When we develop lazy attitudes in some areas, that laziness tends to spread to other areas as well. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. We like to think that if Jesus were on earth today, hed be carrying around a whip. He is slow to anger and forgiving of sinners. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.. As Yahweh's representative, the messianic king comes in humility and gentleness ( Zec 9:9 ). The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. 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. But more specifically we grow in gentleness by practicing it. The disciple James also wrote that Christians should be gentle toward all men (James 1:27). We are to stand out from the crowd by being different. This means that we are to be gentle with others, even when they have wronged us. Required fields are marked *. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the LXX, the word prautes appears 12 times, and 11 times in the New Testament. But the more we come to know the God who holds our future, as well as where God is taking us, the less prone we will be to carry around a harsh and bitter spirit within our hearts. It is related to another Greek word often used in the New Testament, (tapeinophrosyne), which speaks of humility or lowliness of mind. Developing Christian Gentleness | Jim Erwin We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. It takes a strong person to be truly gentle. We never know when our gentleness will lead someone to Christ. It can be difficult to remain gentle when we have been hurt, but it is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that nobody is perfect. The Greek word describes someone who has power but chooses not to use it harshly or selfishly. The LORD recently spoke to me about how harsh I can be. It's a beauty that cannot fade away. It is a positive trait that can help you improve your relationships with others and even yourself. If children cannot obey their parents who they can see physically, how will they obey God who they cannot see. Gentleness evidences itself in a willingness to yield, reminiscent of a lamb being led to slaughter ( Jer 11:19 ; cf. The rules of life will be changed, bent in the direction of gentleness and peace, not just any . Why is it important for Christians to be gentle? Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that gentleness is "not soon angry." (1 Cor. In fact, it mentions it in several places. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is self-control. Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak. He is the Creator of the universe, yet He is still gentle and loving toward us despite our sinful nature. What does it look like to be gentle? 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. 3. Peace (Galatians 5:22) | Bible.org In sharing the good news of the gospel we are to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). "He will feed his flock like a shepherd. Gentleness isnt weakness; its not passive or submissive either. Gentleness means taking into account someone or something's well being. When we humble ourselves and trust in Gods strength, we can show gentleness even to those who are difficult to love. Ill be blunt and say that one of the best things you can do to grow in a spirit of gentleness would be to turn off the 24-hour news stations and talk radio. Gentle Like a Shepherd. Paul then continues to model gentleness in the way he preaches (1 Thes 2:7 and 1 Cor 4:21). The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness and Gentleness So, you might be surprised to know the Bible has much to say about gentleness. We grow in gentleness much in the way that we grow in every fruitwe abide in Jesus. But the Holy Spirit gives us a new quality for living, which is gentleness (1 Peter 3:4). Here Christ makes a connection between gentleness and humility. Doesnt gentleness keep us from getting things done? The Bible is full of examples of Gods character, and one of the most prominent traits is His gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Salem Media Group. Bible Verses About Protecting The Environment, Bible Verses About Protecting The Innocent, Bible Verses About Protecting The Vulnerable, Bible Verses About Pretending To Be Someone Else, Bible Verses About Proclaiming The Word Of God, Bible Verses About Praying For Lost Souls, Bible Verses About Premarital Relationships, Bible Verses About Practicing What You Preach, Bible Verses About Praising God In Hard Times, Bible Verses About Praising God With Music, Bible Verses About Poverty And Homelessness, Bible Verses About Power In The Name Of Jesus, Bible Verses About Practice Makes Perfect, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days KJV, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days, Bible Verses About Physical Pain And Healing. There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. It seems to be synonymous with being a good person. Wives should seek "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" ( 1 Peter 3:4 ). Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, But you, man of God, run from these things,and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,love, endurance, and gentleness. 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. . Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! of the flesh" "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. Verse 2, "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. Scripture says for a woman to have that internal heart attitude of meekness or gentleness and a quiet spirit gives her a beauty that is imperishable. The opposite of temperance is self-indulgence. Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. hardness. And God in Christ is exemplified by the gentleness with which he labored among others. Antonyms: drunkenness, excess, gluttony, greed, intemperance, intoxication, reveling, revelry, self-indulgence, sensuality, wantonness Synonyms: abstemiousness, abstinence, continence, fasting, frugality, moderation, self-denial, self-restraint, sobriety, temperance Preposition: The negative side of virtue is abstinence from vice. In the Old Testament, gentleness is illustrated in the bible as a stream or river (Isaiah 8:6) and also to a shepherd caring for his flock of lambs (Isaiah 40:11). The Oxford Dictionary defines gentleness as, "the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered." Kindness is literally a part of gentleness; the two are intertwined, and therefore when one is portrayed, so is the other. When we follow Gods example of gentleness, we are displaying the character of Christ to a lost and dying world. 