The Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Chapter 12
Gentleness
We come now to the last two fruits of the Spirit. They are gentleness, or meekness, and self-control.
There is a sense in which they both spring from faith. If we really believe God, we will be meek in our relationship with Him because we will believe that He always knows best. Also, if we have faith in the Lord Jesus we will want him to control our lives, and we will be glad for Him to direct them in the right way.
We will think about meekness first. This is the word used in the older English translations of the Bible. The later translations use the word ‘‘gentleness’’.
The word that is used by the writers of the New Testament is not an easy one to translate. No one word in English really gives the full meaning. To use the words of someone else, the meaning has been stated like this: ‘‘To be passionately angry is wrong, and to be slavishly submissive is equally wrong. Since, therefore, both these states of character are wrong, it is clear that the state midway between them is right. This state is neither too hasty tempered, nor too slow tempered; nor does it get angry with people with whom it ought not; nor fail to get angry with those with whom it ought’’.
So, the meek and gentle man is midway between the slavish man and the harsh man.
Meekness and gentleness in the days when the New Testament was written were though of as weakness. They often are in our day. But the biblical idea of meekness and gentleness is certainly not to be thought of as weakness in any way.
Moses was said to be the meekest man on earth, yet there was nothing weak about him! If he had been weak, he could never have led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness.
Perhaps the best way for us to consider this particular fruit is to see just how the word is used in the New Testament, and to see how it shows us how should live as Christians.
The first reference is in Galatians chapter 6 verse 1, where it says: ‘‘Brother, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him GENTLY (or in the spirit of meekness). But watch yourselves or you also may be tempted’’.
What Paul is saying here is - be gentle and understanding to those who fall into temptation. You are no better than they; you may be tempted in the same way; so treat them kindly; do not be hard and harsh. Then we get the word again in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 2. Paul says, ‘‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love’’.
Meekness is the very heart of long-suffering and patience. Meekness means that we realise our own weakness, and know that we are not always right. This gives us more understanding of others’ points of view, and more patience with their arguments.
In writing to Timothy, Paul is writing to someone who is a pastor of a church, and who is charged with helping believers in their Christian lives. As always in that kind of work, he comes across those who oppose, and some who are difficult and obstinate.
Paul is instructing Timothy as to how he should behave in such circumstances. He says, ‘‘Those who oppose - gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses, and escape the trap of the devil’’.
So you see, even with difficult people, we must be gentle and understanding. As Paul says in a previous verse, we must not quarrel or be resentful, but eager and ready to teach. It is amazing how we can help even the awkward ones, if we go about it in the right way!
In 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 3 and 4 we find the word used in quite a different way. Peter says: ‘‘your beauty should not come from outward adorning, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight’’.
Peter is really talking to wives here, as you will see from the beginning of the chapter, but what he says applies in some way to us all. He is NOT saying that the way we dress is not important, but he IS saying that it is far more important to have a right spirit; one that is meek, quiet and gentle.
If we have this fruit of the Spirit we are not always wanting to show ourselves off, but we want to show how wonderful the Lord is.
Peter also uses the word to show the way we should witness for the Lord. He says in 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 15, ‘‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect.
We should always be ready to give our witness as to why we are believers, but we must not do it in an arrogant, boastful sought of way, or in a way that offends unnecessarily. We should do it with meekness.
In his letter to Titus, Paul is telling him how he should instruct the believers to live before the people around them. In chapter 3 verses 1 and 2 he says, ‘‘Remind the people to be subject to the rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peace-like and considerate, and to show true humility (or meekness) towards all men’’.
They are not to be people who are always stirring-up trouble and slandering others, but they are to live peaceable lives in meekness and humility.
The last use of the word which I want to mention is in James chapter 1 verse 21. It reads like this: ‘‘Therefore get rid of all moral filth and evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word that is planted in you, which can save you’’.
This verse is speaking of our relationship with God. We are to live by listening to what He says to us, and with all meekness and humility receive from Him what He says and obey it.
And so we are to be humble and meek in our attitude to God, heeding His commands and obeying them. In our everyday life we are to hate and oppose sin, but also to act towards the sinner in a gentle and understanding way.