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19. gentleness
The document discusses the concept of gentleness as described in Galatians 5:23 and its significance in Christian life. It emphasizes that gentleness characterizes godly individuals, leaders, and is a fundamental aspect of the Christian experience. The text encourages the cultivation of gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit, urging individuals to reflect God's gentle strength in their interactions with others and in their relationship with Him.
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19. gentleness
- 1. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction
- 2. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition https://www.buzzsprout.com/47879/400009- christian-experience-of-god-19-gentleness
- 3. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Greek philosophy
- 4. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Greek philosophy (not so helpful – look at …) • The Greek Old Testament (LXX)
- 5. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Greek philosophy • The Greek Old Testament • The Greek New Testament
- 6. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration
- 7. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God
- 8. Isaiah 40 –Gentleness in STRENGTH Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
- 9. Isaiah 40: A voicesays, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’ 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ 10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
- 10. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God • Gentleness characterises the godly
- 11. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God • Gentleness characterises the godly • Gentleness characterises God’s LEADERS
- 12. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God • Gentleness characterises the godly • Gentleness characterises God’s LEADERS • Gentleness characterises the Christian life
- 13. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God • Gentleness characterises the godly • Gentleness characterises God’s LEADERS • Gentleness characterises the Christian life • The good FRUIT of Christian life … Galatians 5:23
- 14. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Isaiah 40 … the πρα τηςΰ of God • Gentleness characterises the godly • Gentleness characterises God’s LEADERS • Gentleness characterises the Christian life • The good FRUIT of Christian life … Galatians 5:23 • The good WORK of Christian life “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
- 15. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application
- 16. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Towards God
- 17. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Towards God • Be strong in the gentle God
- 18. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Towards God • Be strong in the gentle God • Be gentle in LISTENING to God
- 19. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Towards God • Be strong in the gentle God • Be gentle in LISTENING to God • Grow God-pleasing gentleness as the fruit of the Spirit
- 20. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Towards God • Be strong in the gentle God • Be gentle in LISTENING to God • Towards mankind
- 21. Galatians 5:23 –Gentleness • Introduction • Definition • Illustration • Application • Conclusion This is an exhortation to be strong in the God Who enables us and sends us out into a weak, brutal world to be strongly gentle because we’re IN Him.
Editor's Notes
- #3 The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon Strong's Number: 4239Browse LexiconOriginal WordWord Origin apparently a primary word Transliterated WordTDNT Entry Πραΰς– Adjectiveoften defined as mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, And that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Lk. 18:1 ff. tells the story of the persistent widow who just KEPT ON asking the judge to give her justice against her truly awful adversary). It has a dimension that is shown towards God, and out of that arises a dimension that is shown to others.
- #4 In Plato and Aristotle this wordπραΰτηςgets used to describe the moderation of emotions neither particularly stirred nor unstirred by events. It’s kinda Budhhist to modern eyes and ears now, and demonstrates the importance of setting a word in the time and specific context in which its being used if you’re going to understand the thing properly. It’s not used quite the same way at all in the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
