Introduction

Ephesians 4:1-3 reveals a basic truth about Christianity: the Christian life is not a matter of what you do but who you are. In verse 1 the apostle Paul begs believers to walk worthy of their calling in Christ. We have seen that that refers to our daily conduct and the attitude behind it. Performing the right deeds with the wrong attitude is hypocrisy.

It is possible to have what I call action fruit--praise (Heb. 13:15), giving (Phil. 4:17), evangelism (Rom. 1:13), and good works (Col. 1:10)- -without attitude fruit, which is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). If you have action fruit without attitude fruit, you'll be legalistic. But attitude fruit produces action fruit, and that's the right formula for true spirituality. The worthy walk begins with the right attitude. The Holy Spirit works through our attitudes to produce the appropriate actions. Ephesians 4:2-3 tells us that to walk worthy means we must begin with these attitudes: humility, meekness, patience, love, and maintaining unity.

Many Christians think the essence of the Christian life is going to church, putting money in the offering plate, owning and perhaps occasionally reading a Bible, not swearing or drinking, and not committing a crime. But such external behavior is only the manifestation of who we are in Christ. God is not concerned about what we do apart from who we are. That's because who we are results in what we do.

Review

I. THE CALL TO THE WORTHY WALK (v. 1)

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORTHY WALK (vv. 2-3)

A. Humility 

Lesson

B. Meekness

Meekness is a by-product of humility. If we're to walk worthy as exalted children of God, heirs of the kingdom, and inheritors of all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, we must be meek.

1. The meaning of meekness

a) The modern definition

A common dictionary definition of meekness is "a deficiency of spirit." However Galatians 5:22 refers to meekness as a fruit of the Spirit. When true meekness is produced by the Spirit of God, it is a valuable virtue. Yet the world tends to misperceive it as cowardice, timidity, or a lack of strength. That's not how the Bible defines meekness.

b) The Greek definition

The Greek word translated "meekness" (prautes) refers to something mild and gentle. It means "to be gentle-hearted." A meek person is the opposite of someone who is vindictive or who harbors bitterness and resentment toward others. Meekness is characteristic of one who is opposed to vengeance or violence. It is a quiet, willing submission to God and to others. A meek person has a mild, gentle, non- retaliating spirit.

(1) In classical Greek

In ancient Greek sources prautes was used to refer to a medicine that calmed and soothed the spirit. It also spoke of a gentle breeze and a colt that had been broken and tamed--whose power and energy could now be channeled for useful purposes. And it was used of people who were friendly, tenderhearted, and gentle as opposed to hard, rough, coarse, or violent.

(2) In the New Testament

Meekness is a godly characteristic. Zephaniah 2:3 tells us to seek meekness. Prautes is used at least twelve times in the New Testament. It is extolled as a virtue in several key passages.

(a) Galatians 5:23--Meekness is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

(b) 1 Timothy 6:11-12--Paul said to Timothy, "Thou, O man of God ... follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith." A meek person is anything but a coward--he will fight for the right cause. A meek person has a gentle, pleasant spirit except when he ought to be angry.

(c) James 3:13, 17--"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good life his works with meekness of wisdom" (v. 13). A meek person is wise.

Power Under Control

Since anger is not absent from a meek person, we could say that meekness is power under control.

1. Illustrated by a lion

There is a big difference between the lion running free in the wilds of Africa and the one responding to the lion tamer at the circus. The lion in the circus has all the same ferocity, energy, power, and strength of the one in the wild, but he is under the control of the lion tamer. The same is true of meekness. No longer does the lion in us seek its own causes and ends; it is submissive to the control of the Master. We don't lose our power; we harness it.

2. Illustrated by a horse

We see the same concept in the aforementioned usage of prautes in reference to a horse. As long as the colt runs wild and free, its power is out of control and it serves no useful purpose to man. But when its power is brought under control, it can be used for helpful purposes.

3. Illustrated by the wind

When the wind blows with hurricane force, it wreaks havoc. But when it is a quiet breeze, it catches the windmill, which pumps the water, which waters the crop, which feeds the masses.

