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Inheritance (kleeronomia) – our rightful portion or allotment.
Heir – (kleeronomos) – He/she who possesses the right to the rightful portion or allotment.
Inherit – (kleeronomeo) – to lay hold of or to obtain the rightful portion or allotment.
Ephesians 1:17-19a That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (epignosis – intimate knowing by experience) of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what (is) the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe.
The first usage of any of these “inherit” words is:
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit (kleeronomeo) the earth.
(First of all, you may wonder why I always make note of the first usage of a word in the New Testament. It is because God defines His Own words. How He uses His words should never be left up to our own interpretation, certainly not be left up to how that word is used today. And so, just like we learn the meaning of words by seeing them used in context, so it is with the “dictionary” of God’s words. By seeing them defined by their own context, we allow God Himself to define the way He uses His words. Very often, the first usage of a word goes a long way in setting the tone for a truer understanding of it.)
The idea of inheriting the earth was very familiar to the Jews and all of Israel. This was the promise that God made to the father of Israel, Abraham, and this hope of inheriting the earth still figures into the psyche of the nation of Israel today. In their minds, they are the chosen ones of God, destined to inherit the earth.
It must have shocked his listeners (Jews) when Jesus did not say, “Blessed are they of Israel, for they shall inherit the earth.” Rather, Jesus was telling his audience how they would inherit the earth… by meekness.
What is your picture of meekness? Someone who is afraid to look anyone in the eyes? Someone who is afraid to stand up for himself? Well, that is so far from the truth, it must be a lie from the devil!
Meekness is a fruit of the spirit of Christ, the willingness to open your mind and heart to new ways of looking at things, a willingness to learn. It is the spiritual ability to take another’s knowing of the truth as one’s own. The power to do this lies in an inner confidence… that you have not arrived at the pinnacle of all learning and knowing, that the truth is not something to be feared, but to be eagerly sought after and embraced; that even as the truth has blessed and strengthened you every time you’ve embraced it (no matter how different it seems or feels), that it will continue to do so.
Meekness embraces change, embraces different viewpoints and insights. Meekness does not swallow everything it’s told. Meekness holds all things up to the light of truth, being ready and willing to change and adapt in order to grow and bear more fruit.
Jesus is telling these people of Israel that in order to lay hold of this inheritance of the whole earth, they will need to be ready and willing to see and understand new things. In order to lay hold of their inheritance of the earth, the heirs are going to need to be learning new things, and will need to embrace these new things, these new ways of thinking and doing.
Romans 4:13,14 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect;
Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The inheritance that comes from God came not by anyone earning it, but by God promising it. All Abraham did was believe what God promised, and by meekness he began to lay hold of it.
What Israel did not understand was that the true seed of Abraham are not those born of his flesh, but those born of his faith.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, “And to seeds,” (as of many); but as of one, “And to thy seed,” (who is Christ).
Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it (the promise of inheriting the earth) is of faith, that it might be by grace (by God’s generosity); to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
Before we become God’s child, our identity lies in what we do. After we become His children, our identity is Christ, no matter what we do (in the eyes of God… the only eyes that matter).
Colossians 3:23, 24 And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Romans 8:16, 17a The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
To Jesus Christ (the seed of Abraham) was the fulfilled promise of inheriting the earth given, and this inheritance is shared jointly (not equally, but jointly, everyone enjoying the entire benefit of it all, together) by us through Jesus Christ.
Our inheritance, our rightful portion, what is rightfully ours to possess is exactly the promise that Jesus Christ obtained from his Father, God, by faith. Jesus is now, and always will be, Lord (master) of everything that has ever been or will ever be created (the heavens and the earth). And that is exactly our inheritance to enjoy with him and because of him and by means of him. All creation and its mastery is ours to enjoy!
Think of inheriting land. First, you have it on paper. Then you see it for the first time. Then you explore it and discover a lake, different animals, caves. Then you learn to fish, to swim, ski, spelunk; then you learn to train animals, build a treehouse, and on it goes. In an ever increasing degree of ability and discovery, you grow into really laying hold of the possibilities which are your inheritance.
What good is creation being ours, if we are not given the ability to enjoy it? Our everlasting inheritance will be an everlasting experience of becoming more and more able to get more and more out of the life and the creation which has been bequeathed us. Our true inheritance is Christ, because the spirit of Christ is our ability to lay hold of all God desires for us to have and do and enjoy.
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