8 Verses to Memorize about Biblical Gentleness | Open the Bible Because gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can show true gentleness. The New Testament. He supposed that the prisoners had escaped. Churchgists.com covers prayers, spiritual meaning, bible verses and dreams interpretation. . Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). Both qualities come from God and both are fruits of His Spirit at work in our lives. Not only does it mean being kind to people who are kind to you, but also it means being kind even when someone isnt nice back! People Are Fragilehandle With Care - sermoncentral.com Empathy is acknowledging another persons point of view to understand their feelings. But the opposite is true. A common misconception is that gentleness is weakness or passivity. Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. Speak respectfully to everyone. In the Bible, gentleness is a virtue that many people are encouraged to develop. unkindness. But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance andgentleness (I Timothy 6:11). Gentleness extends grace (undeserved favor), love, and kindness to even the most difficult-to-like people. The Spirit-Filled Life: Discovering the Joy of Surrendering to the Holy Spirit by Charles Stanley. Galatians 5 . Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics. Consider what would happen if the omnipotent God was characterized by harshness with his creatures made of dust. He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. But it is also important to remember that he was a man who was deeply compassionate and full of mercy. GENTLENESS. Why is it important for us to follow Gods example of gentleness? Gentleness is not Weakness, it's Strength - Striving For Eternity The Holy Spirit wants us to cultivate this fruit of gentleness in our lives. Focus on the positive qualities of the person who hurt you instead of their negative actions. General Editor. . Gentleness is an attitude or disposition that involves treating others with care and courtesy (1 Pet 3:8). I have been helped in the area of gentleness, Youre welcome glad to hear its helpful! As a Christian, you demonstrate the Spirit at work in your life when you show gentleness. Its a way of life. We need His help to be gentle! It is described as a quiet spirit, will not harm a bruised reed the shield of your salvation. Heres everything you need to know about this virtue and how you can use it in your life! It does not mean weakness, per se. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. I am not affectionate, and I fail to give loving hugs. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. The Bible is replete with commands for us to be gentle. Truth be told, it takes a strong person to be truly gentle. Sometimes gentleness is used interchangeably with "meekness" in the Bible. In fact, it was his gentleness that allowed him to touch the hearts of so many people and change their lives forever. In sum, the Scriptures show God as a kind and gentle leader. Gentleness is a marker of power used and handled properly. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. In accord with the prophecy, he enters Jerusalem in gentleness and lowliness ( Matt 21:5 ). Ephesians 4:1-2. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). Thank you for this devotion that I will pin, and print and place in my Gentleness devotional. In many languages, gentleness and meekness are equated with gentle speech. As directed toward God, meekness and humility require the following: I. Masters of Self | Desiring God Antonym of self-control - Synonyms.com People should be able to see Christ in us because we are kind and gentle to others, even when they are not to us. Gentleness Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY - JW.ORG And as we engage others we should avoid quarreling with them but should instead have perfect courtesy toward all people. He does not keep record of our wrongs, but offers forgiveness if we come to Him. We live in a broken world, and it can be easy to become jaded and hardened by the pain we see around us. You can dramatize the king's voice, especially on the repetition of the young men's council. Is it? By practicing gentleness, we show others the love and kindness of God. In addition, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which God is gentle with us. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. Let's think of when Jesus portrayed kindness and gentleness. 2 Corinthians 10:1 uses the meekness and gentleness (kindness) of Christ as an example for his own pattern. This is shown in our thoughts and in the way we interact with those around us. This is what we are called to do as Christs disciples! The power of gentleness - Eternity News Below are a few examples of how to practice this virtue in your life. I am too busy to listen to my childs story. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is goodness? It's a beauty that you don't have to go through all kinds of cosmetic surgery or makeup routines to preserve. These two qualities seem to go together. This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. When correcting opponents, it should be done with gentleness. All rights reserved. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. 