A true characteristic of a person who is exercising gentleness is where a strong hand is combined with a soft touch. Gentleness causes us to display a tenderness and compassion toward others’ regardless of their weaknesses and limitations. A person who is gentle will still speak the truth, which at times can be extremely painful, however in doing so he guards his tone in order that the truth can be well received and lead to transformation, reformation and restoration in the receiving person’s life.

The Word of God goes out of its way to demonstrate the truth that Jesus was gentle. In fact, the Old Testament reveals that the Messiah was extraordinarily gentle, in that Jesus would not break a “bruised reed” or snuff out a “smoldering wick” (Isaiah 42:3). In the Gospels, Jesus states that: “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). The apostles often reminded the early church of Jesus’ gentleness: “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you” (2 Corinthians 10:1).

A real problem we face is that too many people equate gentle with weak. It is clearly wrong to assume weakness has anything to do with gentleness. In fact the exact opposite is true.

It is in fact the strong hand and not the weak one, that needs to learn to treat others with gentleness.

Erick Bouwmeester