conflict, even while harboring resentment or discomfort internally. Suppressing anger or refraining from questioning others, choosing to appear gentle and yielding, is often seen as being "gentle." Sometimes, people act or speak gently, not out of genuine gentleness, but to gain favor or serve their own interests.
However, the gentleness that God speaks of is different. It is a heart that can embrace others gently and warmly, without discomfort or negative emotions, but with a kind and sincere heart. It is a heart that does not harbor evil feelings or cause harm to others, but rejoices with the happy, mourns with the sad, and offers comfort. It can accept people who differ from us without conflict. It is a heart that does not judge or condemn, but seeks to understand others from their perspective and serves with humility and warmth. This kind of heart is like cotton. Imagine throwing a stone both at cotton and at a hard object. A stone thrown at metal makes a loud clanging sound and bounces off. When thrown at glass, it shatters. Similarly, a person filled with pride and self-centeredness reacts harshly when things don't go their way. However, no matter how much you throw a stone or poke a cotton ball, it makes no sound and simply absorbs the impact, remaining soft and gentle. A gentle person, with a heart like cotton, can live in peace with everyone and in any situation, without conflict. When a gentle and calm heart is combined with "virtue," it becomes the "perfect gentleness" that God desires. So, what is "virtue"?
Virtue is described as "fairness, broad understanding of others, actions that align with decency, and a character that influences others.” The same applies spiritually. Even if a person has a warm heart and can embrace others, if their actions are rough or they make frequent mistakes and fail to gain recognition, or if they are too passive, they lack virtue and cannot truly be gentle. If a person's words are rough or filled with jokes, they won’t earn trust from others. Despite speaking out of love and encouragement, if they do so in a commanding or assertive tone, they lack virtue and prevent any real change in others. Even in uncomfortable situations or with difficult people, a gentle person does not think negatively but seeks to understand and does not act rudely. They patiently wait for others to change, even those with weak faith or evil tendencies, guiding them toward better paths.
With meekness combined with virtue, they can lead others to positive change. Their words are thoughtful, speaking only what is necessary, and with warmth and kindness, earning the love and respect of many. A gentle person can understand those who hate or criticize them without harboring negative emotions or feeling hurt. When receiving constructive feedback, they do not feel discomfort but can accept it as it is. This is the true meaning of virtue and gentleness. A person who has achieved this perfect gentleness does not cause conflict with others, but understands and embraces shortcomings. In doing so, they can ultimately win the hearts of many and bring about change. How can we develop this heart? We must diligently cultivate our heartfields. The Bible compares the human heart to a field. Just as a field is made fertile by removing thorns and stones, we must rid our hearts of evil—such as hatred, envy, and judgment—to cultivate gentleness. The Bible highlights Moses as an example of gentleness. Numbers 12:3 tells us, "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." Moses led the Israelites through 40 years of hardship to the promised land of Canaan. If you're in charge of any mission or district/community/team, you'll encounter all kinds of people and situations—complainers, critics, gossips, troublemakers, the disobedient, and those who spread false rumors. The Israelites who left Egypt numbered over two million, including men, women, children, and the elderly.
During their journey through the wilderness, they faced many challenges. Despite witnessing God's miracles through Moses, they constantly complained and blamed him for their suffering, even attempting to stone him at times. Spending 40 years with such a people, teaching and guiding them, shows how gentle Moses truly was. It was because of his meekness that God loved and protected him. God supported him with great power, and when anyone opposed Moses, even his own family, God did not tolerate it. However, there is an interesting point. When Moses saw the people worshiping idols after receiving the Ten Commandments, he became angry and threw down the tablets. There are also instances where he rebuked the people. It’s important to discern between worldly gentleness and spiritual gentleness. Moses was a meek person, but when it came to teaching the truth, he did so firmly. When the people sinned against God, he rebuked them strongly. This reflects a God-centred faith and gentleness with virtue. Even Jesus, who was extremely gentle, spoke harshly to the hypocritical Pharisees, calling them "broods of vipers." He also drove out the money changers from the temple with a whip. Truly, a meek person is not only gentle and warm but also strong and courageous when standing firm in the truth. Because of Moses' true gentleness, God said in Numbers 12:7, "He is faithful in all My household," acknowledging his loyalty and passion for God's kingdom. However, in the church, some may appear meek but are not recognized by God. These individuals do not bear spiritual fruit in salvation or their mission because their gentleness is not spiritual.
