A multitude of people usually milled round Him because He spoke with a kind of wisdom never seen in the history of mankind. Not only that, He spoke with authority and He healed all manners of diseases. On one of such a day, He climbed a mountain and taught His disciples in what is popularly referred to as " The sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes" It is recorded in the book of St. Matthew 5

He opened up by saying "3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.5:3) Most of the teachings on that day were things to qualify us for heaven but there was one particular one, which He taught, which will enable us to enjoy the earth.

Can Jesus be concerned about us having a good time on earth? Of course, He is. And what is it? In verse 5 of His teaching; Matthew 5, He said "5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the [a]earth.

What is this meekness of all other things that can make us to inherit the earth, which will make us to enjoy the earth other than money? What does it mean to be meek? So the title of my sermon today is "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the [a]earth"

Let us pray.

Blessed are the meek.

The study of this subject further assures me of who Jesus is. By the end of this exposition, you will agree with me that no human's wisdom can match His wisdom but God's bearing in mind that He was only 30 years as human.

Pilate, the Roman Colonial Governor in the land of Israel at the point in time was stunned at His wisdom and he wrote about it to his home government in Rome. He wrote "Never have I read in the works of the philosophers anything that can compare to Jesus"

He told Jesus at a face to face meeting "Your words are those of a sage. I know not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I know there is in your discourses a majestic simplicity that elevates you far above those philosophers and the Emperor is informed of it"

The Oxford English dictionary interprets Meekness as, quiet, gentle, easily imposed on, submissive. I love the Yoruba interpretation of meekness very much 'Olakan tutu" which literally interprets as someone with cold or cool mind. This may be what the Ijebus of Nigeria call "Cool Temper, Kulu Temper or Kutemba"

This person with cool mind, may as any other person be angry but will quickly let it go. He shakes off insult as if he was not aware that he had been insulted. In fact, he will often be described as a fool or idiot who tolerates nonsense rubbish. The Oxford dictionary interprets it as 'easily imposed on' to which I add 'easily trampled upon'

He holds no grudge with anyone neither does he take revenge. He makes no assumption. Many times we take offence at someone who hurts us, when this fellow hasn't done it intentionally and he is even unaware that he has hurt anyone and he has been going on with his own life, sleeping soundly. And rather than drawing his attention to it, we start to read several meanings to his action, making all kinds of assumptions, thereby bottling up anger, leading to sleepless nights, which impairs our health and productivity at work.

The meek hardly notices that he has even been hurt and if he notices, he promptly draw the attention of the fellow to it. The meek bothers not whether the offender offers apology or not.

If someone takes offense at the meek, even when actually he is the one that is offended, he doesn't prove his innocence, he only answers with soft words. The wise king Solomon approves this behaviour in Proverbs 15:1 when he wrote that a gentle (soft) answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

I have seen situations where someone who is offended, got angry very badly and used harsh words but at the end became badly injured in the feud that evolved and I have read of feud that ended in death of either the guilty or the innocent where harsh words were used.

A difficult boss can be tamed by the meek subordinate but where the subordinate is not meek but holds on to his right, he loses his job and returns to the labor market.

The meek is contended with whatever he possesses even when little. He doesn't question God why He is not wealthy.

A person with these attributes will sleep well like a baby because nothing bothers him. Argue with me if he has not inherited the earth.

His behaviour is not different from that of a little child who holds no one in grudge. Have you ever noticed two children who fought each other and after few minutes resume playing together? That is typical of a meek person.

And that was why Jesus said we must become a little child in order to enter heaven "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18: 3-4).

The meek will not only inherit or enjoy the earth but he is able to enter the Kingdom of God most easily. I believe that the bahaviour or attribute we should all request from God after love for fellow citizens is 'meekness" I see meekness as next to love for fellow human beings, which we must covet in order to enjoy the earth and in order to enter heaven easily .

Consider 20 percent of Nigerians to be meek, what a great nation we shall have. Consider 10% of the people of the earth to be meek and have love for fellow human beings, what a peaceful world we shall have, void of wars.

If anyone is meek, the counsel of Paul in Romans 12: 14-21 will be applicable to him: 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can, to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

"I will take revenge;

I will pay them back,"[g]

says the LORD.

20 Instead,

"If your enemies are hungry, feed them.

If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap

burning coals of shame on their heads."[h]

21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

In future, I will preach on why revenge can be dangerous though we hear people say that revenge is sweet.

Sam Aweda, Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission (Peoples' Church)