The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 254

Vor. 1.-" The meekness and gentleness of (Jhrist." How different was Christ to (l; tho anticipations of the chosen peoplo ! (2) the heathen conceptions of deity! I. 'J'm:: MEEKNESS OF CrrmsT. Illustrated in: 1. His lowly birth. The manger pre- figured the whole life. 2. Ilis humble station. Highest in heaven, lowliest on earth. 3. His obedience to Joseph and Mary. Obedience was new to him. He was the Rnlei-, and yot he submitted to be ruled. 4. Ilis manual toil. The Jews looked for a conqueror o.nd saw o. carpenter. 6. Jiis endurance of scorn and insult. Scorn anrl insult were much more to him than they ever can be to us. Remember he was the adored of heo.ven I 6. His earthly poverty. He possessed all things, and yet had nothing-not even o. place where to lay his head. 7. His beariny before the Sanhedrim, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, etc. How iittle and mean they must have seemed to him ! and yet he did not crush them. 8. His submission on the cross. The infinitude of meekness I Nothing could transcend this. This was the culmination of a meekness which shone throughout the marvellous earthly life. " Ride on, ride on in majesty ; In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow thy meek head to mortal pain ; Then take, 0 Christ, thy power and reign." 9. His burial. He went, not only to death, but to the grave. He lay in a borrowed sepulchre. II. THE GENTLENESS OF CHRIST. Exhibited in: 1. His treatment of children. How immortal have those words become I how typical they are of the Christ-heart, "Snffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me" (Matt. :rix. 14) ! 2. Hi.1 conduct towards the poor, the siclc, the bereaved, the penitent. What compassion and tenderness I "A bruised reed shall he not break" (Isa. xlii. 3). 3. His words. " He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street" (Isa. xlii 2). Well might they marvel at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. 4. His forbearanr,e towards his di.~ci'ples, Few things illustrate his gentleness more strikingly than this. How much had he to bear from those nearest to him ! How gentle he was to the impulsive, blundering, often almost insolent, Peter! How gentle even to Judas I 5. His dealing with sinners. Except to the hopelessly hardened, upon whom gentleness would have been thrown away, and to whom it would have been an evil rather than a good. His general attitude towards the sinful is expressed by those memorable words, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. :x.i. 29). 6. His care of his mother. History has no more touching incident than that at the cross, " Woman, behold thy son!" (John xix. 26). Ill. THOUGH BO MEEK AND GENTLE, CHRIST WAS FULL OF POWER A1'"D MAJESTY. No student of his life can question this; enemies and friends alike confess it. Force and noise are not synonymous. Silent forces are often mighty. To be meek is not to be weak. Simplicity, tenderness, humility, are marks of the truly great. These :flowers grow upon the top of the mountain. A man who is ever anxious to "assert himself" usually shows how very little he has to assert. IV. THOSE WHO BEAR CHRIST'S NAME SHOULD PARTA.KE OF CHRIST'S NATURE. It is for us to be meek and lowly followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. When the apostle would be most forceful to the Corinthians, he claimed for himself these attributes of his Master. We are strongest when we are most like Christ. We shall be better, live better, worship better, work better, if we possess the "meekness and gentleness of Christ."-H. Ver. 4.-" Our weapons." I. THEY ARE FOR USE IN THE GREATEST OF ALL CONFLICTS 1. Not II physical conflict. These are poor, or comparative unimportance, often very contemptible, can effect little. 2. Not for the destruction of men. What labour, thought, skill, genius, are expended by man for man's destruction! 3. Not a mere mental conflict. Intellectual battles are not chief. 4. A spiritual conflict. 5. A conflict in which the honour and glory of the Eternal are contended for. 6. A. conflict in which man's highest interests are sought. 7. A conflict against evil in every form. II. THEY ARE BF.RE DEB0RIBED. 1. Negatively. They are not carnal. (1) They are 254 THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [en. x. 1-18,