Meekness: Not Weakness by David Jeremiah

Tuesday, October 24

Meekness: Not Weakness 

(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) 
Numbers 12:3 

Recommended Reading Matthew 5:5

Somewhere along the way, meekness was made a synonym of weakness. Granted, there is a fine line between the words in the semantic range of meek: “gentle, soft, submissive, humble, compliant.” They sound more weak than strong. Modern Bible versions have taken steps to correct the problem. In the King James Version, “meek” occurs seventeen times; in the New King James Version, it only occurs five times in the New Testament. “Humble” is now used in many verses instead of “meek.” And humility, biblically speaking, should never be confused with weakness.

For instance, in Numbers 12:3, Moses is described as “very meek” in the King James Version, but in the New King James Version he is “very humble.” Would anyone say Moses was weak or compliant? No, but he could easily be seen as humble before God (in spite of occasional outbursts). Indeed, it takes strength to be humble, strength demonstrated by Jesus when He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the “cross” (Philippians 2:8). Paul says we should also be humble (verse 3, NIV).

Arrogance and pride are not strengths but weaknesses. Conversely, humility is a Christ-like strength that should characterize all who follow Him.

The surest mark of true conversion is humility.
J. C. Ryle