Matthew 5:5 - The Unassuming

 The third blessing Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount is, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5, New International Version, 1984) 

Other verses translate the word "meek" as "humble" (NLT) or "gentle" (NASB). However, those words are considered positive "in the older, favorable sense."* It's the same word used to describe Jesus' demeanor as He rode the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  (Matthew 21:5)

The word can also be translated "unassuming," (BAGD Lexicon). "Unassuming" is the opposite of "presumptuous." The unassuming person doesn't presume that they have a prior position or right. They leave that up to God. 

Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message, captures it well:
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought." (Peterson, E. H., 2005).

However, Jesus says that the "unassuming" will specifically "inherit the earth." (Cp. Psalm 37:11.) Frankly, to inherit the earth as it now stands seems to be more of a burden than a blessing. 

It's more likely that Jesus was anticipating the prophecy of Revelation 5:10, which says, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (NASB95)

In the new heaven and the new earth, the ones who haven't tried to grasp control will actually be entrusted with ruling God's new order.

Lord, when we seem to be the last ones in control, let us be content with knowing that ultimately You are the one in control. When we're tempted to grasp what we think belongs to us, when we want to defend our rights and our territory, give us the unassuming character of Your Son, in whose name we pray, Amen.

PS - For an illustration of "unassuming," consider the centurion who could have demanded that Jesus heal his servant but instead said, "...I am not worthy for You to come under my roof" (Luke 7:6, NASB95)