Let’s watch a one-minute video first. 我们先看个一分钟短片。From watching this short video看完这个短片, did you discover any difference in the meaning of “meekness” between the Oxford dictionary and the bible?有没有发现meekness（温柔）在《牛津词典》和《圣经》里含义的不同？The Oxford dictionary describes “meekness” like this, “quiet, gentle, easily imposed on, submissive.”《牛津词典》解释meekness是：安静，温柔，容易被指使，顺从。

Do we want a leader who is quiet and easily imposed on? 我们想要一个容易被指使的领导吗？For instance, in an interview, if you want to be hired as a manager or a leader in a company, 比如，你想被公司聘用成为一个经理或领袖人物do you think this type of meekness would characterise what they are looking for? 你觉得公司想找的首先是性格温柔的人吗？I don’t think so不，我想不会! CV experts will tell you that you should say this, “Yes, I’m a graduate student, BUT I…简历专家会告诉你应该这样写：对，我只是个应届毕业生，但是，我…”

What if a candidate in the presidential election, said, “Vote for me, I’m meek!” 要是总统候选人选举时，说，“请投我一票，我很温柔！”Would that be stupid? 这傻不傻？ I think this world never wants a meek person to be a leader我想这个世界绝不要一个温柔的领袖, but wants a dynamic, eloquent and ambitious leader但要有活力、能言善辩、有雄心的人。

But Jesus Christ the Son of God但耶稣基督，神的儿子, in His third beatitude 在天国八福里的第三福里说 he says, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土. Wow, that’s a big deal for all Christians哇！这对基督徒太重要了! Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth温柔的人有福了，他们必承受地土!

Does the meek represent the weak温柔是指软弱吗? Does it mean that the weak will inherit the land是软弱的人承受地土吗? If not, what does Jesus mean about “meekness” 不是的话，主耶稣说的温柔是什么意思呢? Why is “meekness” so important, that it can result in inheriting the earth?为什么温柔这么重要，以至于能承受地土呢？

We know that “inherit the earth” and “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” are the same thing which Jesus is talking about主所说的，承受地土和天国是他们的是同一回事! This is the same outcome just as what we talked about in the first beatitude这和八福中第一福的结果是一样的, which means the sanctified (overcomer) will inherit the earth就是指 被成圣的（得胜的）将承受地土。

Do you still remember what the first divine attribute is that we are to seek to have that Jesus talked about还记得主耶稣要我们追求的第一个属神的性情吗? “Poor in spirit” 灵里贫穷, Humility, a humble and a contrite heart谦卑痛悔的心The second第二个是? Mourn哀恸, being sensitive to the conviction of the Spirit是对圣灵光照敏锐. The third: meekness第三：温柔！

Through the Sermon of the Mount借着山上宝训, Jesus called his disciples to change the way they thought主耶稣呼召门徒更新思想, and they lived to be according to the kingdom’s value照着神天国的价值观来活. Through Jesus’ teaching从祂的教导中, again we see我们再一次看见, that God values what we are going to be, more than what we are going to do神看重我们“是”什么，过于我们“做”什么. Because when Jesus comes again当耶稣再来时, only when we reach the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ唯有我们成长为基督长成的身量, then will we be able to inherit the kingdom as a reward才能得着承受神国的奖赏。

1, Meekness has to do with Jesus. 温柔与耶稣有关

In the Bible圣经里, meek was translated from the Greek word “praus” 温柔一词由希腊文praus翻译过来, it means “power under control” 意思是 受管制下的能力, they used it to describe war horses过去用来描述训练打仗的战马, that were trained to obey instantly and absolutely被训练成立即和绝对地服从, no matter how brutal the battle was哪怕战争很惨烈. But those war horses were extremely powerful那些战马在战场上非常勇猛，and fierce in battle under the complete control of their riders并绝对服从骑马者的驾驭。

So are we supposed to be meek我们要成为这样的温柔吗? Yes是的, meekness is not weakness温柔不是软弱! They are total different他们完全的不同! Meekness means “power under control”温柔的原意是 “受管制下的能力”. It doesn’t mean that God wants us to be manipulated or controlled但这并不是神要我们受控于人, when people ask us to do something immoral or illegal当人要我们做不道德和不法的事. You can boldly say, “no” 我们要勇敢的说 不! When we talk about meekness当我们提说温柔, God never wants us to look at the word meekness itself神从来不要我们单单看这个词, but look at Christ Jesus而是要我们看耶稣! Because Jesus Christ is the example of meekness因耶稣才是温柔的榜样: power under control受管制下的能力。

