3. (a) What does the Greek word translated “reasonable” mean, and why is this quality appealing? (b) How might a Christian learn to be more reasonable?

³ Our reputation in this regard will simply reflect the degree to which we imitate Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) When here on earth, Jesus perfectly reflected his Father’s supreme example of reasonableness. (John 14:9) In fact, when Paul wrote of “the mildness and kindness of the Christ,” the Greek word he used for kindness (e·pi·ei·kiʹas) also means “reasonableness” or, literally, “yieldingness.” (2 Corinthians 10:1) The Expositor’s Bible Commentary calls this “one of the great words of character description in the N[ew] T[estament].” It describes a quality so appealing that one scholar renders the word “sweet reasonableness.” Let us, therefore, discuss three ways in which Jesus, like his Father, Jehovah, demonstrated reasonableness. We may thus learn how to become more reasonable ourselves.​—1 Peter 2:21.

“Ready to Forgive”

4. How did Jesus show himself “ready to forgive”?

⁴ Like his Father, Jesus showed reasonableness by being “ready to forgive” over and over again. (Psalm 86:5) Consider the time when Peter, a close companion, denied Jesus three times on the night of Jesus’ arrest and trial. Jesus himself had earlier stated: “Whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father.” (Matthew 10:33) Did Jesus rigidly and mercilessly apply this rule to Peter? No; after His resurrection, Jesus paid Peter a personal visit, no doubt to comfort and reassure this repentant, brokenhearted apostle. (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5) Shortly thereafter, Jesus permitted Peter to have great responsibility. (Acts 2:1-41) Here was sweet reasonableness at its very best! Is it not comforting to think that Jehovah has appointed Jesus as Judge over all mankind?​—Isaiah 11:1-4; John 5:22.

5. (a) What reputation should the elders have among the sheep? (b) What material might elders review before handling judicial cases, and why?

⁵ When elders act as judges in the congregation, they endeavor to follow Jesus’ reasonable example. They do not want the sheep to fear them as punishers. Rather, they seek to imitate Jesus so that the sheep will feel safe with them as loving shepherds. In judicial cases, they make every effort to be reasonable, ready to forgive. Before handling such a matter, some elders have found it helpful to review the July 1, 1992, Watchtower articles “Jehovah, the Impartial ‘Judge of All the Earth’” and “Elders, Judge With Righteousness.” They thus bear in mind the summary of Jehovah’s way of judging: “Firmness where necessary, mercy where possible.” It is not an error to lean toward mercy in judgment when there is a reasonable basis for doing so. (Matthew 12:7) It is a grave error to be harsh or merciless. (Ezekiel 34:4) Elders thus avoid erring by actively seeking the most loving, merciful course possible within the bounds of justice.​—Compare Matthew 23:23; James 2:13.

Flexibility in the Face of Changing Circumstances

6. How did Jesus display reasonableness in dealing with the Gentile woman whose daughter was demonized?

⁶ Like Jehovah, Jesus proved himself quick to alter course or adapt to new situations as they arose. On one occasion a Gentile woman begged him to cure her badly demonized daughter. In three different ways, Jesus initially indicated that he was not going to help her​—first, by refraining from answering her; second, by stating directly that he was sent forth, not to the Gentiles, but to the Jews; and third, by giving an illustration that kindly made the same point. However, the woman persisted through all of this, giving evidence of extraordinary faith. In the light of this exceptional circumstance, Jesus could see that this was no time to enforce a general rule; it was time to bend in response to higher principles.a Thus, Jesus did exactly what he had three times indicated he would not do. He cured the woman’s daughter!​—Matthew 15:21-28.

Reasonableness in the Exercise of Authority

11. What contrast was there between how the Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ day exercised authority and how Jesus did?

¹¹ When Jesus walked the earth, his reasonableness truly shone through in the way he wielded his God-granted authority. How different he was from the religious leaders of his day! Consider an example. God’s law had ordered that no work, not even the gathering of wood, be done on the Sabbath. (Exodus 20:10; Numbers 15:32-36) The religious leaders wanted to control just how people applied that law. So they took it upon themselves to decree exactly what a person could lift on the Sabbath. They ruled: nothing heavier than two dried figs. They even issued a prohibition on sandals shod with nails, claiming that lifting the extra weight of the nails would constitute work! It is said that, all in all, the rabbis added 39 rules to God’s law about the Sabbath and then made endless additions to those rules. Jesus, on the other hand, did not seek to control people through shame by laying down endless restrictive rules or by setting rigid, unreachable standards.​—Matthew 23:2-4; John 7:47-49.

12. Why can we say that Jesus did not waver when it came to Jehovah’s righteous standards?

¹² Are we to assume, then, that Jesus did not firmly uphold God’s righteous standards? He certainly did! He understood that laws are most effective when humans take to heart the principles behind those laws. While the Pharisees were caught up in trying to control people with countless rules, Jesus sought to reach hearts. For example, he well knew that there is no yielding when it comes to such divine laws as “flee from fornication.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) So Jesus warned people about the thoughts that could lead to immorality. (Matthew 5:28) Such teaching took far more wisdom and discernment than simply laying down rigid, formulaic rules.

17. How did Jesus set an example for us as to reasonableness?

¹⁷ Consider a final example of how Jesus wields his authority in a reasonable way. Like his Father, Jesus does not jealously guard his authority. He too is a master delegator, appointing his faithful slave class to care for “all his belongings” here on the earth. (Matthew 24:45-47) And he does not fear listening to the ideas of others. He often asked his listeners: “What do you think?” (Matthew 17:25; 18:12; 21:28; 22:42) So it should be among all of Christ’s followers today. No amount of authority should render them unwilling to listen. Parents, listen! Husbands, listen! Elders, listen!

18. (a) How might we find out if we have a reputation for reasonableness? (b) What might all of us do well to resolve?

¹⁸ Decidedly, each of us wants to “have a reputation for being reasonable.” (Philippians 4:5, Phillips) But how do we know if we have such a reputation? Well, when Jesus was curious as to what people were saying about him, he asked his trusted associates. (Matthew 16:13) Why not follow his example? You could ask someone you can count on for candor whether you have a reputation for being a reasonable, yielding person. Surely there is much all of us can do to imitate more closely Jesus’ perfect example of reasonableness! Especially if we wield a measure of authority over others, let us always follow the example of Jehovah and Jesus, always wielding it in a reasonable way, ever ready to forgive, bend, or yield when appropriate. Indeed, may every one of us strive to “be reasonable”!​—Titus 3:2.

[Footnotes]