- #5 In the Old Testament, gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isa 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth ( So 7:9 ). It stands in contrast to baseness ( Deuteronomy 28:54 Deuteronomy 28:56 ), harshness ( 2 Sam 18:5 ), and wildness ( Job 41:3 ). Gentle words wield great power ( Prov 15:1 ; 25:15 ). Job's counsels were well received, because he spoke them gently ( Job 29:22 ). Gentleness evidences itself in a willingness to yield, reminiscent of a lamb being led to slaughter ( Jer 11:19 ; cf. Isa 53:7 ). But the supreme exemplar of gentleness is Israel's God. He cares tenderly for the flock under his care, and "gently leads those that have young" ( Isa 40:11 ). He discloses himself not just in wind and earthquake and fire, but in "a gentle whisper" ( 1 Kings 19:11-13 ). His consolations are spoken gently ( Job 15:11 ). And finally, as Yahweh's representative, the messianic king comes in humility and gentleness ( Zec 9:9 ). It’s an ACTIVE goodness born of strength … which are not really the components of meaning you find in the Golden Age Greek philosophers’ use of this word
- #6 In the New Testament, that Messianic King, now come in the flesh, is "gentle and humble in heart" ( Matt 11:29 ). In accord with the prophecy, he enters Jerusalem in gentleness and lowliness ( Matt 21:5 ). Paul appeals to believers "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" ( 2 Cor 10:1 ). By his Spirit, Christ cultivates the same quality in his people ( Gal 5:23 ). Following Jesus' example, Paul treats his people gently, "like a mother caring for her little children" ( 1 Thess 2:7 ). He comes to them not "with a whip [but] in love and with a gentle spirit" ( 1 Cor 4:21 ). Church leaders are admonished to be "not violent but gentle" toward persons under their care ( 1 Tim 3:3 ); it is a quality they are avidly to pursue ( 1 Tim 6:11 ). Knowing themselves to be subject to weakness, they can more readily deal gently with the ignorant and the erring. Believers ensnared by sin must be restored gently ( Gal 6:1 ). A witness to Christian truth is the more effective for being made "with gentleness and respect, " especially toward a hostile or an unbelieving listener ( 2 Tim 2:25 ; 1 Peter 3:15 ). The qualities to which gentleness is joined elucidate its setting and character. Wives should seek "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" ( 1 Peter 3:4 ). It is a key issue in living together as the New Covenant people of God …"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love, " exhorts Paul ( Eph 4:2 ). Similarly Colossians 3:12 exhorts believers clothe themselves "with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience". In fact it is the experience of the Christian that the indwelling Spirit produces this quality in them too: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" ( Gal 5:22-23 ). But already we’ve strayed here into the thing that comes next …
- #7 Scripture doesn’t so much define gentleness as illustrate it, and does so PRIMARILY as this quality is illustrated in the character of God Himself. Again there is an ethical quality here that is describe as the FRUIT of the indwelling Spirit … He making us like Him … as we walk with Him, and an ethical quality we are at the same time encouraged to nurture. But God Himself is it’s illustrator.
- #8 So in Isaiah 39 King Hezekiah … who has generally NOT been a bad King at all up until now … has rather vain-gloriously shown of to envoys from the King of Babylon everything he had … glorifying himself with God’s blessings. God’s response through the prophet Isaiah is (39:5 ff.)“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 the time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ Now that should make Hezekiah QUAKE for what he had done, but the man has become so self-centred he lacks any gentle care for his own flesh and blood … soon to be carried off to have unspeakable things done to them in Babylon … as v. 8 clearly demonstrates: 8 ‘The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘There will be peace and security in my lifetime.’” There’s the immediate background, in that picture of poor leadership, to Isaiah 40 … look at the shape of it!
