Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart...”
Matthew 11:29
HELPS WORD STUDY ~ “gentle”
4236 praótēs– properly, temperance achieved by displaying the right blend of force and reserve (gentleness). 4236/praótēs ("strength in gentleness") avoids unnecessary harshness – yet without compromising, or being slow to use necessary force.
4236/praotēs ("Spirit-balanced gentleness") upholds the true spirit (purpose) of a situation, and hence is not petty nor vindictive. 4236 (praotēs) often requires laying aside "personal rights." Accordingly, Paul entreats the Corinthians "by the meekness (4236/praótēs) and gentleness (1932/epieíkeia) given by Christ" (2 Cor 10:1).
Note: In classical Greek, this root (pra-) denotes people with "a calm and soothing disposition" with a "submission to reason (De cohib. ira 1.453 b-c), moderation of the passions (praotēs pathōn, De prof. in virt. 83 e; cf. 78 b; 80 b-c), and self-mastery (Fab. 17.7). In the NT 4239 (praýs) specifically expresses equanimity according to God's revelation and empowerment (WS, 29). It exemplifies true moderation (Aristotle, Eth. Nic. 1125 b) and therefore easily reconciles" (Chilon, in Stobaeus 4.7.24; vol. 4, 255)
Summary:
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.
(praotēs) includes showing necessary force – at the right time for what is "right" before God. This "power under control" then acts by the Lord's power, under His direction. (praotēs) avoids the sin of lacking righteous-anger (cf. Eph 4:26), and over-acting. /praotēs ("meekness") is not weakness (timidity) but rather strength exercised under God's control! It insists on only what is necessary.
My greatest conflicts in life are the wrestling’s that occur where I am unwilling to align with God. They create all manner of ‘unrest’ within and left unchecked, that disharmony of spirit and soul ultimately impacts the physical man. Yet, Jesus tells us, it is in this place of meekness and humility that we find the rest for our souls.
How can we contend with God and win? Only by yielding. Yielding many times seems like a loss but is truly the way to life. Death yields resurrection. Paul’s desire, in the book of Philippians to know Christ, came with his willingness to share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death that by any means possible he could attain unto the resurrection from the dead.
Oh, how we long to bypass this process! We want to live in the power of resurrected life but there can never be resurrection without first a death. Paul chose to die daily. I choose to die occasionally, as it suits me. I don’t think it’s what Jesus had in mind. Moses is described as the meekest man in all the earth with Hebrews chapter eleven telling us of the choices he had to make to become that man.
Humility shows the condition of heart and mind that reflects acknowledgement of our need for God. An inner lowliness that displays absolute dependency upon God. Does meekness then becomes the action that accords with humility? Jesus, only doing and saying that which the Father had directed; living his life in such a position that first he submitted, heard, then obeyed. He was quick to hear, slow to speak, and when He did speak and act, achieved the very purposes of God. It was his humility and meekness that cleansed a temple in one instance and then stood before Pilate and answered not a word in another. In both scenes, expressing the characters of humility and meekness.
As God moves in this next season releasing voices and displaying His acts, may we ever be mindful of these two qualities and characters that must be learned to display His righteousness. It is only in our pride that we form opinions that bring forth judgments, words and actions which run contrary to His purposes.
To everything under the sun there is a purpose, so while God works, may we hold steady, come to him, learn of HIM meekness and humility and find rest for our souls.