The right deportment of Christians toward all men.
It is described first negatively, then positively.
I. THEY MUST NOT BE REVILERS. "To speak evil of no man."
1. What evils spring from the wrong use of the tongue! "It is an unruly evil" (James 3:8).
2. If the evil we speak of others is false, we are slanderers; if it is true, we sin against charity. It usually betokens a malignant spirit.
3. It is to forget the example of Christ—"who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;" and the precepts of Christ, who taught us "to love our enemies." Let Christians, therefore, guard their tongues, and let their words be few and well-ordered.
II. THEY MUST NOT BE CONTENTIOUS. "No brawlers."
1. Such a disposition mars the influence of Christian people.
2. It is inconsistent with the spirit of him who did not strive, nor was his voice heard in the streets.
3. It leads to unseemly retaliations from the world, to the dishonor of Christ.
III. THEY MUST BE FORBEARING. "But gentle." It suggests the idea of giving way, of taking wrong rather than of revenging the injuries we receive.
IV. THEY MUST BE MEEK TO ALL MEN. "Showing all meekness to all men."
1. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22.)
2. It is precious in God's sight. (1 Peter 3:4.)
3. It is a characteristic of true wisdom. (James 3:17.)
4. It is necessary to a Christian walk. (Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:2.)
5. It is specially needed in our conduct toward our fellow-men (James 3:13); in our efforts to restore the erring (Galatians 6:1) and to instruct opposers (2 Timothy 2:24, 2 Timothy 2:25).—T.C.