12 January 2026

Gentleness is achieved by those who have the ability to control their strength. There are numerous examples in our world today of people who abuse their strength not least because they can. They do not relate to others in a gentle way.

But there’s more to gentleness than self-control. It could simply result in a cold detachment which could hardly be called gentleness. No! This self-control is motivated by benevolence. We control our strength for the benefit of others!

In the Bible, this word has been translated by the word ‘meekness’. ‘I am meek and lowly of heart.’ says Jesus. The Greek word is used to describe an animal which has been tamed. Once it was wild. Now it is gentle.

Meekness or gentleness is not the passive quality which is seen in people who haven’t any backbone but in the likes of Moses who was described as ‘the meekest of men’ and in Jesus who said that he was ‘meek and lowly in heart’.

Their gentleness describes  their ability to control their strength in an appropriate way and to allow their strength to be controlled by God in such a way that they value and respect the good in others even more than themselves.

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