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.". The supreme exemplar of gentleness is Israel's God. We also model for them the importance of exhibiting self-control and respect. If you are looking for a more in-depth gentleness bible study, there are many bible study tools and bible dictionaries to help you. There is peace in our homes when nobody is arguing or fighting. Prautes describes a condition of mind and heartan internal attitudewhereas gentleness (mildness combined with tenderness) refers to actionsan external behavior. We have to ask ourselves if gentleness doesnt work, perhaps we are striving for the wrong kingdom. If the previous search had been crushing a walnut with a sledgehammer, the current team is crushing a walnut with precision lasers and analyzing content all the way through the process. For starters, Gentleness is the opposite of anger. Toughness and controlled anger in a just cause are not the opposite of gentleness. Gentleness is closely related to humility and meekness. As parents and caregivers, let us always remember the power of gentleness in shaping the hearts and minds of our children. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, His fruit will be seen in our lives. In doing so we will win over those who hear us. Your email address will not be published. And does it accomplish things? 2. 4.) To be gentle means showing love and care for others in how you act and speak. Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. sometimes it requires great gentleness. When we are gentle with others, we are showing them the love and compassion of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is essentially the character of Jesus. Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselveswith compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. To understand what gentleness looks like in practice, lets look at some examples from scripture: Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. A mildness of disposition or manner, thus the opposite of roughness or harshness. It is important to have an accurate perception of what gentleness is. He was always willing to forgive those who had sinned against him and he always treated others with respect, no matter who they were. Gentleness Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary (biblestudytools.com) Gentleness is a Christian virtue to be used in every aspect of your life. This is the spirit of gentleness that we are called to as followers of Christ. Pride and self-assertionthe opposite of gentlenessruled in the hearts of the Jewish leaders. Through Christ we have been given everything we need for life and godliness. I am a huge fan of the show The Curse of Oak Island. Its about a couple of brothers and their friends searching for a treasure on an island in Nova Scotia. God is gentle with us, and we are called to be gentle with others. No Meekness Without Might: What We Learn from Christ's Gentleness of How is God gentle? What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? That is the biblical picture of gentleness. We're also more likely to receive blessings from God. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is faithfulness? Gentleness is when the stronger restrain their strength for the sake of the weaker. Its a way of life. Against such things there is no law. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). Gentleness is the quality or characteristic of being kind, tender, mild-mannered, compassionate, and considerate. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The law cannot give us the strength to be gentle. Here are the nine fruits of the spirit as listed in the Bible in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Instead, gentleness is a strength that comes from God. So glad to hear it was encouraging to you it is extra challenging to be gentle when we feel like our needs are being intruded on. After everyone left, Jesus did not condemn the woman, and said to her, Go now and leave your life of sin (John 8:11). Meekness however may be distinguished from gentleness in that meekness is the way one regards oneself, and is therefore described in the Scriptures as 'lowliness of mind.' (e.g. This means that when we see someone in need, we can no longer ignore them or pass them off as someone elses problem. The quality of gentleness is the opposite of harshness with others. He can exercise each office concurrently while at the same time not neglecting any of the other attributes . This is similar to how Peter uses the word (1 Peter 3:16). Gentleness also means that we are patient with those who disagree with us, because they may have valid reasons for their position or opinion. If you want to make the world a better place, start by being gentle with others. Take out time to visit our Website for more information on similar topics. The good news is that Gentleness can be learned. It is power over one's Spirit that exudes a meek and mild person like Jesus. The opposite of gentleness is anger, a desire for revenge, and self-importance. When you do this you can then look for ways to meet those needs and truly help work through those feelings. Yield, surrender, and submit your will to the will of God. Knowing themselves to be subject to weakness, they can more readily deal gently with the ignorant and the erring. We may thinkthat those who are harsh will get things done, but we have to look at the fruit. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). He went peacefully to His death because He knew it was the only way to save us from our sins. In a world that can often be harsh and violent, the ability to show gentleness is a true strength. 