Only power under control is useful. Within the heart of every believer is a lion. That lion has every right to roar and pounce on a victim, but not at its own discretion. It takes its direction from the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Don't think for a moment that meekness is characterized by indifference, cowardice, weakness, or fearfulness. Meekness is not impotent or cowardly. Jesus was meek (Matt. 11:29, and He certainly wasn't impotent or cowardly. 

Do Believers Have the Right to Get Angry?

A believer has every right to get angry--but only under certain conditions. Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be ye angry, and sin not." It's all right to get angry as long as you don't sin. That means there's a certain kind of anger that isn't sin. Anger for the right reason is power under control; anger for the wrong reason is power out of control.

1. Power out of control

Proverbs 25:28 says, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." A person who is totally out of control is vulnerable. He will fall into every temptation, failure, and weakness. He has no self-control, no rule over his own spirit.

2. Power under control

Proverbs 16:32 says, "He who ruleth his spirit [is better] than he that taketh a city." That kind of person has power and energy, but it's under control. However, that same power and energy out of control creates nothing but chaos and sinfulness. People who become angry at everything know nothing of meekness. Meek people control their energies and strengths. 

(3) In Aristotle's ethics

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle came up with some helpful definitions in understanding meekness. In his Nichomachean Ethics Aristotle described virtue as the golden mean between two extremes: an excess of the virtue and a deficiency of it.

(a) Courage is the virtue between cowardice (the deficiency of courage) and foolhardiness (the excess of courage). Someone who is too courageous will get himself killed--that's foolishness. A person who has no courage at all is nothing but a coward.

(b) Generosity is the virtue between stinginess and wastefulness.

(c) Meekness is the virtue between indifference and a short temper. Aristotle said that the gentle or meek person "is praised for being angry under the right circumstances and with the right people, and also in the right manner, at the right time, and for the right length of time" ([Indianapolis: Bobbs- Merrill, 1962], p. 100). Meekness is indeed power under control.

What Is Righteous Indignation?

Meekness has its tough side. It doesn't back away from sin or cease to condemn evil. It is anger under God's control. A meek person submits himself to God, so he becomes angry over things that offend God and not himself. For example, if someone offends him he doesn't seek revenge. In The Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan said, "He that is down needs fear no fall" (([Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976], p. 219). There's nowhere to fall because the meek person seeks nothing for himself. But when God is maligned, the lion in him roars. That's holy, righteous indignation. Meekness is characteristic of a quiet spirit that doesn't retaliate when wronged. But when God is dishonored, that same quiet spirit exercises its power. Holy indignation under God's control reacts when it ought to react, for the right reasons, and for the right length of time. 

2. The models of meekness

a) Jesus

In 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul speaks of the meekness of Christ. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, "I am meek and lowly in heart." Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would come meek and lowly, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass" (9:9). He didn't ride into Jersusalem on a great white steed; He rode in on the most common of animals.

(1) When His Father was dishonored

(a) By the moneychangers

Jesus walked into the Temple, whipped the moneychangers, overturned their tables and their money, and chased their animals out of the Temple (John 2:15). He said, "Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" (v. 16).

(b) By the Pharisees

Jesus also confronted the vile hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. He called them "whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones" (Matt. 23:27).

Jesus never spoke a word of retaliation or condemnation against anyone for something they had done to Him, but He spoke up when God's honor was at stake.

(2) When He Himself was dishonored

First Peter 2:21-23 says, "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example ... who, when he was reviled, reviled not again." He cleansed the Temple of the moneychangers because they were defiling the Father's house. But while the temple of His body was being defiled as He hung on the cross, He said to the people who mocked Him, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). That's meekness--total selflessness. Jesus never reacted to personal dishonor, only that which dishonored the Father.

When the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers came to capture Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus could have called the angels of heaven to His aid if He so desired. He said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:53). Since at that time a Roman legion consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers, there could have been as many as seventy-two thousand angels on hand. Yet one would have been enough since only one angel killed 185 thousand Assyrians (Isa. 37:36). But Jesus wouldn't use that power for His own defense.