As mentioned earlier, if someone is simply introverted or mild by nature, this is not the gentleness that pleases God. If a person compromises to avoid conflict, without love or righteousness toward God and the church, they cannot be truly recognized as gentle. Some may be quiet and gentle by nature but lack the passion for faithfulness. While they may appear gentle, this is not spiritual gentleness. These individuals struggle to receive answers and blessings. However, those with spiritual meekness have heartfields like that of good soil, where anything sown can quickly bear fruit. Spiritual fruits like love, light, and the Spirit grow easily in their hearts. Their prayers are also swiftly answered by Father God. Dear brothers and sisters, Above all, those who bear the fruit of gentleness receive God's true blessing—the inheritance of the land. "Inheritance" refers to property or business passed down from ancestors. Such inherited land is more firmly recognized than land bought in one's own generation.
For example, in rural areas, land passed down through generations was recognized as a family’s inheritance and was rarely sold, being preserved for future generations. The law also forbade the Israelites from selling the land inherited from their ancestors. Inheriting the land means receiving something firmly and securely one's own. So, what kind of land do the gentle inherit? Is it wealth or land in this world? No. No matter how much land a person gains on earth, it cannot be taken to heaven, so it is not an eternal inheritance or true blessing. Inheriting the land refers to receiving the eternal land of heaven, a land that does not perish or fade. The meek inherit this land because they possess virtue and win many hearts. While people may outwardly submit to those with wealth or power, true submission comes from the heart, not from outward force. People with virtue inspire others to submit from the heart and seek to be near them. When our hearts turn into fertile land, it spiritually becomes a source of authority. For example, when leaders with virtue, such as ministry heads or district leaders, lead, the people are naturally drawn to them so the church flourishes. A gentle person, even in the face of disobedience or conflict, does not isolate or disregard others but loves, embraces, and prays for them, guiding them toward transformation. Words from a meek and virtuous heart bring grace and strength to others. The church members, the community, listen eagerly to those who speak with virtue, drawing strength to remain in truth and grow in faith. Those who embrace many and lead them to heaven will receive great rewards, including a grander place in heaven. To build a beautiful house, a solid foundation is needed, which is why a gentle person's foundation grows bigger. The more meekness and virtue a person has, the greater the land they inherit. But the narrow-minded who lack gentleness and unable to embrace others will not receive a great inheritance in heaven.
Those at the beginner level of faith, unable to let go of sin or attain gentleness, will reside in the lowest level of heaven: Paradise. From 1st level of heaven and above, homes are built with a foundation that reflects the person's gentleness, virtue, and number of people they embraced. Those entering the New Jerusalem will receive spiritual meekness, resulting in widespread land and large, beautiful homes. These homes will have gardens, lakes, pools, valleys, sports fields, and other amenities for enjoyment. In these homes, people can invite those they have loved, evangelized, and cared for to celebrate together. This is the third blessing promised by the Lord—the blessing that the gentle shall receive. Dear brothers and sisters, In this world, owning a home without inheritance is difficult. In a world where people generally live 70-80 years, at best 100 years, many dream of large, luxurious places. But how are you preparing for your eternal home in heaven? If you're content with just being saved and attend church without striving for more, you might end up in Paradise with no home of your own. Won't you regret it? If you knew there was a reward and made the effort, you could enter the higher levels of heaven.
But how will you, who know about New Jerusalem, feel when you see your own homes? You may think how small the land and the house. Regret if only you had been gentler and embraced more souls for heaven; but this regret will be too late. Before the Lord returns, we must diligently cultivate gentleness and purity to inherit widespread land. The people who work to evangelize, pray, and save souls, will have large, beautifully adorned homes. Those like Moses, Elijah, Enoch, Abraham, Mary Magdalene, and the Virgin Mary will inherit great, beautiful dwellings, like a heavenly city. Why only these individuals? Even today, God is earnestly seeking those who possess a gentle heart like them. God gives people the mission to embrace many souls with His heart, to save them, and lead them in truth.
For those who fulfill this mission, God grants vast land as the inheritance in heaven. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will cultivate the right gentleness and righteousness, and receive great land as your eternal inheritance in heaven.