In Matt 12: 19 says, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight;…He will not quarrel or cry aloud; nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” （太12:19）：他不争竞，不喧嚷；街上也没有人听见他的声音。压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将残的灯火，他不吹灭；等他施行公理，叫公理得胜。外邦人都要仰望他的名。

Jesus Christ the Son of God神的儿子耶稣基督, he wasn’t timid or afraid of conflict他不是胆怯，也不怕起冲突, when he was doing His ministry of preaching他在加利利各城传道、and teaching and healing among the towns of Galilee教导、医治病人, the Pharisees followed to challenge him everywhere he went所到之处都有法利赛人跟着来指责他. When Christ Jesus healed a paralytic当他治好一个瘫子, they thought that Jesus was blaspheming他们说耶稣在亵渎神; when He cast out demons他赶出鬼来, they said that it was by the prince of demons他们说他靠鬼王赶鬼; when He raised the dead man Lazarus, they plotted to kill him他使拉撒路死里复活，他们就设计要杀害他。

This verse is in Matt 12在《马太福音》12章, when Jesus Christ healed the man with a withered hand主耶稣治好了枯干的手, they condemned him as a law breaker他们控告他违背律法, because they thought that people were forbidden to do anything on the Sabbath因为他们觉得在安息日什么都不可做, even saving people’s lives哪怕救人一命也不可。

How would you have reacted你会有何反应？if you had been one of the followers of Jesus and heard those words from those rigid legalists如果你是耶稣的跟随者 面对那些僵化的律法主义者? Would you have been provoked to anger你会不会被激怒? Would you have been provoked to quarrel with them你会不会和他们吵起来？

I think if ten year ago我想十年前的我, I had been there假如我在那里, I would have come up and said to them我会站出来说, “Hey, are you blind嘿，你们是瞎子啊? Have you seen the result你们看不到果子吗? God desires mercy神喜悦怜悯, you desire hatred你们喜欢仇恨…” But Jesus will not quarrel or cry aloud because He is meek但主耶稣不会和人大声去吵, power under the control of the truth and of the Holy Spirit and of the Father! Meekness is only in Him!因祂是温柔，在受真理、圣灵、天父的管制下的大能！

Biblical meekness has nothing to do with our natural personalities圣经所说的温柔与天然人性格所谓的温柔无关. So Jesus said所以主说, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:29-30.” 我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭。学我的样式；这样，你们心里就必得享安息。因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的。（太11:29-30）。

Some versions translate “meek” and “lowly in heart” into “gentle and humble” 有的圣经版本，把meek和lowly in heart 翻译成 柔和，和谦卑, what does that mean这是什么意思？From the story of Jesus above从主耶稣的经历, we can see that he is meek because he has humble heart告诉我们他因心里谦卑而柔和, that he isn’t timid or afraid of conflict他不胆怯，不害怕冲突, he doesn’t quarrel or argue with others to prove that he is right也不与人去争辩 自己是对的, but teaches the way of God in truth and in love而是在真理和爱中教导神的道, he was even willing to be slaughtered like a Lamb甚至愿意像羊一样被杀, and was raised again但从死里复活, His meekness is “power under the control” 他的温柔是“受管制下的能力”，He is the king of kings and Lord of lords祂是万王之王，万主之主。

2, The meek trust in God and commit their ways to God.温柔是信靠神 交托神

If we want to know more about what the meekness that Jesus is talking about in the third beatitude means若我们想更多了解主在天国八福里说的温柔, we should go back to Psa 37我们需要回到诗篇37, Jesus quoted this verse主耶稣引用了那里的经文, Psa 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace 诗篇37:11.但谦卑人必承受地土，以丰盛的平安为乐。the Hebrew word “land” is also translated as “earth” 希伯来文的Land，翻译过来就是地土。

In this verse在这节经文中, the Hebraic word “meek” is anav， meek对应的希伯来文是anav, it is also translated to “humble, afflicted, or poor”也可翻成 谦卑、受苦的、贫穷的. To understand the meaning of meek为更好理解meek这“温柔”的含义, we must go back to v.1-11我们来看1-11节, “do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture”  不要为作恶的心怀不平，也不要向那行不义的生出嫉妒。因为他们如草快被割下，又如青菜快要枯干。你当倚靠耶和华而行善，住在地上，以他的信实为粮。How can the meek inherit the earth, and enjoy great peace?温柔是怎样承受地土、得享丰盛的平安呢？

A, Don’t fret over evil men (v.1-2).  不要为作恶的心怀不平（v1-2）

What kinds of things can fret our minds and make us jealous什么事会让我们焦躁或嫉恨? Some people said有人说, “When my wife当我的太太, or my husband我丈夫 or my family members或家里人 talk about something again and again that I don’t want to hear不停的讲一些我不喜欢听的事, I become fretful我就烦躁起来…”

