--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Christ's ministry drew to its close…" description: "\"As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the class from whom it never turned away. Side ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png" --- # As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and… ![“As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the class from whom it never turned away. Side by side through all His manifestations of Himself, there were the two aspects: "He showed Himself froward " (if I may quote the word) to the…” quote by Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png) > “As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the class from whom it never turned away. Side by side through all His manifestations of Himself, there were the two aspects: "He showed Himself froward " (if I may quote the word) to the self-righteous and the Pharisee; and He bent with more than a woman's tenderness of 'yearning love over the darkness and sinfulness, which in its great darkness dimly knew itself blind, and in its sinfulness stretched out a lame hand of faith, and groped after a Divine deliverer.” [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christ showed both sternness to the self‑righteous and tender compassion to those yearning for redemption. **In simple terms:** He combined justice with deep love. Key Takeaway Balance firmness with compassion in leadership. Themes justice compassion redemption spirituality leadership Mood reflective hopeful serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - preaching - pastoral counseling - ethical decision making - community outreach Key Concepts theology dual nature of ministry human frailty Questions to Reflect On - When have you shown too much sternness? - How can tenderness soften judgment? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on severity can alienate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bent/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Blind Sinfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-sinfulness-1594028/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Darkness Sinfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness-sinfulness-2706983/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Gentleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleness/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lame/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Ministry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ministry/) [Pharisees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pharisees/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) [Severity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/severity/) [Side by side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-by-side/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Sinfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinfulness/) [Sinfulness Stretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinfulness-stretched-2706982/) [Tenderness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [“We are to come to the Word in a spirit of humility and contrition because we recognize that we are sinful, that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-are-to-come-to-the-word-in-a-spirit-of-humility-and-contrition/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [This avoidance of the difficult things of Scripture — of sinfulness and hell and God’s notable severity — is idolatrous and cowardly. If a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/this-avoidance-of-the-difficult-things-of-scripture-of-sinfulness-and/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [A spoiled saint, a Pharisee, an inquisitor, or a magician, makes better sport to Hell than a mere common tyrant or debauchee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-spoiled-saint-a-pharisee-an-inquisitor-or-a-magician-makes-better/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A pharisee is hard on others and easy on himself, but a spiritual man is easy on others and hard on himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/a-pharisee-is-hard-on-others-and-easy-on-himself-but-a-spiritual-man/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Sometimes, you will go through awful trials in your life and then a miracle happens--God heals you. Don’t be disheartened when the people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/sometimes-you-will-go-through-awful-trials-in-your-life-and-then-a/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [To preach the Bible as 'the handbook for life,' or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/to-preach-the-bible-as-the-handbook-for-life-or-as-the-answer-to/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The Bible in itself is not the Word of God. The Word of God is a person. Neither does the Bible have life, power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-brinsmead/the-bible-in-itself-is-not-the-word-of-god-the-word-of-god-is-a/) [Robert D. Brinsmead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-brinsmead/) > [“He speaks to the poor, the powerless, and he mocks the rich and powerful. He isn't the Messiah the Pharisees are looking for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-landsem/he-speaks-to-the-poor-the-powerless-and-he-mocks-the-rich-and/) [Stephanie Landsem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-landsem/) > [The Talmud derives its authority from the position held by the ancient (Pharisee) academies. The teachers of those academies, both of Babylonia and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-finkelstein/the-talmud-derives-its-authority-from-the-position-held-by-the/) [Louis Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-finkelstein/) > [“To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/to-those-who-rejected-him-righteousness-would-one-day-appear-as-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [The pharisees minded what God spoke, but not what He intended. They were busy in the outward work of the hand, but incurious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/the-pharisees-minded-what-god-spoke-but-not-what-he-intended-they/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-starr-miller/according-to-miller-pharisee-judaism-is-not-a-religion-at-all-but-a/) [Edith Starr Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-starr-miller/) > [A Pharisee is someone who is virtuous out of obedience to the Great Beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/a-pharisee-is-someone-who-is-virtuous-out-of-obedience-to-the-great/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More by Alexander MacLaren > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [God keeps giving Himself as long as we bring that into which He can pour Himself. And when we stop bringing, He stops giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/god-keeps-giving-himself-as-long-as-we-bring-that-into-which-he-can/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Ah, my brother, it is a far harder thing, and it is afar higher proof of a thorough-going, persistent, Christian principle woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-my-brother-it-is-a-far-harder-thing-and-it-is-afar-higher-proof-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The cross is the centre of the world's history; the incarnation of Christ and the crucifiction of our Lord are the pivot round which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-cross-is-the-centre-of-the-world-s-history-the-incarnation-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The grave has a door on its inner side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-grave-has-a-door-on-its-inner-side/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/being-in-christ-it-is-safe-to-forget-the-past-it-is-possible-to-be/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Do not let the loud utterances of your own wills anticipate, nor drown, the still, small voice in which God speaks. Bridle impatience till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/do-not-let-the-loud-utterances-of-your-own-wills-anticipate-nor-drown/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Man's course begins in a garden, but it ends in a city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/man-s-course-begins-in-a-garden-but-it-ends-in-a-city/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The cup which my Saviour giveth me, can it be anything but a cup of salvation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-cup-which-my-saviour-giveth-me-can-it-be-anything-but-a-cup-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love is the only fire that is hot enough to melt the iron obstinacy of a creatures' will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/love-is-the-only-fire-that-is-hot-enough-to-melt-the-iron-obstinacy/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [If you want to live in this world, doing the duty of life, knowing the blessings of it, doing your work heartily, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-you-want-to-live-in-this-world-doing-the-duty-of-life-knowing-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Faith is the sight of the inward eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/faith-is-the-sight-of-the-inward-eye/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Every sin is a mistake, as well as a wrong; and the epitaph for the sinner is, "Thou fool!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/every-sin-is-a-mistake-as-well-as-a-wrong-and-the-epitaph-for-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [True peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God and will be deep and passing all understanding in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/true-peace-comes-not-from-the-absence-of-trouble-but-from-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) [Explore all 131 Alexander MacLaren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the class from whom it never turned away. Side by side through all His manifestations of Himself, there were the two aspects: \"He showed Himself froward \" (if I may quote the word) to the self-righteous and the Pharisee; and He bent with more than a woman's tenderness of 'yearning love over the darkness and sinfulness, which in its great darkness dimly knew itself blind, and in its sinfulness stretched out a lame hand of faith, and groped after a Divine deliverer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander MacLaren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-its-severity-and-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-its-severity-and-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a49/alexander-maclaren-3410_aspect_as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-i_2697464.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Christ's ministry drew to its close, its severity and its gentleness both increased; its severity to the…” — Alexander MacLaren", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander MacLaren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As Christ's ministry drew to its...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-its-severity-and-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-christ-s-ministry-drew-to-its-close-its-severity-and-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```