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Gentleness
“Gentleness”
The Greek word translated “gentleness” (NKJV), “meekness” (KJV), is “praotes.” Thayer defines this word as “gentleness, mildness, meekness.” Similar Greek words (such as “praos” and “praus”) are also found in Scripture.
Barnes comments: “Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance…Meekness is the reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us…Meekness produces peace” (Comments on Matthew 5:5).
W.E. Vine (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words) comments more fully about this word. Quoting from Trench (Syn. xlii), he writes, “it consists not in a person’s ‘outward behavior only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow-men; as little in his mere natural disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; it is closely linked with the word tapeinophrosune [humility], and follows directly upon it…it is only the humble heart
which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of His elect’” (401).
He continues to say that the meaning of this word “is not readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used, suggest weakness and pusillanimity to a greater or less extent, whereas prautes does nothing of the kind. Nevertheless, it is difficult to find a rendering less open to objection than ‘meekness’; ‘gentleness’ has been suggested, but as prautes describes a condition of mind and heart, and as ‘gentleness’ is appropriate rather to actions, this word is no better than that used in both English Versions” (401).
Meekness Is A Characteristic Of The Lord
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). “Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ–who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you” (2 Cor. 10:1). Clearly, our Lord and Savior possessed this attribute.
As we have already observed, meekness/gentles (“praotes”) contains a number of ideas, all relating primarily to the mindset/spirit of an individual and manifested through action (or inaction). This is seen by observing the meekness of Christ. Christ had the other attributes that are so closely connected with meekness (such as humility and self-control). Consider: Whenever Christ was being treated severely, He maintained the proper disposition. He did not take vengeance for the things being done to harm His physical body. He humbled Himself to be treated the way that He was.
However, as we have also noticed, Jesus, though meek, was not weak. Whenever it came to sin, our Lord acted against it! He was willing to overturn tables and drive out money changers using a whip of chords whenever they were doing business in the temple. The Lord also referred to hypocritical men as “whitewashed tombs,” and “serpents, brood of vipers” (Matt. 23:27, 33). Clearly, this attribute of meekness did not prohibit our Lord from standing for that which was right.
We Must Be Meek
In the attempt to imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1), we also must have the attitude of meekness. The apostle Paul certainly manifested this attribute, as he was willing to endure hardship and to be diligent in his work for the Lord. He wrote, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3).
Must be put on. As with the other “fruit of the Spirit,” meekness/gentleness is a choice to “put on.” Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.” Paul, to Timothy, wrote, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). Just as our Lord had the choice to be meek, so do we.
Areas in which we must be meek. Though the spirit of meekness is commanded in every area of our lives, there are a few specific areas that are mentioned in the Scriptures.
1. Reception to God’s word. James writes, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jms. 1:21). Having the spirit of meekness will provide us with the proper ability to readily accept the word of God. If we are meek, we will be humble and self-disciplined enough to do that which God instructs of us.
2. Teaching God’s word to others. “In humility” [“meekness,” KJV] “correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15). How important meekness is when trying to teach the word of God! Without the spirit of meekness, we might become defensive or arrogant in teaching God’s word!
3. Wives in their conduct. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel–rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Pet. 3:3-4). Wives can win their husbands to the Lord, in part, by their meekness.
- Eric Krieg -
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
