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.
Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Paul writes this line from prison. He tells his friends to stop carrying anxiety about anything at all. The command sounds impossible until you see what comes with it. God gives a place to put every care, a way to put it there, and a promise of what He returns.
The instruction removes worry, not responsibility. One writer draws the line:
First, "Do not be anxious about anything." That does not mean being careless about anything. God expects us to use proper, sensible foresight. But we are not to sink under the weight of carrying what God would carry for us. There are circumstances beyond our control. The way out is a difficulty we cannot overcome in our own strength. Then leave it with God.
This is not advice from someone with an easy life. The writer knew the weight of the things he was telling others to set down:
Here the Apostle's exhortation has in view the circumstances of life. He knows that in a world of sorrow and sickness, of need and care, we will face trials and carry burdens. But he does not want us tearing our hearts apart over them. He writes from a prison. He had gone without, and a fellow-worker had been sick almost to death. Yet in these sad circumstances God lifted him above all anxious care, so he can say to others, "Do not be anxious about anything."
The size of what we refuse to worry over matches the size of what we may bring to God.
A thousand small matters in our lives have no clear link to the Name and interests of Christ. Even so, we are free to bring them to God. In fact He tells us to. As we do so we may be in the enjoyment of the peace of God. We may be anxious as to nothing, because prayerful as to everything, and thankful for anything.
The things that trouble us stir God's care for us:
"Do not be anxious about anything," Phil. 4:6. That is simple to say. But what — not be concerned about the state of the church, or about the pressure of a family? Do not be anxious about anything. Whatever creates a care in us creates God's care for us. So "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
"Prayer," "supplication," and "thanksgiving" are not repetitions of one idea. Each does its own work:
The first, translated "prayer," tells us of prayer in general — of any address to God. The second, "supplication," tells of prayer for particular needs or benefits. We use the first word only of prayer to God; the second we may also use towards other people. The first may include worship, as we come to God in prayer; whereas the second is what we want from God. And let us not forget, for Paul never forgot, that all is to be with "thanksgiving."
Thanksgiving is not decoration added at the end. It changes what the asking itself is:
So they could use prayer and supplication about everything — but with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving keeps the prayer from voicing unbelief or complaint. It also builds confidence in praying to One whose answers have already been clear.
Two things in this chapter are to be "made known," and each has its own audience:
Better not make them known to people; it is a dangerous snare. By all means make them known to God. There is something people should see, and that is your not fighting for your rights. "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone." "Let your requests be made known to God."
The promise attached is not that God grants every request. It is something else:
Will He answer the requests? Will He remove the trial? He may see that to answer the request, or remove the trial, would not be for our good. In the trial itself, He will act in perfect wisdom and perfect love for our good. But this God will do: He will relieve our hearts from the burden of the trial. If we pour out our hearts before Him, He will pour His peace into our hearts.
- Nothing — God bans anxiety, not foresight; the ban is on carrying what He would carry for you.
- Everything — the door is as wide as the ban: small worries and great trials alike, told plainly to God.
- Anything — thanksgiving goes into the asking, not after it. It keeps the prayer free of complaint and unbelief.
- To God — requests go to Him; what people are meant to see from you is gentleness, not your grievances.
- Peace — the trial may stay and the request may be refused; the burden of it is what God lifts off the heart.