{"id":2689,"date":"2023-06-01T19:22:13","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T19:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/blog\/?p=2689"},"modified":"2024-08-14T09:52:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T14:52:17","slug":"fruit-of-the-spirit-gentleness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/blog\/fruit-of-the-spirit-gentleness\/","title":{"rendered":"Biblical gentleness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Gentleness, or as we might call it, humility and meekness, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Looking at the Greek, Paul uses the word \u201cpraut\u0113s,\u201d which has the same root as the word Jesus used to describe those who will inherit the earth in Matthew 5. The word praut\u0113s defines gentleness as mildness, humility, and meekness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humility in the Bible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no better example of humility and gentleness than the life of Jesus. Jesus, fully God, became fully man, exhibiting the highest form of meekness and humility this world has ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philippians 2:4-8 [ESV] describes His humility: \u201cLet each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus showed humility by serving others [Matthew 20:28]. He also demonstrated incredible gentleness as He interacted with the people who surrounded Him. Jesus, in all His holiness, could\u2019ve chosen to cast judgment on the sinners He encountered, but, instead, He made special efforts to be gentle towards those who needed grace and forgiveness the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples of this include His interactions with people of lower status in the ancient Jewish culture. Jesus challenged the societal and cultural norms in the way he treated people. He accepted outcasts, empowered women, cared for children, and even extended forgiveness to those who mistreated Him the most.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accepted outcasts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jesus never shied away from people on the fringes of society. Even though most people hated tax collectors, Jesus embraced them\u2014He even invited a tax collector to be His disciple! He showed ground-breaking compassion towards those with debilitating illnesses, impairments, or disabilities, and those fighting demons\u2014people who\u2019d been forced out of civilization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t just stop at outcasts among His own people. He also ministered to a centurion, a Canaanite woman, and Samaritans. Jesus demonstrated the importance of loving and ministering to those not accepted into high society\u2014the \u201cleast of these\u201d [Matthew 25:40]\u2014in stark contrast to the religious leaders\u2019 contempt for anyone of lower standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowered women<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Seen as both socially and spiritually inferior to men, women were often looked down upon, especially if they were unmarried. Jesus was not a respecter of persons\u2014someone who looked down on those of lower standing\u2014but instead exhibited gentleness and compassion in how He treated women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n