Thoughts on Mending and Meekness
In Mt. 4.21 (Mk. 1.19) we read, “And going on from there he saw another two brothers, Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets.” In Gal. 6.1 we read, “And brothers, if a man should be caught in some trespass, you, the spiritual ones, mend such a one in a spirit of meekness, looking to yourself that you not be tempted also.”
I was going to make one statement about these verses, but as I studied these words, I saw a second thought which I should share. The first is that the Greek word for “mend” in Matthew and Mark is the same as the word I have translated “mend” in Gal. 6.1. When a brother sins, it is not our place as Christians to condemn him and throw him out, but to mend him and restore him to his place in the body of Christ. There are instructions in Scripture dealing with having to put one out of the church if he refuses to repent (1 Cor. 5.11-13), but the thought we have here is that our first step should be to do all in our power to reclaim the brother for the Lord. It is not our place to condemn, but to mend.
The second thought has to do with the word “meekness.” We tend to think of a meek person as a weakling, one who cannot stand up to anything. But the Greek word refers to the inner strength which enables a person of strength to control his anger and desire to hit back which is wrought in him by the grace of God. Barclay calls it “strength under control” and says that “behind the gentleness there is the strength of steel.” Trench writes, that it is directed first toward God:
It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; it is closely linked with the word ‘humility,’ and follows directly upon it, Eph. 4.2; Col. 3.12; … it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of His elect.” (Quoted in Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
It was Amy Carmichael who said that in acceptance lies peace. Accept what comes from God’s hand, whatever it may be.
A great example of meekness is Moses. In Num. 12.3 we read, “Moses was very meek, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.” He had the power and strength to rule over and lead the Israelites, yet he knew how to deal gently when it was needed.
The greatest example of meekness is the Lord Jesus himself. In Mt. 11.29, he says of himself, “… I am meek and humble in heart….” Mt. 21.5, quoting Zech. 9.9, reads, “Look! your King is coming to you, meek and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the son of an ‘under the yoke.’” (literal)
The Lord Jesus is the ultimate example of strength under control, the one whose gentleness has behind it the strength of steel. He was and is almighty. He could have come down from the cross, but he had the inner strength to be meek before his tormentors, giving his life for them and for us, rather than resisting God’s will for him – death in our place.
In these days of turmoil in our nation, let us realize that while democracy is the best form of government in this world, the truly best form of government is absolute dictatorship, but the dictator has to be a person like the Lord Jesus, and we have no one like that now. When he returns he will be that absolute dictator, but he will not be like earthly rulers. He will be perfect in knowledge of what to do, but also meek and humble in heart, a gentle King with a strength far beyond steel, and will do only what is best for all people, serving them and not himself (Lk. 12.37). There will be no sin and rebellion, but only the Lord’s people who are willingly and gladly yielded to him who loved and loves them so. Praise him!
8-13-20
