The qualities of mildness, gentleness, and meekness in dealing with an erring brother:
avoids unnecessary harshness – yet without compromising or being slow to use necessary force.
Righteous Anger: Example of Jesus and the money changers. Jesus did not call out ten legions of angels. (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-17). It was the zeal for the Father (not for Himself) that motivated Him.
Gentleness or meekness is not petty nor vindictive. Gentleness often requires laying aside “personal rights.”
4236/praotēs (“gentle-force”) refers to temperate behavior – divinely-balanced (regulated by the Lord), which avoids two problems: negative (personal) anger and the sin of angerlessness.
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26 NKJV)
Biblical meekness is the opposite of a “clutching” (grabbing) spirit that displays anger because “you were offended, or someone upset you.”
The meek - Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice, but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance. Christ insisted on his right when he said,
“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:23 NKJV)
This powerful combination of the reserve (gentleness) and strength operates as the risen Christ Himself lives through the believer by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Remember: very next verses after the list of the fruit of the Spirit say:
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (26) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:24-26 NKJV)
Then look at what Paul says next:
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness (G4236), considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (2) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV)
Listen and see how we are to respond to those who have errored or sinned:
“in humility (gentleness/meekness - G4236) correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25 NKJV)
“with all lowliness and gentleness (G4236), with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2 NKJV)
“to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility (gentleness/meekness) (G4236) to all men.” (Titus 3:2 NKJV)
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV)
5. Do you see this gentleness or meekness when you are in disagreement between brothers? Do you see this fruit in bringing reconciliation to offended parties?
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