The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 181

is e. slavish thing, he says, for a man to take insult calmly, Such was the teaohina of the Greek philosopher. The Lord Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek." His lif:, his teaching, changed for ever the position of the gentler virtues. He was meek and lowly in heart. Christian meekness is of great price in the sight of God. We see what meekness is when we look at the life of Christ. It is, first, a willingness to take wrong patiently (see 1 Pet. ii. 19-25), e.nd, secondly, gentleness in dealing with others. A. meek man will not think overmuch of himself, his claims, his position, his ~ignity; he will not allow bis temper _to be ruffled by slights and provoca.tion; he will not expect to be always treated with respect and reverence; he will do his duty in t~e. station where God has s~t him gently, lovingly, seeking not honour from men, a~b1t1ous onlr_to be well pleasmg unto God. True meekness is a gra.ce, one of the fruits of the Spmt. Natural meekness ma.y be no better than timidity, shyness, wEl:"kuess of _cha~ter. It may, as Aris~tle says, imply a want of sensibility, of qmck perception; it may be dull, weak, abject. But true meekness is a stron"' thin"', It is found sometimes in men who were naturally the reverse of meek, like the holy apostle St. John. It comes from the working of the Holy Spirit, which gives strength e.nd energy t-0 the character, while it disciplines it into gentleness and patience. Christian meekness may outwardJy resemble its natural counterfeit; inwardJy it is very different. It implies strength of purpose, holy courage, sustained perseverance in self-control. We see it in the cha.re.cter of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see in him a most lofty fortitude joined with the most tender gentleness in dealing with penitent sinners, the most wonderful meekness in the midst of insult and outrage. Meekness is hard to learn; but it is a necessary lesson for us, for it was characteristic of the Master, and he declares it blessed. (2) The reason. "They shall inherit the earth." It is e. quotation from the thirty-seventh psalm; it sounds like the Old Testament. But the New Testament too presents here and there the" promise of the life that now is" (1 Tim. iv. 8). The Epistle to the Ephesians re-echoes the Old Testament promise to those who honour father and mother; and the Lord himself promises a hundredfold more in this time to those who a.re ready to forsake earthly things for his love. The meek shall inherit the earth. The quiet strength of Christian meekness will win its way where violence fails. Gentleness is a power in the world ; it exerts a strange influence over rougher natures; it often comes to the front and gains a high ple.ce e.mong men. And when this is not the case, it has e. joy of its own-a deep inner contentment, e. holy restfolness which gives a sweetness to this present life on earth. Such are the tendencies of meekness-tendencies which ha~e not always their full BC-Ope, do not realize their full blessedness amid the selfishness, the hardD.ess, the violence of the world. But "we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." There shall meekness have its perfect work, and win its perfect blessedness. 4. The fourth Beatitude. (1) "Blessed a.re they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." (a) Righteousness here is equivalent to holiness-personal, spiritual holiness, holiness of heart and lifo. It is the sum of all Christian graces. But we have no righteousness of our own : "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Christ is made unto us Righteousness: "Thie is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." If only we are his, grafted once into the true Vine, abiding in him now, then his righteousness is ours, for he himself is ours. "My Beloved is mine, and I am his." (b) We must hunger and thirst after this righteousness. 'l'he desire of the Christian heart is righteousness; not simply happiness hereafter, but righteousness now. All men wish for ha.ppiness, present and future. The true Christian wish is for righteousness first; happiness will follow. "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness e.nd aesura.nce for ever." It is righteousness that the Christian soul desireth, And that desire mll8t be like hunger and thirst; not a faint hesitating wish, but a strong longing desire-a desire that cannot be satisfied till it has attained its object. Hunger ar;d thirst imply e. prevfous void, a want. The desire of righteousness implies a sense of sin and weakness. 'There is a felt want in the soul, a craving, an aching void-a longing like that of David expressed in the fifty-first psalm; not the fcn.r of punishment, but a longing after a clean heart-after the Holy Spirit of God. 'l'o hunger and thirst after righteousness is to hunger and thirst after Christ. lie is our Example here as always. ills meal._ wae to do the will of him that sent him, and to OR, v.1-18.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 173