Matthew 26:45-56

Winnie the Pooh Pic

Mr. Rogers Pic

“I am gentle and humble in heart.” Jesus, Matthew 11:29

#1: What Gentleness Is

“Blessed are the gentle/meek for _________________.

Jesus, Matthew 5:5

“The wicked (i.e., the un-gentle) will perish. Like the glory of grass, they will vanish – like smoke they will vanish away.”

King David, Psalm 37:20

The word gentleness refers not to a weak person but to one who manages the strength and resources God gives in order to bring benefit to others. Gentleness is a blend of power and control.

Pic of wild horse being gentled

Pic of felon with horse

All human beings are made with incredible capacities – with great strengths – as those made in God’s image. But, when sin entered the world, our human nature became self-centered and wild. We need to be “gentled” by God’s Spirit. 

#2: What Gentleness Looks Like

Jesus, for Example (Matthew 26:45-57)

“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”

                                                                        Jesus, Matthew 26:53

Scene 1:   Jesus and Judas(26:47-50)

Scene 2: Jesus and Peter(26:51-54)

“Though he was in very nature God, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage… but, rather, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death -- even death on a cross !

Philippians 2:5ff

Barnabas, for Example

When Paul returned to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus Paul had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:26-27

The Jerusalem Church sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord .

Acts 11:22-24

#3: Growing in Gentleness

I am not a naturally gentle person. I tend to wield the gifts God has given me harshly, particularly when it comes to language. The desire to use language to gain social power had led me to do so at the expense of my friends too often. So, for me, “prautes” (gentleness) meant being unsarcastic. It might mean something different for you. So I did a sarcasm fast. I intentionally put that power back under God’s control, asking him to give me gentleness .

Jen Herrmann, InterVarsity website

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your frail bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you .

Romans 8:11

God’s Spirit dwells in you. Gentleness comes from recognizing that you are not the source of power, but the instrument of God’s power. And as that instrument, you are not to wield power harshly, selfishly or without purpose, but for the purpose of blessing others and bringing glory of God.