- #9 If not a contrast between the goodness and the severity of God (as Romans 11:21-23 has it), there is here a clear portrayal of His strength in apposition to His gentleness …
- #10 And you get that again in vv. 5 ff. Check it out especially in Lord ruling with a mighty arm, then in vv. 10b-11 He rewards, He recompenses and (look at this!) He tends His flock like a SHEPHERD. Now that ‘shepherd’ imagery seems to have been attributed to the role of the King in the Ancient Near East, but notice that there is a tie up right back in the 8thcentury BC between the strength and the gentleness of God. We need very much to see this if we are to grasp what Gentleness is in Scripture. The gentleness of God is NOT weakness … and it is as the fruit of HIS Spirit living in all those who ‘walk by the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:25) that His gentleness grows as fruit on us. THAT gentleness will not be weakness, but comes out of His strength. Isaiah has illustrated that pretty clearly here! It takes a strong person to be truly gentle … which may account for its best illustration being in the Almighty Himself. The poet (Henry Wadsworth) Longfellow gives us a wonderful illustration of gentleness in “The Village Blacksmith.” In this poem, the main character is described thus:“The smith, a mighty man is he,With large and sinewy hands;And the muscles of his brawny armsAre strong as iron bands.” However, in church, as he hears his daughter singing a hymn, the smith is overcome with emotion, “And with his hard, rough hand he wipes / A tear out of his eyes.” This is gentleness. Might restrained. Humility and grace. Let’s not mistake this strength that allows us to be gentle. God wants us to give Him control of our lives. Relying on our own logic, we have no impetus to submit to God's leadership. With the wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit, however, we begin to see why we should completely submit to God as Lord of our lives. THERE’s the key to spiritual strength! Human power under human control is a half-broken weapon in the hands of a child. But gentleness places our strength under God's guidance; it is a powerful tool for God's kingdom. Jesus gave us the perfect picture of gentleness: “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey” (Matthew 21:5), and now He offers us His gentleness as the fruit of the Spirit Who is Himself strong and gentle and who is at work in us growing His fruit on us. Here’s an interesting quote from a book I can’t find … “Gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach toward others' weaknesses and limitations. A gentle person still speaks truth, sometimes even painful truth, but in doing so guards his tone so the truth can be well received. "When my daughter was young, she used to love to squeeze my hand as hard as she could, trying to make it hurt. She could squeeze with all her might, but it never hurt. She didn't need to be gentle because she lacked the power to cause me any pain. Then, just for fun, I'd give her hand a tight little squeeze until she yelped. It's the strong hand, not the weak one, that must learn to be gentle."[3]Dean Hawke, The Strength of Gentleness Now if you search for books on Amazon about gentleness … guess what … there are PLENTY there written by women! Our world – unlike cultures where manual labour is much more common - cannot see gentleness and strength living together … whereas manual work-based cultures seem much more aware one is the prerequisite of the other. Any shepherd knows this. If you are going to lift a lamb gently – especially at this time of year when you’re looking at a 30-50 kg beast – then you need to be strong to do that. Any fool can jerk one about, pull its fleece, bruise its flesh. And the same is true in Christian life. Godly gentleness requires the development of godly strength … which both come from walking with the indwelling Spirit of God Who combines both in His Gentle-Strong character. In Isaiah 40 God’s strong gentleness shows itself in three particular ways: He shows general care for the flock (tends His flock like a shepherd) Is watchful for the weak (gathers the Lambs in HIS arms) Identifies particular concerns within the flock (those that have young). Strength-inspired gentleness does this … but without that internal strength born of the Spirt of this God, you will live in a place too weak to be gentle, and the self-care that’s the fruit of spiritual weakness leads to brutality and has absolutely no place in God’s family. It really affects the cause of our God and His Kingdom if you neglect to be strong in this God Where does this godly strength-empowered gentleness arise in Scripture … in what contexts?
- #11 Primarily thisπραΰτης,then, is seen in God and should therefore be expected to characterise the godly. James 1:21 exhorts God’s people therefore to humbly (this word here,πραΰτης)receive the Word of God that’s been planted in you, not go boldly, violently opposing the bits you don’t like of it. And James 3:13 urges God’s people to show theπραΰτηςthat is born of wisdom. It’s a godly thing. Ephesians 4:2 carries the exhortation – born of the unveiling of the eternal plan and purpose of God, achieved through the Gospel – to live a life worthy of God’s calling by being completely humble and GENTLE. And when we see abrasive and aggressive street preachers being arrested and carrying on a social media campaign about the ungodliness they’re up against and the violation of their free speech constitutional rights, we’re reminded by 1 Peter 3:15 “in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Again this week we’ve seen this happen, with good evangelical men saying ‘these American preachers may not have been wise, but …’ This study – this passage in 1 Peter 3 - may well indicate that it isn’t exactly wisdom that’s lacking … but godliness. Don’t think for a moment I’m saying anything against street preaching, door to door work or any other format of direct, primary evangelism. Not at all! I’m saying what 1 Peter 3 is saying … that the medium and the message are to be integrated closely so the way that we do stuff (all MANNER of stuff) actually reflects what we’ve got to say. In particular nurturing this gentleness is urged on Christian leaders …
- #12 It characterises Christian leaders in two particular highlighted activities: Restoring fallen Christians Correcting heretics 1. So, in Galatians 6:1-2 Paul urges that ‘those who are spiritual’ should seek to restore backslidden believers“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” Did you notice the understanding of the interplay of strength and gentleness there? Fascinating isn’t it? And look, too, at how NOT doing this gently is linked to temptation to sin … arrogance? Pride? The sin of being the opposite of gentle? (There’s plenty of scope there!) Then in 1 Corinthians 4:21 and 2 Corinthians 10:1 Paul appeals to the Corinthians to moderate their behaviour so he can come to them gently not boldly to rebuke them. 2. In terms of heresy, Paul counsels Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:25 that the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but that those who oppose him he must GENTLY instruct in the hope that GOD would then bring them to repentance.