Some people are jealous of those who do wrong but still succeed有人因看到作恶的人反而成功了，就心生嫉恨，for example比如, recently I heard some Christians say最近我听一些基督徒说, “Those people, paid money to buy a visa那些人花钱买了一个签证, and they successfully got it而且还成功了…” “Other people又有人, they have made a fortune他们发达了, by bribing their country’s officials是因为行贿…” Don’t fret because their wrong doings succeed不要因他人作恶成就，就心怀不平; don’t fret when your acquaintances make a fortune by their wrong doings不要因你的熟人作恶发财而心怀不平; don’t be jealous of who do wrong! 也不要嫉恨作恶的人！for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away因为他们如草快被割下，又如青菜快要枯干。

Not very long ago不久前, I heard that an acquaintance of ours had been executed by injection due to lot of wrong doing我听说一个过去认识的人，因犯罪被注射死刑, I was shocked because he died only in his 40’s我震惊了，因他才刚40岁, a rich and famous man有钱有名, who had billions of possessions拥有数十亿身家, but disappeared消逝了, money couldn’t save his life钱不能救他的命. When I heard this news当我听到这消息, God’s word turned up in my heart神的话涌上心头, “Like green plants they will soon die away.”  又如青菜快要枯干。

Don’t fret or be envious of those who do wrong不要为作恶的心怀不平, in the end, God will judge the living and the dead神终究要审判活人死人. In this life在今生, God never promises that He will improve our quality of life by giving us money神从没有应许给我们钱来提升我们的生活品质. But He promises us peace但祂应许平安, joy and eternal life喜乐和永生! God says神说, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. There is no peace”, says the Lord, “for the wicked. Isa 57:21” 惟独恶人，好像翻腾的海，不得平静；其中的水常涌出污秽和淤泥来。我的神说，恶人必不得平安！（赛57:21）

If we see something如果我们看到什么, which causes our hearts to be like the tossing sea让我们的心像翻腾的海, going up and down上下起伏, or causes us to quarrel或让我们去争吵, dispute辩论, argue against others去争辩, or be jealous 或去嫉妒or to judge bitterly或去苦毒的论断, we ourselves need to pray and turn to the truth我们自己需要去祷告转向真理, because only if we hold to the truth因为只有我们行真理, and the truth will set us free真理必叫我们得自由. and let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts并让基督的平安在里面掌权. Let’s be controlled by the truth and the Holy Spirit, 让我们被真理和圣灵掌管，so that we will be able to live in His meekness-power under the control 因此我们可以活在祂的被管制的大能的温柔里。

B, Trust in God.信靠神

Meekness begins by trusting in God温柔始于信靠神! Christ Jesus demonstrated the meek life of trusting in God for us耶稣基督向我们展显了他温柔信靠神的生命. In Isa 53:7 says, He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he didn’t open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth. 赛53:7）他被欺压，在受苦的时候却不开口；他像羊羔被牵到宰杀之地，又像羊在剪毛的人手下无声，他也是这样不开口。Christ suffered for our sins基督为我们的罪受苦, when people opposed and insulted him当人敌对他侮辱他, he didn’t open his mouth to prove that he was right他没有开口去证明他是对的, he didn’t defend or vindicate himself他没有为自己辩护，称自己无罪, but committed himself to the Father who judges justly但他交托自己按公义审判的父, even to the point of death以至于死, and death on the cross且死在十字架上. He waited for the Father and was vindicated by the Spirit 他等候天父，被圣灵称义 (1 Tim 3:16b, He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit. 提前3:16下：神在肉身显现，被圣灵称义。）

That’s biblical meekness这就是圣经说的温柔! No revenge没有报复, no self-defensiveness没有自我辩护, and no hatred没有仇恨, but trusting in God and committing oneself to God但信靠交托自己给父, and waiting for God to vindicate by the Spirit等候被圣灵称义, not by people不是寻求人的认可! Yes, this is the way of meekness that we are to follow是的，这就是我们要跟随的温柔样式, it starts with trusting in God from our hearts to our actions这始于 从内里的信靠神，到外在的行动！

