Meekness

and

Aggressiveness


The Great Reversal

God’s Ideal vs. the World’s Ideal
of Greatness
 




Matthew 18: 1-4

 Modern Interpretation:
Imitate a child’s simplicity, But children are also stubborn,
innocence, trust, etc rebellious, selfish, etc
We are to imitate, not the
qualities of a child, but the
position of a child as
understood in society at that
time: the lowest position, the
position of a

Servant
World’s Ideal
World’s Ideal
God’s Ideal

Take care of
others
World’s Ideal
God’s Ideal
World’s Ideal
God’s Ideal
Meekness and
Humility
Meekness comes from
Hebrew word
Greek and English
translation

Humility and
Humilit
y
Not to think of ourselves worthless, but to count others as deserving of our service.
Meekn
ess
 It is not a pushover or a doormat.
Meekness is the inner quality of relating as a servant.
 being meek:
A
.
Opposite
each other
Hot arrogance Cold
arrogance
 Some aspects of being
meek:
B.Teachable: Jas 1:21
 Eager to lay hold of the truth.
 Can consider other points of
view
 Not opinionated
 Some aspects of being
meek:
Obedient Phil 2:8
C. 


Does what the master instructs.
Seeks to meet the master’s needs,
not his own
 Even when in a position of
authority, the meek person is a
servant
 Some aspects of being
Not personally hostile in
Nonmeek:
– defensive:
the face of abuse or attack.

D.
 Some aspects of being
meek:
Leading as a Servant:
 Not power hungry
Matthew 11:29

E. Not out to glorify self at other’s


expense.
 Jesus is a master over His disciples.
 He will not “Lord it over”.
 He will teach, discipline and
correct as a servant.
 Meekness is for those in authority
as well.
The source of
meekness: Brokenness
We need to be “broken”.
 Two senses of
brokenness:
A broken man: A broken horse:
Crushed Persevering

Dispirited Channeling strength

Lostwill to fight and vigor
Has given up on life.
Two things that need
to be broken:

Self–will: Wildness
not insisting on our own way  not pushed around by impulse,
 able to surrender our will to the Lord fear, anger
and to others when appropriate  Able to ask, “How would the
 surfaces especially when we are Lord’s servant respond?” and act
crossed or criticized.
accordingly
 Important on small matters as well as
in large.
Meekness and
Zeal
 The Triumphal Entry
(Palm Sunday)
 Mt 21:5
“Jesus comes as a meek King”
 Mt 21:12
“yet He is bold and
aggressive”
 Jn 2:17
“Zeal for your house
consumes me.”