“The meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:1).
As far as we know, this expression is only found in this scripture, but the characteristic with which it is linked, meekness, explains it. Moreover, the fact of the Lord’s gentleness shines out in almost every page of the Gospels. It is good for our souls to meditate upon it, though we may be rebuked by the contrast it offers to our own hardness and unyieldingness. The Apostle uses it as a ground of appeal to the Corinthians, who had turned aside from his blessed teachings and who, if they had not entirely rejected his apostolic authority, were yet allowing him to be displaced, both in their affections and as a teacher, by “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” (2 Cor. 11:13). It was in such circumstances that Paul besought them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. His enemies had alleged that his bodily presence was weak and his speech was contemptible. Was it not that the character of his Master —His meekness and gentleness — had shone out through his ministry! Was it this which had excited the opposition, not to say contempt, of these upholders of the first man and what exalts him before the eyes of men? We know not, but in any case it will be profitable for us to consider this beautiful trait of Christ.
Meekness and Gentleness
Go Together
The Lord Himself connects meekness with humility (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)). There is a difference in these moral graces, and yet it might almost be said that they are necessarily bound up together. Where one of them is found, the others are sure to appear, at least in measure. True humility can only spring from brokenness of will. Where the will has been practically set aside through discipline, there also will be meekness, that patient lack of resistance in the presence of evil which accepts every cup of sorrow and trial from the Lord’s hand and displays gentleness of spirit and demeanor towards all. This is that contrite and humble spirit God loves to dwell with, or, as Peter says, that meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price.
If we understand this, as applied to believers, we shall comprehend more readily what Paul terms the “gentleness of Christ.” His will never needed to be broken (far be the thought!), because it was perfect. He never exercised it, because He came to do the Father’s will, He was always in complete submission to the Father. He lived by the Father, never moved or acted except at the Father’s word, and thus always did the things that pleased Him. He did nothing from Himself but what He saw the Father do, “for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:1919Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19)). Hence, when in the presence of evil and the overflowing of Satan’s power, losing sight of the blind and wicked instruments of the enemy, He could say, “The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:1111Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11)). He was gentleness itself in the face of unrestrained violence. So also when before the high priest and the Jewish council, and also before Pilate, His meekness and gentleness were conspicuous both in His attitude and in His words. He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opens not His mouth (Isa. 53:77He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)).
Christ Exemplified by Us
We desire to point out that what is seen in Christ should be exemplified by His people. The same Apostle writes to the Philippians, “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Phil. 4:55Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5)). This word “moderation” is the same as that which is translated “gentleness” in the passage under consideration, and this is really its true force. Another word has been suggested, namely, yieldingness, but yieldingness is only the expression of a gentle spirit. In Philippians it is the outward conduct which is in view, and outward conduct or demeanor towards all, believers and unbelievers, for it says, “To all men.” The form which gentleness would assume towards men would be that of never insisting on one’s own opinions or fancied rights, but seeking, with a chastened and subdued spirit, to retire and to take the lowest place in the presence of others, yielding everything to those around, excepting where faithfulness to God and to His Word requires firmness. What a powerful motive is given for the cultivation of gentleness in the words, “The Lord is at hand” (Phil. 4:55Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5))! In view of His coming, we may well be content to leave everything that affects ourselves to the adjustment of that day.
If then the gentleness of Christ is to be reproduced in the believer, the question may profitably be considered, How is this to be effected? The hindrance to it is plainly in the character of the flesh in us — its impatience, impetuosity, obstinacy and willfulness. This much may be discerned even in the case of Peter, whose failures during his companionship with the Lord on earth may all be traced to the eager forwardness of the flesh, notwithstanding his ardent affection for his Lord. It is essential, therefore, before the gentleness of Christ can be displayed, that the character of the flesh should be experimentally learned. We must discover, even if through painful discipline, that there is no good thing in it. Then we may hail with gratitude the glad tidings of grace — that it has already come up before God for judgment in the cross of Christ and has passed away from before His eye forever. A new state will then be entered and enjoyed — the state of being “in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Rom. 8:99But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)). Thereupon there will be liberty for occupation with Christ, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. His divine affections will be formed within us, so that while we are seeking for a growing intimacy with Christ, He will be formed within us and will be more distinctly manifested through our walk and conduct.
The Obstacle Removed
Our wills are the difficulty in the matter of gentleness. It would help to the removal of this obstacle if it were but seen and confessed that the will of the flesh is evil and nothing but evil. “If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin,” for the body governed by sin in the flesh can produce nothing but sin. If Christ be in you —what a thought! If He be, surely we desire that He would take the entire control, and then His blessed will would govern us for His own pleasure. We shall then delight in the One who has become the object of our hearts. Then, constrained by affection to seek the intimacy of His company, we shall be daily conformed to His likeness, and thus His own blessed moral traits, His meekness and gentleness, will be formed within us and revealed in our ways and conversation. But the words of the Apostle must be recalled in this connection, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Cor. 4:10).
Adapted from
The Christian Friend, 1898