Be patient, kind, and gentle

Hebrews 5:2-3 he (the high priest appointed by God) can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. Today’s verse describes the ministry of the high priest who was appointed by God to offer both gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the people to God. He was contrasting the ministry of the high priest to Jesus’ ministry as our high priest. His point was that since the high priest was also a sinner, beset with weakness, he could identify with those he served. He had to first offer gifts and sacrifices for himself before offering them for the people. This should naturally have produced in him a patience and gentleness in dealing with those who were ignorant or misguided. As we live to love with Jesus, we also are going to have in our paths, people who are ignorant or misguided. Since we are sinners like they are, and since we have all at one time or another been ignorant or misguided, we can deal gently with them. That’s how Jesus has been with us. He is a merciful and faithful high priest to us, and He is the same today as He has always been. In His compassion He has dealt gently with us, so we should reflect the same gentleness and compassion as we love with Him. We learn then from this verse what living to love with Jesus looks like. It is gentle, patient, and kind. The apostle Paul described love, the fruit of the Spirit, with these three qualities among others. In a sense, we have a similar ministry as a high priest in that we are God’s appointed people to bring God to those He puts in our paths and to bring them to God. Let’s be encouraged to be patient, kind, and gentle with them so they can see the love of Jesus.