The writer of Hebrews says that one of the qualifications of a high priest is that he had to be gentle toward those whom he served; “he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness.” (Hebrews 5:2)
Hebrews 4:14 says in reference to Jesus, “we have a great high priest.” Jesus described himself as gentle, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)
Jesus is our high priest and we as Christians are priests. (1 Peter 2:9) Like our high priest, we are to be gentle toward one another. “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
This gentleness is to characterize Christians dealing with brothers or sisters who are caught in trespass. “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Moreover, this gentleness is to characterize Christ’s shepherds as well. “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 2:24-25)
Gentleness is not ignoring sin, nor is it contrary to the passages that prescribe removing the unrepentant, but it is definitely to characterize our behavior toward one another. It is our priestly duty and privilege to emulate our “great high priest.”