C, Commit our ways to God.将你的事交托给神

v.5 commit your way to the Lord, trust in him and he will do this: 第5节，当将你的事交托耶和华，并依靠祂，祂就必成全。 The Hebrew word for “commit” literally means to “roll” 希伯来文的commit，字面意思是卷起来, “roll your way to the Lord” 将你的事卷起来给神. Meek people put their trust in the Lord温柔的人全心信靠主, delight themselves in the Lord他们的喜悦在主里, roll all their ways to God把所有的事卷起来给神: their jobs他们的工作, their marriages他们的婚姻, their businesses他们的生意, their emotions他们的情绪, their health他们的健康, their fears他们的惧怕, and their frustrations他们的沮丧, they roll all “they are and they have” onto the Lord他们把所有的他们所是，所有，都打包给神, even taking risks哪怕去冒险, because they believe that God is faithful因他们相信神是信实的! This is following Jesus Christ’s footsteps这是跟从基督的脚踪! And if we follow this way若果我们跟从基督的脚踪, God promises us神应许我们, that He will give us the desires of our hearts祂就将你心里所求的赐给你, and that He will make our righteousness go out as the light祂就使你的公义如光发出, and our justice as the noonday sun使你的公平明如正午. And your healing will quickly appeared (see Isa 58:8) 医治的光线就要生发出来 (见 赛58:8)

D. The meek wait patiently for God. 温柔的人耐性等候神

v be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him, do not fret when people succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil man will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. 7-11节，你当默然依靠耶和华，耐性等候祂；不要因那道路通达的和那恶谋成就的心怀不平。当止住怒气，离弃忿怒；不要心怀不平，以致作恶。因为作恶的必被剪除；惟有等候耶和华的必承受地土。还有片时，恶人要归于无有；你就是细察他的住处也要归于无有。但谦卑人必承受地土，以丰盛的平安为乐。

From this last verse, we see最后一节经文说, that the meek will enjoy great peace温柔的人得享丰盛的平安. You know why知道为什么吗? Because they are quiet before the Lord因他们安静在神面前, and wait for the Lord patiently耐性等候神. We are called to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (see Col 3:15) 我们蒙召让基督的平安在心里掌权（见西3:15. If we have great peace that rules in our hearts when we are in times of trouble我们在患难中，若心里有丰盛的平安作主, which means that Christ richly rules in our hearts. 这就表明基督在我们心里大大掌权。

If Christ the meek rules in our hearts若基督的温柔在我们心中掌权, the meek will inherit the land indeed这温柔就可以承受地土了! So to be made into His-likeness of meekness为被磨成基督温柔的性情,  we are to practice trusting in God我们当操练信靠神，committing ourselves to God交托自己给神, and be quiet before God在祂面前安静 and wait patiently for Him耐心等候祂. And learn to be controlled by the truth and the Spirit 操练学习被真理和圣灵掌权, not to be controlled by our own desires不被自己的私欲掌权.

During the times of waiting for God在等候神的过程中, something may happen to us有些事会发生, that may cause us to lose our patience可以使我们失去忍耐, or make us angry或让我们生气, or may trap us to sin against God或让我们得罪神. From v. 8, Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.第8节，当止住怒气，离弃忿怒；不要心怀不平，以致作恶。We see that what may stand opposed to meekness, are anger, wrath, fretting and evil. 从上面看见 是什么在抵挡温柔，是怒气、忿怒、不平、烦躁以至于作恶。

This week, a Christian told me这周一个基督徒告诉我, that she had a row with her boss 她和老板大吵了一架, because she had been wronged by her boss因她被老板委屈了. She was very angry that day那天她很生气. The next day第二天, she crashed someone’s car她撞了他人的车, suddenly she realized that she herself was a learner突然她想起来她是学徒驾驶牌照, it’s illegal to drive by herself一个人驾车是违法的. The insurance company won’t be responsible for this case保险公司不会赔. When I prayed for this case当我为这事祷告, I realized that we might have lots of wrongs in God’s eyes我领受到,在上帝眼中我们在很多地方都有错 so if we are wronged若我们被人错断, it’s better for us to come to the Lord最好快快去主那里祷告, to forgive first第一去饶恕, then we can have conversation with those who judge us unjustly if it is necessary和那错断我们的人去谈谈, but we still need to trust in God但我们仍然需要信靠神, commit ourselves to God交托自己给神, and wait for the Lord patiently耐心等候神. If we quick to become angry若我们快快发怒, we may suffer loss in some ways就会在很多地方受损, because no one is innocent因为没有人是无罪的. We all need God’s grace and His forgiveness我们都需要神的饶恕恩典.

