現在我們來到基督給快樂的第三條處方：「溫柔的人有福了！因為他們必承受地土」（太五5）。我們多麼想逃避「溫柔」這個詞，只因為我們以為溫柔是軟弱，因此對耶穌的意思有完全錯誤的理解。《闡釋版聖經》（Amplified Bible）把「溫柔」翻譯為溫和、耐心、恆忍。「溫和、耐心、恆忍的人有福了，因為他們必承受地土。」

字典將「溫柔」定義為「謙卑、順從和降服」。這是否表示耶穌期望天國的兒女好像被馴服的小狗那樣，爬到主人那裡，蜷縮在他腳下？或者是成為那種缺乏內在堅忍和魄力的人，容易被人影響和操縱？

真正溫柔的人，根據聖經的意思，不是怯懦、害羞、猶疑和保守，而是信任、自信和安全。「溫柔」這個詞的根源意義是順從或降服，沒有這種特點便不能在基督徒生命中有真正的成長。舉例來說，如果一位科學家在探討宇宙奧秘時，是以一種挑釁和富侵略性的態度的話，那會有甚麼結果呢？他甚麼也不會發現。但如果科學家能以溫柔的心靈來對待宇宙的奧秘，結果又如何呢？他會發現最豐富的奧秘向他揭示，以致他能夠善用周圍強大的力量。那些同樣以溫柔和順服的精神來對待自己生命的基督徒，會發現自己存在的真正意義，以及神在他生命的所有事情中所賦與的目的。

We come now to Christ's third prescription for happiness: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). How we have shied away from that word "meek". We have thought of meekness as weakness and thus have a totally wrong concept of what Jesus meant. The Amplified Bible translates it thus: "Blessed are the meek (the mild, patient, long- suffering), for they shall inherit the earth."

The dictionary defines "meek" as "humble, compliant and submissive". Does this mean that Jesus expects the children of the kingdom to be like subdued puppies who crawl into their master's presence and cower at his feet? Or to become the type of people who lack inner fortitude and gumption, who can be easily pushed around and manipulated?

The truly meek person - in the Biblical sense of the word - is not timid, shy, hesitant and unassuming, but trusting, confident and secure. The root meaning of the word "meekness" is that of yieldedness or surrender - a characteristic without which no real progress can be made in the Christian life. What happens, for example, to the scientist who approaches the mysteries of the universe in a manner that is aggressive and belligerent? He discovers nothing. But what happens to the scientist who approaches the mysteries of the universe in a spirit of meekness? He finds its richest secrets unfolding themselves to him and he is able to harness the mighty forces around him to advantage. The Christian who approaches life in the same spirit - the spirit of meekness and submission - discovers the true meaning of his existence and the purpose of God in all his affairs.