The Perfect Teacher
“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Gentle – The Greek word in Matthew that we translate “meek” or “gentle” is praos. In the gospels, it is only found in Matthew. In classical Greek, the word means, “gentle, pleasant, friendly, or mild”. We usually think of this as outward behavior. The most famous example is Socrates who remains calm and congenial even when he is deliberately poisoned. In Greek thinking, praos is serene composure in the face of abuse. But Jesus connects this word to the Hebrew word ana (see Matthew 5:5). Without the Old Testament background, this word points to stoicism. But with the Old Testament background, the entire concept changes. Unlike the Greeks, Jesus teaches that those who are praos are so because they are in supremely confident of the goodness of God. For Jesus, praos is about inner power in the midst of affliction as a mark of God’s sovereign movement in life.
When Jesus describes himself in terms of ana, he is connecting his affliction and oppression to the character of the redeeming God. From God’s point of view, affliction is not to be passively endured. Jesus was not a man who just “took it”. He engaged the enemy by responding with forgiveness and compassion even when he suffered consequences for his actions. Jesus’ “gentleness” allows him to act decisively regardless of circumstances because it is grounded in reliance on the Father. The world is not the arena of stoic resignation. It is the dramatic arena of the kingdom invading the realm of the strongman. It is the action movie of freeing prisoners. It is the celebration of victory over principalities and powers. The man or woman who follows in the footsteps of Jesus is no wallflower. To be praos is to act in affliction. To accept the challenge of turning away from revenge, away from the balance scales of justice and toward the purposes of God. Who will rejoice in affliction? Only those who know that God’s will prevails, that God is the rightful Judge who will bring peace and justice to a forsaken world. They are the only ones who can rejoice because they know that God’s will is being done.
Your world is not ruled by blind fate or irrational chaos. It is under the control and power of One who guides its movement to His purposes. You are not the victim of happenstance. Your present affliction has purpose and meaning. God is working through you. Judgment, sovereignty, purpose, power and hope are all implied in the context of “gentle”. These are not people who lay down without a fight. These are not spiritual wimps. These are men and women who acknowledge the Lord God Almighty as their protector, who submit to His will for their lives while battles rage in heavenly places. They are the true soldiers of the Kingdom, willing to give up their lives for their King. Passive? Not a chance! “Gentile Jesus, meek and mild” is not the Jesus of the Bible. Praos is about response to affliction through inner strength. It is the shout of victory found in contentment with the will of the Father.