Waiting patiently for God doesn’t mean we become lazy耐性等候神，不是说我们什么都不做, rather, we have to diligently seek God’s word相反，我们要殷勤的寻求神的话, pray about His promises在祂的应许里祷告, pray to fight a good fight against our natural thoughts祷告和天然思想打美好的仗, and let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts让基督的平安掌管我们的心! Let “power under control” rule in our hearts! 让“受控的大能”在我们里面掌权！

If we don’t put our faith into action若我们不将信心付诸行动, the devil can use anything那恶者可以用各样的事, “our jobs, the thing that we are doing” 我们的工作，我们正在做的事, or anybody else to trap us into temptation to anger或任何人来引诱我们进入试探，去生气, fret, rage, and it may lead us to evil 烦躁不平、去愤怒，使我们作恶。

James 1:19-20 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.（雅1:19-20）但你们各人要快快地听，慢慢地说，慢慢地动怒，因为人的怒气并不成就神的义。

I love this bible verse我喜欢这节经文, because this is one of the useful verses that helps me refrain from anger因这是其中一句很有用的经文，帮助我止住怒气, whenever I found there was a yeast of anger in my heart任何时候当我发现心里有怒气的酵时, I would pray, “Yes Lord, what should I seek 我就这样祷告，主啊，什么是我要寻求的？ To seek who is right or wrong要寻求谁对谁错? To prove I am right? 是为证明我对？Or to seek your righteousness that God desires还是寻求神所要的‘基督的义’...” when I prayed to seek His righteousness to rule in my heart当我祷告要寻求基督的义在我里面掌权, the sense of anger would be killed那生气的感觉就被除灭了! Biblical meekness is rooted in God’s love and in His humble attributes! 圣经说的温柔 扎根于神的爱和祂谦卑里面!

In short, what is biblical meekness? 总之，什么是圣经说的温柔？power under control” 是受管制下的能力; to not be timid or afraid of Conflict 不胆怯 不惧怕冲突; a humble heart谦卑的心; not to quarrel or argue with others不争不辩; not to fret over evil men or be envious of evil不为作恶心怀不平，和生出嫉妒; to trust in God是要信靠神; to commit their ways to God交托给神; No revenge没有报复, no self-defensiveness不自我辩护, and no hatred不恨人, waiting for God patiently 耐心等候神 and to be vindicated by the Spirit等候被圣灵称义, they are in Christ! 这都是在基督里！

In the end最后, I’m gonna tell a story of a man我讲一个见证, who is called a very meek man这人被称为极其温柔. In Numbers 12:4, Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.（数12:3）摩西为人及其谦和，胜过世上的众人。

Miriam and Aaron were Moses’ siblings米利安和亚伦是摩西的哥哥姐姐, one day一天, they criticized Moses severely他们不留情地指责摩西, because of the Cushite woman Moses had married因摩西娶了个古实妻子. And they spoke against him like this他们就这样毁谤他, “Has the Lord only spoken through Moses难道耶和华单与摩西说话? Hasn’t he also spoken through us不也与我们说话吗?”

What if your brothers and sisters challenge you whether what you have done was really from God? 要是你的兄弟姊妹这样来挑衅你，你所做的真的从神而来？Would you be angry? 你会生气吗？

After they had challenged Moses他们这样挑衅摩西后, the bible tells us that “the Lord heard this’圣经告诉我们“这话耶和华听见了”. And then the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam耶和华对摩西、亚伦和米利暗说, “Come out, to the tent of meeting, all three of you你们三个都出来, 到会幕这里 .” Do you know what happened你知道接下来发生了什么? The Lord disciplined Miriam主管教了米利暗, and rebuked Aaron责备了亚伦, and vindicated his servant Moses称祂仆人摩西为义。

My point is that after those two had spoken against Moses我想说的是，当这两个人毁谤摩西, “the Lord heard this这话耶和华听见了”, the bible uses these words圣经里这样说, “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 摩西为人及其谦和，胜过世上的众人” It means that after the Lord had heard this就是说，当主祂听见了, He was watching to see whether Moses would say anything to defend himself or not祂就在那里观看，看摩西有没有说什么为自己辩护.

But Moses didn’t say a word to justify himself against his siblings但摩西没有说一句话为自己辩护，也没有反驳他的哥哥姐姐, nor fretted over those bitter judgmental words with anger也没有为这些苦毒论断心怀不平以致发怒, rather Moses committed himself to God相反，摩西将自己交托神, and waited for God patiently耐心等候神. God appeared to defend him神就出来为祂辩护. And the bible commends Moses who was a very meek man圣经就说摩西为人及其谦和！And I believe that this commend has eternal value! 这评价有永恒的价值！

What are we seeking for in this life? 今生 我们要寻求什么呢Are we seeking world values that are changeable我们是要寻求多变的世俗价值观呢？ Or the kingdom’s value that remains forever还是要寻求存到永恒的天国价值观? Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth! 温柔的人有福了，他们必承受地土！