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GENTLENESS.—St. Paul in 2Co_10:1 appeals to the meekness and gentleness ( ðñáýôçò êáὶ ἑðéåßêåéá ) of Christ. These qualities would be readily admitted to be so characteristic of Jesus as to require no specific illustration. Yet such is the objective character of the Gospels, that with the exception of His own claim to be ‘meek and lowly in heart’ (Mat_11:29) and the Evangelist’s application of the prophecy, ‘Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek …’ (Mat_21:5), neither quality is directly attributed to Him, nor, with the exception of Mat_5:5, does either word occur in His recorded teaching.
These characteristics of Jesus are not easily defined in themselves, or distinguished from one another. (See art. ‘Gentleness’ in Hastings’ DB, vol. ii. p. 150). Ðñáýôçò is rather an inward disposition of the mind, the quietness of soul which is the result of faith and self-restraint; ἐðéåßêåéá is an active grace, exhibited in human relations, ‘it expresses the quality of considerateness, of readiness to look humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case’; it denotes in Jesus the tenderness of His dealings with the moral and social outcasts, the burdened and heavy laden, the weak and ignorant; His gracious courtesy, geniality of address, thoughtfulness, and delicacy of touch. It is not the expression of a nature of such softness as to be always on the verge of tears, or of a sentimentalism which has little strength of conscience, and no power of moral indignation and repulsion. The gentleness of Christ can be appreciated only when it is related to certain other elements in His personality. (1) His consciousness of His Divine origin, and His royal vocation as founder of the Kingdom of God (cf. Joh_13:3-5). (2) His moral consciousness. His is not the gentleness towards the sinful which arises from moral indifference, or the desire of a sin-marred nature to be judged of leniently. He is conscious of sinlessness; He looks upon sin as the great tragedy of human life, but His passion for righteousness does not make Him harsh in judgment or unmerciful in dealing (cf. Mat_5:6-7). (3) His consciousness of Divine power. It is the gentleness not of weakness, but of might. The Lamb of God answering Pilate so mildly was conscious that twelve legions of angels stood at His disposal (Mat_26:53).
The Baptist, himself stern of soul, foresaw the coming of one greater than he—greater, but not more gentle. The axe, fan, and fire of judgment were at His command, and He would wield these instruments of wrath to the destruction of wickedness (Mat_3:10-12). But, to John’s intense disappointment, Jesus found His ideal and method not in these symbols of violence, but in the conception of the Servant of Jehovah, who did not strive or cry or lift up his voice in the streets, who did not break the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax (Mat_12:19-20; cf. Luk_4:16; Luk_4:19 and Mat_11:4-6, and see Isa_42:1-3).
The Gospels abound in illustrations of the winsome manner of Jesus. His reception of the little children (Mat_18:2; Mat_19:13), His thoughtfulness for the multitude lest they should faint by the way (Mat_15:32), the brotherly touch of His hand upon the leper (Mar_1:41), the delicacy of His approach to the sorrowing (Luk_7:13, Joh_11:35), His tender tones to His perplexed disciples—‘little children,’ ‘I will not leave you orphans’ (Joh_13:33; Joh_14:18), and His sense of their frailty in the words, ‘Sleep on now and take your rest’ (Mat_26:45), His consideration, even in the agony of death, for His mother (Joh_19:26-27),—are but examples of that gracious gentleness which consisted with, and was the expression of, a Divine dignity of love. His attitude to the sinful is distinguished by the same tenderness. His intense love of holiness, quick moral sensitiveness, and stainless purity, made Him uncompromisingly stern in His rebuke of a self-righteousness which had little capacity of repentance; but He combined with that a deep insight into the possibilities of sin-marred natures; and by His disclosure to them of dormant powers of being, and the tenderness of His dealing with them, He won them to repentance and a new life (Luk_7:36-50; Luk_19:1-10). And, similarly, His rebukes, touched by His gentleness, become appeals, and are charged with the inspiration of a renewed trust. His ‘O ye of little faith’ (Mat_8:26), ‘Can ye drink the cup that I drink of?’ (Mar_10:38), ‘Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things’ (Luk_10:41), ‘Could ye not watch with me one hour?’ (Mat_26:40), ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?’ (Joh_21:15 ff.),—were rebukes whose gentleness could leave no bitterness or despair, but recalled the soul to its loyalty to Him. So, although Jesus never formally held forth ἐðéåßêåéá as an ideal of Christian life, He left us an example that we should follow His steps (1Pe_2:21).
Literature.—Trench, Synonyms, § xlii.; M. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, vii. 3; A. L. Moore, God is Love (1894), 134; G. Jackson, Memoranda Paulina (1901), 61; J. Watson, The Inspiration of our Faith (1905), 190; J. W. Jack, After His Likeness (1906), 88.
Joseph Muir.