- #13 Fundamentally though it is a matter of Christian LIFE before it’s ever a matter of Christian leadership. So Titus 3:2 sets the priority of inculcating gentleness for Titus in sorting out the people of Crete who Paul characterises as ‘evil brutes’ as well as ‘lazy gluttons’ before they were converted. “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle towards everyone.” Now we can see this characterising quality of the Christian life arises in Scripture in two ways.
- #14 Galatians 5:23 makes it abundantly plain that as we walk with our God His essential gentleness grows like fruit on us. This is yet ANOTHER Christian quality that is demonstrated first in God Himself, and that grows in us as we spend time getting closer to Him and becoming STRONGER in our relationship to Him. It is that relational strength that gives us the security and the energy from the life of God in the soul of man to be like Him in this character quality of being GENTLE with everyone. But this growth is something the Christian keeping in step with the Spirit needs to nurture and reach out for …
- #16 We’ve seen that gentleness LIVES in the character of God, alongside but not in opposition to His strength, power and (actually) AWESOME judgement of sin. We saw that in Isaiah 40 but could have demonstrated it even more fully and graphically from Scripture if only time and space allowed. And we’ve seen from our illustration of the use of this concept in Scripture that this thingπραΰτηςworks out in Scripture towards both God and mankind. How do we apply this teaching in our lives?
- #17 This gentleness works out first towards God then towards people, so .,.
- #18 It requires strength to be gentle in both our everyday lives (lifting sheep) and in our ethical/ spiritual lives too. The primary thing is to walk with the God Who makes us strong from inside out. We are LEAST gentle (if not most brutal and damaging to the people around us) when we’re not strong in the strength God provides in strong relationships with Him. Walking in the Spirit sets the context for this, according to Galatians 5:25
- #19 James in particular links non-struggling with this gentleness to describe the desirability of listening and learning from God – we could say – non-violently! I guess we all know what James means! If there’s a splinter in your finger at risk of festering, how do you want to set about it’s removal? Well there are lessons to be learned there, I guess, from James 1:21 & 3:13!
- #20 It pleases God for His people to grow out His character. It pleases Him because when people relate to each other like this, being completely humble and gentle with one another as Eph. 4:2 describes it, we are true to His calling in fulfilling the eternal plan and purpose of God to bring all things together again under the headship of Christ.
- #21 Galatians 5 urges us to grow this fruit of the Spirit, but also urges us to actively go out and seek to DO this gentleness thing to people! In the church … restoring sinners (Gal. 6:1 ff.) and instructing opponents and heretics (e.g. 2 Timothy 2:25). In the world beyond church … always being ready to give an answer for the hope that God has put in us, but doing it HIS way which is with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
- #22 Crucial to it all is spiritual strength. It’s not something we work up on our own. It’s not weakness of personality or an innate inability to handle confrontation. It’s all about handling it God’s way, and it’s a characteristic we from out from Him and embrace to act upon when we see it IN Him. This is an exhortation to be strong in the God Who enables us and sends us out into a weak, brutal world to be strongly gentle because we’re IN Him.