The Fruit of Gentleness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness”—Galatians 5:23
Out of all of the fruits of the Spirit, gentleness is perhaps the most misunderstood. How is “gentleness” a fruit of the Spirit and what is it exactly? Some Bible versions translate it “meekness” and all too often, the word, “weakness” comes to mind, creating a highly feminized view of gentility, nothing at all like the Bible’s understanding of gentleness.
What is gentleness? Is it weakness as some have thought? The word “gentleness” is the Greek word, prautes, which describes power under control. Just as wisdom is the right use of knowledge, so gentleness is the right use of authority and power. Gentleness is not weakness, but power under control.
The perfect example of power under control is Jesus Christ. He had power, but knew when to use and wield it. The book of Matthew, quoting the book of Isaiah says this about Him,
“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 quench,
until He brings justice to victory;
and in His name the Gentiles will hope."
—Matthew 12:19-21
Christ here is portrayed as gentle, but He is also portrayed as bringing forth justice. Only one who truly had power under control could be one who would not break a bruised reed as well as one who would bring forth justice to victory.
The gentleness of Christ is portrayed throughout the New Testament. Even the great apostle Paul appeals to it, “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”—2 Corinthians 10:1.
Christ could have destroyed the church of Corinth, but didn’t. Paul wanted them to repent and turn from their sin because Christ was being patient and gentle with them. Neither Jesus nor Paul were being pushovers or weak, but bold and steadfast, willing to bear with the Corinthians in the hope that they would repent.
What does it look like for us to be gentle? If we have the Spirit of Christ within us, He will bring forth the fruit of gentleness. Which is to say that we learn to keep our power under control—we don’t give ourselves over to fits of rage, nor do we clamor for our rights whenever we are hurt or offended, especially whenever we are witnessing to the lost. It is all too easy to get offended, to get angry, to want to lash out, but we cannot. We are to respond to such frustrations with gentleness as Paul wrote to Timothy, “…correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth”—2 Timothy 2:25.
Peter captured the same idea when he wrote, “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect”—1 Peter 3:15.
We are to respond to gentleness with the lost, but we are also to be gentle to those who are caught in sin. Our natural reaction is to get angry, annoyed, accusatory, or frustrated. But Paul says that we are to be gentle,
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore Him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted”—Galatians 6:1.
We are to witness to the lost with gentleness, and we are to restore those in sin gently. In fact, we are to aim for gentleness in every facet of our lives as Paul wrote,
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”—Ephesians 4:1-3.
Are you gentle? Or are you given over to fits of anger? When you witness to the lost do you respond with gentleness to their objections? How about when you find out someone is in sin?
May our lives exude the gentleness of Christ! May our strength be continually in control and may others see the power and presence of Christ at work in us for the glory of His great and glorious name. Amen.
Out of all of the fruits of the Spirit, gentleness is perhaps the most misunderstood. How is “gentleness” a fruit of the Spirit and what is it exactly? Some Bible versions translate it “meekness” and all too often, the word, “weakness” comes to mind, creating a highly feminized view of gentility, nothing at all like the Bible’s understanding of gentleness.
What is gentleness? Is it weakness as some have thought? The word “gentleness” is the Greek word, prautes, which describes power under control. Just as wisdom is the right use of knowledge, so gentleness is the right use of authority and power. Gentleness is not weakness, but power under control.
The perfect example of power under control is Jesus Christ. He had power, but knew when to use and wield it. The book of Matthew, quoting the book of Isaiah says this about Him,
“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 quench,
until He brings justice to victory;
and in His name the Gentiles will hope."
—Matthew 12:19-21
Christ here is portrayed as gentle, but He is also portrayed as bringing forth justice. Only one who truly had power under control could be one who would not break a bruised reed as well as one who would bring forth justice to victory.
The gentleness of Christ is portrayed throughout the New Testament. Even the great apostle Paul appeals to it, “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”—2 Corinthians 10:1.
Christ could have destroyed the church of Corinth, but didn’t. Paul wanted them to repent and turn from their sin because Christ was being patient and gentle with them. Neither Jesus nor Paul were being pushovers or weak, but bold and steadfast, willing to bear with the Corinthians in the hope that they would repent.
What does it look like for us to be gentle? If we have the Spirit of Christ within us, He will bring forth the fruit of gentleness. Which is to say that we learn to keep our power under control—we don’t give ourselves over to fits of rage, nor do we clamor for our rights whenever we are hurt or offended, especially whenever we are witnessing to the lost. It is all too easy to get offended, to get angry, to want to lash out, but we cannot. We are to respond to such frustrations with gentleness as Paul wrote to Timothy, “…correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth”—2 Timothy 2:25.
Peter captured the same idea when he wrote, “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect”—1 Peter 3:15.
We are to respond to gentleness with the lost, but we are also to be gentle to those who are caught in sin. Our natural reaction is to get angry, annoyed, accusatory, or frustrated. But Paul says that we are to be gentle,
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore Him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted”—Galatians 6:1.
We are to witness to the lost with gentleness, and we are to restore those in sin gently. In fact, we are to aim for gentleness in every facet of our lives as Paul wrote,
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”—Ephesians 4:1-3.
Are you gentle? Or are you given over to fits of anger? When you witness to the lost do you respond with gentleness to their objections? How about when you find out someone is in sin?
May our lives exude the gentleness of Christ! May our strength be continually in control and may others see the power and presence of Christ at work in us for the glory of His great and glorious name. Amen.
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