Jesus' meekness led Him to make a whip and defend God against those who would desecrate His name. But it also led Him not to seek vengeance for any dishonor against Himself. Certainly we are tempted to strike back when something happens to us. But you need to remind yourself not to get angry about what your neighbor does to you because what happens to you doesn't matter. Since you are God's servant your meekness should lead you to retaliate only when God's honor is at stake.

b) David

(1) His meekness in dealing with Saul

A good portion of 1 Samuel is devoted to David's flight from Saul. David knew he was the anointed king, and Saul knew that the kingdom would be taken from him and given to David (1 Sam. 15:23-28). On one occasion David and his men were hiding in a cave when Saul came in to relieve himself (1 Sam. 24:3). David knew he had the right to reign, and that Saul was trying to destroy that opportunity by killing him. In most cases men under similar circumstances would have sought revenge against Saul, especially when faced with such a good opportunity. Most would have assumed that God led Saul into the cave, and that it must be the right moment to kill him. That's what David's men thought (v. 4). But "David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe stealthily" (v. 4). That's how David proved to Saul that he had been in the cave and could have killed him if he wanted. David had the power and the right to kill Saul, but he submitted his power to God's control. David was zealous to protect God's honor, not his own. In Psalm 69:9 he says, "Zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of those who reproached thee are fallen upon me."

(2) His meekness in dealing with Shimei

David's evil, rebellious son Absalom tried to take his father's kingdom away from him (2 Sam. 15:1-12). As a result David had to flee for his life (vv. 13-23). He became a laughingstock to some of the people because he ran from his own son. During the time of David's retreat in the wilderness, "there came a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came forth, and cursed continuously as he came. And he cast stones at David" (2 Sam. 16:5-6). David's nephew Abishai then asked for permission to cut off Shimei's head (v. 9). But David told Abishai to leave him alone (v. 11). That's power under control. (However it's sad to note that David apparently lost some of that control at the end of his life, judging by his attitude toward Shimei in 1 Kings 2:8.)

David didn't seek out vengeance for himself. If Shimei had thrown rocks at Saul, he would have been killed on the spot. The difference between David and Saul is simple: they both had power, but one had it under control while the other's was out of control. One was like a fortified city; the other like a city with no walls (Prov. 25:28). On one occasion Saul was so out of control that he was prepared to kill his own son over a minor issue (1 Sam. 14:36-45). Yet when David's son rebelled against him, David said he would rather die for Absalom's sake (2 Sam. 18:33). Saul wouldn't allow anyone to offend him, even his own son. David could be offended by anyone, even his own son, and be willing to lose his own life.

c) Moses

Numbers 12:3 says, "The man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth." Moses was the meekest man who ever lived. And most of us wouldn't think of Moses as a Caspar Milquetoast, but as a fearless, bold, confrontive, courageous man of conviction. Indeed, he was a dynamic and powerful leader.

(1) His anger

Throughout his life Moses exploded in anger--both righteous and unrighteous--from time to time.

(a) Murder

The first incident occurred when he saw an Egyptian abusing a Jewish worker, so Moses killed the Egyptian (Ex. 2:11-12).

(b) Confrontation

After God had refined Moses' character for forty years in the wilderness, Moses returned to Egypt and told Pharoah, the greatest monarch in the world at the time, to let his people go (Ex. 5:1). Moses wasn't afraid to face Pharoah, nor was he afraid to make demands of him.

When Moses found the Israelites engaged in idolatry and debauchery, he smashed the law of God in his fury and rebuked the people (Ex. 32:19-20).

Moses was bold, combative, and confrontive. He had outbursts of righteous anger. He certainly wasn't a timid coward. For a third of his life he exercised authority over a couple of million people. Although he was bold and strong, the Bible tells us he was the meekest man who ever lived. Why? Because his anger was aroused when God was dishonored, not when he could have defended himself.

(2) His confidence

Moses' confidence wasn't in himself. When God appeared to Moses in the midst of a burning bush and called him to serve, Moses said, "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Ex. 3:11). But God assured him that He would lead them, and gave him a rod that would represent His power (Ex. 4:2-9).

How Do You Know If You're Meek?

