When we think about gentleness, we often think about it as a weakness. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness. You and those around you reap many benefits by prioritizing gentleness. 5:16, 22-23) . Would you rather be around someone who is marked by a gentle spirit or one who is harsh, brutish, critical, and aggressive? It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus. Posted by ; royal canin yorkie dog food reviews; parkland psychiatric hospital dallas, tx . In the New Testament Jesus comes as the perfect example of being gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29). The Lord is near. considerateness.5 The Interpreter's Bible says it is the opposite of hubris, the Greek word for haughty, boastful inso-lence.6 To try to understand gentleness further, let us go through the passages in the Bible where the Greek word prautes is used. In the New Testament, the word does not appear in the Gospels or Acts though it does appear in root form in Matthew 5:5 to describe Jesus. These verses can be applied to any relationship or interaction with have with others. For more help incorporating gentleness into your parenting, consider working with Meaghan.Learn More About Meaghan here.Enjoy this post? In 2 Macc 15:12 Onias is said (the King James Version) to be "gentle (praos) in condition," the Revised Version (British and American) "in manner.". In this verse, Paul makes it clear that gentleness is not something from the Law or from human effort or will power; rather, it comes from Gods grace through faith in Jesus Christ. . Prautes is also used to translate a different Hebrew word that is often translated the poor. This is the case in Job 24:4, Isaiah 26:6, Zechariah 9:9, and Zephaniah 3:12. How is God gentle? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. As a Christian, you demonstrate the Spirit at work in your life when you show gentleness. The world without Christ considers gentle people to be weak people, losers, doormats. By modeling Gods character in our own lives, we give our children the best possible foundation for a happy and successful future. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). opposite of gentleness in the bible. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. We Must Recognize Our Sinfulness and Our Dependence On God. brutality. harshness. In most of these instances it is used to indicate the one who will be taught by the LORD, is lifted up by the LORD, who will be adorned with salvation and saved. The word was also used to describe the meekness of Moses in Numbers 12:3, and in Psalm 36:11 it is the meek who will inherit the earth. How different things would have been if Paul had not shown such gentleness! 2. Talk to a trusted friend or counselor about the hurt youve experienced. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. Matthew 6:14-15 says, For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is self-control. A few years ago, Robert Ringer wrote two best-selling books that even encouraged people to be aggressive in the dog-eat-dog business world. Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. of There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ab522d57b5eb8560ccf33254c1125cdc" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.. Evil has a beginning and its end will be everlasting. Crucify ego, self-will, and pride. His creation will end in a new beginning. Paul appeals to believers "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" ( 2 Cor 10:1 ). Speak the truth but watch your tone so that the truth will be well received, however painful it may be. "Paul to TimothyII Timothy 2: 2KJV, We have Ads Running on this site. 11:28-30 ) It's no accident that these words have been greatly celebrated. And as we engage others we should avoid quarreling with them but should instead have perfect courtesy toward all people. Ask God to help you see others the way He sees them as precious children made in His image. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" (Matt. Each aspect of this fruit is characteristic of Christ Jesus. The rules of life will be changed, bent in the direction of gentleness and peace, not just any . It's a way of life. The picture would be exponentially worse than a very small child trying to hold a kitten, not wielding his power correctly and doing irreparable harm to the small animal. Its about how we treat others, even when they dont treat us well. Consider Galatians 5:23 which says that gentleness is part of the fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit within us. This means more that which is fitting, right, and equitable. Think of this more as being kind and nice. There are many benefits to being gentle, including happiness, better relationships, and less stress. Churchgists.com covers prayers, spiritual meaning, bible verses and dreams interpretation. A soft Answer shows us Gods Gentleness and points us toward the tree of life. I have been helped in the area of gentleness, Youre welcome glad to hear its helpful! We see in Jesus a deeper definition of gentleness. opposite of gentleness in the bible. When we are patient and kind with those who are hurting, we offer them a glimpse of the hope and healing that is found in Jesus. In fact, the Bible tells us that we are to follow Gods example of gentleness (Ephesians 5:1). Some people would say that peace is the opposite of war, when there is no fighting or violence. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered, Opposite of civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry, Opposite of the sum of all attributes that are feminine or convey womanhood, Opposite of sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, Many of the world's ills can be traced back to society's general, Opposite of the quality of abiding by strong moral principles, Opposite of the state, act, or fact of being calm and composed, Opposite of the class of people having an aristocratic status. It is not weakness, nor does it mean that we should never stand up for ourselves. 