Rejoice in [the] Lord always again I will say, Rejoice.
Commentary for this verse has not been generated yet.
Let your gentleness be known of all men. The Lord [is] near.
Paul has just told the Philippians to rejoice always. He now turns that joy outward, into how they treat everyone: the ESV calls this quality "reasonableness," older translations "moderation."
The Greek term is built on the idea of giving way. One writer traces it through its other appearances in the New Testament:
epieikes (from epi and eiko, to yield) is another word translated "patient" in older versions at 1 Tim. 3:3. It stands there next to amachos, "not a brawler" or "not one who loves a quarrel." The same word is "gentle" in Titus 3:2, and it appears in James 3:17 and 1 Peter 2:18 as well. In Phil. 4:5 it is a noun, "moderation." No single English word carries it. It means "equity" as against the strict letter of the law, so a readiness to give up all harshness and severity, even where you have a just legal claim. It is the opposite of standing on one's rights: "mild," "gentle."
So the word is about how we treat our own rights. This same gentleness marked Christ:
It is our privilege and responsibility to represent Christ, and so to show the gentleness that marked the Lord. The Psalmist could say, "Your gentleness has made me great" (Ps. 18:35). We belittle ourselves in the eyes of the world if we assert ourselves and fight the way the world is governed. If we show the gentleness of Christ, the world itself will find little to condemn. As someone has said, "Gentleness is irresistible."
The command names no exceptions, though one writer marks where yielding must stop:
In Philippians the focus is outward conduct — how we behave towards everyone, believers and unbelievers alike, for it says "to all men." Towards others, then, gentleness takes this form. You never insist on your own opinions or on rights you imagine you have. With a chastened, quiet spirit you seek to step back and take the lowest place in front of others. You yield everything to those around you, except where faithfulness to God and to His Word needs firmness.
Others must see this, so a lapse calls for repair:
Suppose someone has seen us a little off balance, standing on our rights, real or imagined, in a way that contradicted the gentleness of Christ. Ought we not to feel humbled? Ought we not to take an early chance to wipe off what may have given a false impression to that man's soul? God would have our readiness to yield, not resist, known — not sometimes, or to some people, but to all men. By moderation the apostle means that spirit of meekness. It can only exist where the will is not allowed to push for what we want.
Commentators allow two readings of that nearness:
"The Lord is at hand" is the reason. That would apply to time or to place. So some take it as meaning His presence, as in Ps. 16: "The LORD… is at my right hand." Others take it to mean He will soon be here. You find that at the end of chapter 3. He is the object of our hope. He will soon be here, so we can afford to be yielding. We need not grasp at things here, or demand what we have a right to as men. We can afford to give in.
Either way, we need not press for justice now:
Since He is coming, we can be content to leave everything that touches us to be settled on that day.
Earlier the letter spoke of a citizenship in heaven. Onlookers judge that claim by this:
"Let your moderation be known to all men." Will people believe your citizenship is in heaven if you are eager about the things of earth? They will only think so if there is the testimony that the heart does not stick up for itself. "The Lord is at hand." All will be set right soon. If you go on in meekness, quietness, and a spirit that does not resist, see how it keeps the heart and the affections right. And the world can tell when your mind and spirit are not set on it.
The next verse uses the same phrase for a different audience:
Our moderation is to be known to men; our requests are to be made known to God. Men are to see that we are perfectly content with our portion and prospect. We should never go to men with our wants. God is enough. Man is sure to disappoint us. God never fails a trusting heart.
- Yield. The word means a readiness to give way, even to drop a claim the law would grant you.
- Yield to everyone. It shows in how you treat believers and unbelievers alike. The one limit is faithfulness to God and His Word, which still calls for firmness.
- Yield because He is near. He may be near in place, standing beside you, or near in time, coming soon. Either way, you can leave your case to that day.
- Yield in the open. People believe your citizenship is in heaven when they see a heart that does not stick up for itself. Where you have failed, go and repair the impression.
- Yield to men, ask of God. Let men know your contentment; let God alone know your wants. Men disappoint; God never fails a trusting heart.