Gentleness/Meekness

          Gentleness: kindly, amiable, mild; not severe, rough or violent; moderate; gadual; of good birth or family; characteristic of good birth; honorable; respectable; easily handled or managed, tractable; soft or low; polite; refied; noble; chivalrous

          Meekness The meek are not those who are neer at all angry, for such are insensible, but those who, feeling anger, control it, and are angry only when they ought to be. Meekness excludes revent, irritability, morbid sensitiveness, but not self-defence, or a quiet and steady maintenance of right.


              Our Lord is the perfect example of gentleness (He is the Good Shepherd) but there are other men of the Bible who showed this character quality also and it would be good to study them.

              Some scriptures to show our Lord being gentle:

              Isaiah 40:11: He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

              2 Cor. 10:1: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

              In Luke 10:3 we see Christ sending the apostles out and calling them to meekness: Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

              Moses in Numbers 12:3: (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

              We see our Lord's gentleness with children (he touches them and blesses them also) in Luke 18:15: And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16: But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17: Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

              We see how the Saviour of the world enters a town: Mt:21:5: Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

              Boaz was gentle to Ruth in Ruth chapter 3.

              We see David praising God for his gentleness in Samuel 22:36: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

              We see Joseph embrace his brothers with gentleness. In Gen. 50 we see Joseph weeping and showing kindness and gentleness to his brothers.

              Proverbs 15:1 tells us that a gentle answer turns away wrath. Learning gentleness will gain us new friends.

              Gal:5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

              2Tm:2:24: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

              Ti:3:2: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

              2Cor:10:1: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

              1Thes:2:7: But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

              Jms:3:17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

              Mt:11:29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. "Meekness" is not the natural growth of the human life, it is one of the "fruit" of the Spirit. It is described as the "meekness of wisdom", that is, wisdom based on that knowledge of self which humbles on that knowledge of God which softens, on that knowledge which melts and empties us of self-flattery.
              James speaks in this verse of the wise man, that he is able to present the "Word of truth" to others in the same skillful "meekness" as he himself received the "engrafted Word" (James 1:21)

              1Pt:2:18: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

              1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

              2Cor:10:1: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

              1Cor:4:21: What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

              The rod is the spoken word of God. Just as Moses' rod was used to demonstrate the power vested in him. The rod carries with it the convicting power of "Thus saith the Lord." The rod is used in a way that is kind, because it can literally be used by a shepherd to find hidden disease. The shepherd will outstretch his rod and open the wool and run his skillful hands over the body. If he feels any sign of trouble he examines the sheep with care to see that all is well. It is a comfort to the sheep, because this way the shepherd knows the hidden problems of the sheep and can help it. This is what is meant in Psalm 139:23,24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

              Jms:1:21: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

              1Pt:3:4: But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

              Jms:3:13: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

              1Pt:3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

              Gal:6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

              Eph:4:2: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

              Col:3:12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

              1Tm:6:11: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

              2Tm:2:25: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

              Ti:3:2: To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

              Quotes on Gentleness/Meekness

              Meekness and Love
              Meekness is a form of love. If a man smite you in the face, your bodily nature says: "Smite him back again." If a man betrays you in the bitterest way, nature, in the bad sense of that term says: "Give him as good as he sent." What is meekness? It is receiving personal injury,, yet having such a predominate spirit of love in you that you wish the man that does it good. It is not retaliation, it is being so filled with the love and nature of Jesus Christ that you give back blessing for railing and cursing, prayers for those that despitefully use you. That is the definition. Do you know what meekness is? Any man that knows what perfect meekness is, is at liberty to rise up without any danger of disturbing this congregation.
                     Henry Ward Beecher, A Summer in England, 1887

              Don't let us think that we need to be "stars" in order to shine. It was by the ministry of a candle that the woman recovered her lose piece of silver.
                     John Henry Jowett

              The mother love is like God's love; He loves us not because we are lovable, but because it is His nature to love, and because we are His children.
                     Earl Riney: Church Management

              Having given up self-love and self-righteousness, they have no self- government. They have no will of their own, their will is absorbed in the Divine Will. Their heart of stone has been replaced by a heart that flows. They stoop to conquer. The exercise of such a life is the bulwark of the Church. True meekness is moral power to resist evil, having no confidence in the flesh but in the "Meek and lowly One," Who has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). The word "foresake" is best understood by reference to the Greek original which is "egkataleipo" meaning "Leave behind" or, "to leave in danger" conveying the thought of leaving comrades exposed to peril in some conflict, or forsaking them in some crisis of danger. Christ will in wise desert the meek in the field of conflict, or forsake them in a position of suffering. He will never let go His sustaining grasp.
                      Ivor Rosser, The Fruit of the Spirit

              God has nothing to say to the self-righteous. Unless you humble yourself before him in the dust, and confess before him your iniquities and sins, the gate of heaven, which is open only for sinners, saved by grace, must be shut against you forever.
                     Dwight L. Moody

              Do not consider yourself to have made any spiritual progress, unless you account yourself the least of all men. God walks with the humble; he reveals himself to the lowly; he gives understanding to the little ones he discloses his meaning to pure minds, but hides his grace from the curious and the proud.
                     Thomas a Kempis

              Humility is strong-not bold; quiet-not speechless; sure-not arrogant.
                     Estelle Smith: Christian Woman

              Choosing Gentleness
              Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
                      Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name

          Stories on Gentleness

                The Lamb
                     by William Blake

                The wind and the Sun
                     by Aesop

                The Gentlemen
                     by John Henry Newman

                Gentle Giants
                     by James Bell, Jr., Stan Campbell

                On Gentleness Towards Ourselves
                     by St. Francis de Sales

                Meekness Misunderstood
                     by C. Paul Willis

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