Here are some practical questions to ask yourself:

1. Do you experience self-control?

Is your anger always under control? Do you rule your own spirit (Prov. 16:32), or does your temper often flare up? When your spouse says something to you that could start an argument, do you immediately defend yourself, or do you defer when possible?

2. Are you angry only when God is dishonored?

The things that should make you angry are the things that dishonor God, mar His reputation, and despise His name. Do you get angry about sin or when God's Word is perverted by false doctrines and false teachers? Do you get angry with people who claim to know Christ but obviously don't? We must gently exhort those who oppose us, but we have every right to be angry when God is dishonored.

3. Do you respond humbly to God's Word?

James 1:21 says we are to "receive with meekness the engrafted word." Do you submit meekly to the Word of God no matter what it says?

4. Do you always seek to make peace?

Meek people are peacemakers. Ephesians 4:3 says they endeavor "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." If someone falls into sin, do you condemn that person or gossip about him or her? Or do you practice Galatians 6:1? There Paul said, "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." Are you a peacemaker? Meek people don't start fights; they end them.

5. Do you accept criticism without retaliation?

Whether the criticism is right or wrong, we need to accept it without retaliating. Whenever people write to criticize me, the Holy Spirit has often led me to write them back and thank them for their criticism (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-25).

6. Do you have the right attitude toward non-Christians?

Peter said to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). It's easy for Christians to become smug. We can be tempted to look down on non-Christians and become proud of our spirituality, forgetting that we were in the same position they were before God graciously saved us.

Conclusion

The One who made the world, who formed the galaxies in space, who calls every star by name, who preserves innumerable orbits, who weighs the mountains on a scale, who holds the waters in the hollow of His hand, and before whom the inhabitants of the world are as grasshoppers is meek and lowly. Can you be anything less? First Peter 3:4 speaks of, "The hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." May you be so adorned.

Focusing on the Facts

1. In the Christian life, what must precede godly action? Explain (see p. 1).

2. How does the world tend to define meekness (see p. 2)?

3. Define the Greek word prautes (see p. 2).

4. In what ways was prautes used in classical Greek (see p. 2)?

5. Since anger is not absent from a meek person, what is a good way to define meekness (see p. 3)?

6. How might you illustrate that definition (see p. 3)?

7. Do Christians have a right to get angry? Explain (see pp. 3-4).

8. How did Aristotle define meekness (see p. 4)?

9. What is righteous indignation (see p. 4)?

10. How did Jesus react when God was dishonored? Cite some examples (see p. 5).

11. How did Jesus react whenever He was dishonored (see pp. 5-6)?

12. Explain how David's dealing with Saul in 1 Samuel 24:4 exemplifies meekness (see p. 6).

13. Explain the difference between Saul and David in terms of their anger (see p. 7).

14. According to Numbers 12:3, who was the meekest man who ever lived (see p. 7)?

15. In what ways did he reveal his anger (see p. 7)?

16. Why was he considered the meekest man who ever lived (see p. 8)?

17. Cite the six questions you need to ask yourself to know if you are meek (see pp. 8-9).

Pondering the Principles

1. Meekness is just one of the spiritual attitudes associated with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Write down each attitude. With the help of a dictionary of New Testament words, write the definition of each. Record next to each how you see those attitudes manifested in your life. Then ask yourself this: Which of the remaining attitudes do I struggle with most? With the help of a concordance, look up the other uses of that word in the New Testament to gain a comprehensive understanding of it. Ask God for His guidance in determining how to develop that attitude in yourself and become stronger in all the fruit of the Spirit.

2. Review the section on how to know if you are meek (see pp. 8-9). Ask yourself each of those questions, and record your honest appraisal. Which one of the questions did you have to answer with the strongest no? Since developing meekness will take some time, concentrate on just that one aspect right now. Begin to think of ways you might develop a meek attitude in that particular area. For example, if you have a difficulty in accepting criticism, you might look up all the times that Jesus was unjustly criticized and see how He responded. Then you could try to respond like He would whenever you are criticized. Again ask God for His guidance as you work on developing this important characteristic.

Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
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