13:5) That means we need to recognize when our anger has run out of control and learn how to stop it before it gets out of hand. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? If you want to see real, biblical gentleness, open your bible to one of the gospels, and reflect on Jesus's words and actions. And how can you use gentleness to improve your relationships with others? . of We need to be intentional about showing our spouse gentleness. Pride and self-assertionthe opposite of gentlenessruled in the hearts of the Jewish leaders. So he drew his sword and was about to kill himself (Acts 16:27) But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. (Acts 16:28) And he called for lights and rushed in and fell down before Paul and Silas (Acts 16:29-30a) Then he took them both out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30b). It is described as a quiet spirit, will not harm a bruised reed the shield of your salvation. The apostle Paul wrote, And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) leading men to Christ is not always easy. Galatians 2:20. All rights reserved. But His grace is sufficient for us, right!? and with a gentleness or meekness in his life. A. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1). Click here to read more verses about gentleness. . About 5 years ago, Robert Ringer wrote the book Looking Out For Number One. The qualities to which gentleness is joined elucidate its setting and character. In this blog post, we will explore a few examples of gentleness from the Bible. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. I get upset easily and raise my voice. 1. Gentleness is the quality of being kind and considerate. That kind of mass violence is the opposite of kindness, goodness, and gentleness. Our natural response is anger and retaliation. Gentleness can also lead to less stress and anxiety in life. I know some people who have a lot of gentleness. 5. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). 8. It is the ability to be kind and loving even in the face of adversity. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. 5:22). Gentleness, also translated "meekness," does not mean weakness. Gentle Like a Shepherd. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. In the Bible, gentleness is a virtue that many people are encouraged to develop. January 15, 2016 by Lauren Abraham in [ Spiritual Life ] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Its not a weakness, but a strength. The Pharisees told Jesus that the Law of Moses commanded them to stone such a woman, to which Jesus responds, Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her (John 8:7). 5 Jun. Copyrights 2021 Gentle Christian Parenting. When we receive a . The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. Its hard to extend grace when someone has offended us. Its a quality of character. Jesus describes Himself as gentle. May we never forget the pit of sin the Lord dragged us from and become like the unmerciful servant. If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. He will still be gentle and lowly in heart. So, what does gentleness mean? Such an invitation, from such a person, is precious beyond words. Thank you for this devotion that I will pin, and print and place in my Gentleness devotional. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. Violence, aggression, abuse, or brutality. This is the spirit of gentleness that we are called to as followers of Christ. However, God calls us to a higher standard. He is the Creator of the universe, yet He is still gentle and loving toward us despite our sinful nature. But it is also important to remember that he was a man who was deeply compassionate and full of mercy. Instead, let us show compassion on those around us by being gentle towards themespecially those who may not be as fortunate as ourselves. As directed toward God, meekness and humility require the following: I. Is it? Your email address will not be published. Yet, he is gentle with us. 13:5) That means we need to recognize when our anger has run out of control and learn how to stop it before it gets out of hand. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Seek counseling or therapy if youre struggling to let go of the pain. Gentleness is the quality of being kind, considerate, and mild. What does this look like? It is important to Christians because it is important to God. Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). So, what does gentleness mean? Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. When we're gentle with ourselves and with others, we represent and experience Him. Paul then continues to model gentleness in the way he preaches (1 Thes 2:7 and 1 Cor 4:21). The LORD recently spoke to me about how harsh I can be. Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. To be gentle means showing love and care for others in how you act and speak. The Greek word describes someone who has power but chooses not to use it harshly or selfishly. The biblical book of James says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). "Entry for 'GENTLENESS'". brutality. Consider others as important and worthy of kind regard. It was a failure, and he tore up a good deal of potential evidence. Gentleness remembers that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), and we are all trying to find our way through this ungentle world. Gentleness is opposed to all forms of prideful anger: "quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility" ( 2 Corinthians 12:20 ). Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. Notice especially controlled strength. Gentleness is power under control. It is related to another Greek word often used in the New Testament, (tapeinophrosyne), which speaks of humility or lowliness of mind.