47 Bible verses about Gentleness - Knowing Jesus He emphasizes the gentle aspect of meekness toward others. Your email address will not be published. Ask God to help you see others the way He sees them as precious children made in His image. Its a quality of character. Gentleness is not just a nice thing to be; its a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Watch your tone so that what you have to say will be well received. Fighting destroys relationships and takes so much time to repair. Reach out to the person who hurt you and try to reconcile. By showing gentleness towards others, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and set an example for others to follow. The Opposite of Gentleness - Valerie Jean Hallowell (#170478) - Bible Meditate on Scripture verses about forgiveness and grace. The bible verses are quoted below in the NIV version, but if you click the links, you can see the verse in other translations. In short, gentleness is an essential ingredient in good parenting. It is displayed by Good Behavior and one of the fruits of the spirit, in the hidden person of the heart. Your email address will not be published. As any parent knows, raising children can be a rewarding but challenging task. What does this look like? But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. gentle parenting bible study discussion guides, The Responsibilities of a Parent in the Bible, Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard A Biblical Perspective, Remember God Is In Control And He Cares About You, Gratitude In The Bible Key Verses and How To Apply Them, What It Means to Be a Good Steward in the Bible with Examples, 27 Bible Verses On Identity in Christ for Powerful Living, The Mystery of Mothers Intuition Revealed In The Bible. To really understand this word, think of a powerful animal that is brought under control. What is gentleness as a Fruit of the Spirit? | 412teens.org So, what does gentleness mean? You can be gentle in him thanks for sharing and encouraging . Following Jesus' example, Paul treats his people gently, "like a mother caring for her little children" ( 1 Thess 2:7 ). 8 Ways God's Gentleness Has a Huge Impact on Our Lives 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 ). Even in our sin, He continues to love us. Yet, he is gentle with us. The Bible is filled with examples of gentleness, both from God and from Jesus. Always be humble andgentle. Gentleness has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of time. Gentleness is a requisite for a servant of God, particularly one in a responsible position of oversight. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Isa 53:7 ). So now that we understand the call to gentleness and its many benefits, how do we put it into practice?Here are 10 ways you can show gentleness: Here are some bible verses on gentleness to encourage and build you up. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a298435548fac6131ddbee45a6669aa4" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Photo credit: Getty Images/Oleksandr Yakoniuk. Gentleness is getting something done. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-aggrandizement. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Online Christian Articles and Information Hub. The one who is truly wise and who has received the implanted word will be marked by gentleness. The Opposite of Peace Is? - The Prodigal Thought In Matthew 11:29, Jesus is explaining why we should embrace His way of life. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus takes upon himself this descriptor: I am gentle and lowly in heart., And when Jesus tells us what animates him most deeply, what is most true of himwhen he exposes the innermost recesses of his beingwhat we find there is: gentle and lowly. (Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly, 19). As our Lord and Master, He is not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, but gentle in His government. It's a peaceful, calm, and forgiving attitude. opposite of gentleness in the bible - thanhvi.net Another pair of opposites in the Bible is innocence and guilt. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. This is what we are called to do as Christs disciples! Gentleness in the bible means showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak. Its a quality of character. Gentleness Defined Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. He was a rough man by trade, but when it came to leading men to Christ, he employed great gentleness. Meekness - Bible Tools In this blog post, we will explore a few examples of gentleness from the Bible. We grow in gentleness by surrounding ourselves with gentle people. The less common word, epieikes,is used in Pauls pastoral letters, as well as in James and 1 Peter. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is love? We are to be calm and respectful when speaking with others. Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. and with a gentleness or meekness in his life. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Resentfulness and divisiveness. Note here that the opposite of gentleness is a desire for revenge, anger, and self -aggrandizement. The opposite of gentleness might be rudeness, being mean, or not considering other people's feelings. I use sarcasm and snap back at my childrens remarks. People will see Jesus in us when we are gentle. This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. We may not realize it, but we are graced a tremendous amount of power. I justified it as being 64 and still having children at home (Intellectually challenged). The Lord is near. Gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. There is a secondary word, epieikes, which refers to being gentle, gracious, and forbearing. This would mean that if we have an opportunity to help someone else but it would cost us something, then we should do whatever we can to help them instead of just focusing on ourselves. Beauty and Ugliness Beauty and ugliness are . Jesus was gentle in his interactions with people when he preached about love or healed someone who was sick (see Matthew 9). In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Consider how you talk to yourself. Bible Verses About Protecting The Environment, Bible Verses About Protecting The Innocent, Bible Verses About Protecting The Vulnerable, Bible Verses About Pretending To Be Someone Else, Bible Verses About Proclaiming The Word Of God, Bible Verses About Praying For Lost Souls, Bible Verses About Premarital Relationships, Bible Verses About Practicing What You Preach, Bible Verses About Praising God In Hard Times, Bible Verses About Praising God With Music, Bible Verses About Poverty And Homelessness, Bible Verses About Power In The Name Of Jesus, Bible Verses About Practice Makes Perfect, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days KJV, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days, Bible Verses About Physical Pain And Healing. Even in His rebuke, God restrains Himself and speaks with a gentle tone (1 Kings 19:12).