The term "meanest" in a biblical context often refers to actions, attitudes, or characteristics that are considered base, ignoble, or lacking in kindness and generosity. While the specific word "meanest" may not appear frequently in the Bible, the concept is addressed through various teachings and narratives that highlight the importance of love, kindness, and humility.

Biblical References and Themes

1. Selfishness and Greed: The Bible frequently warns against selfishness and greed, which are often associated with mean behavior. In Luke 12:15, Jesus cautions, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." This teaching underscores the spiritual danger of prioritizing material wealth over compassion and generosity.

2. Lack of Compassion: The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) illustrates the contrast between mean-spirited neglect and compassionate action. The priest and the Levite, who pass by the injured man without offering help, exemplify a lack of compassion, while the Samaritan's kindness is celebrated as true neighborly love.

3. Pride and Arrogance: Pride is often linked to mean behavior in the Bible. Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This verse highlights the destructive nature of arrogance, which can lead to treating others with disdain and disrespect.

4. Judgment and Condemnation: Jesus teaches against a judgmental and condemning spirit in Matthew 7:1-2: "Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." This passage encourages believers to avoid harsh judgments and to practice mercy and understanding instead.

5. The Call to Kindness and Humility: The Bible consistently calls believers to exhibit kindness and humility, counteracting mean behavior. Ephesians 4:32 instructs, "Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." This verse emphasizes the importance of emulating Christ's love and forgiveness in interpersonal relationships.

6. The Example of Christ: Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of selflessness and love, opposing any form of meanness. Philippians 2:3-4 encourages believers to adopt Christ's mindset: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Practical Application

Believers are called to reflect on their own attitudes and actions, ensuring they align with biblical teachings of love, humility, and kindness. The Bible encourages a transformation of the heart, moving away from mean-spiritedness and towards a life characterized by the fruits of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

By embracing these virtues, Christians can effectively counteract mean behavior and embody the love of Christ in their daily lives, serving as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Biographical Preface.
... its Divine Head, that not one of its members can suffer but the whole body
feels"nay, the great Head himself feels in the remotest and meanest member of his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/biographical preface.htm

Of the Mortification of the Affections of the Will...
... 5. In this latter regard, we for God show Humility towards men, preferring others
before ourselves, contenting ourselves with the meanest things in diet ...
/.../chapter xiii of the mortification.htm

Who Can Tell?
... He can accomplish the greatest deeds by the meanest instrumentality. ... With the meanest
instrument would God slay his thousands and overcome his myriads. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm

The Forged Sermon
... themselves for this ponderous parade of functional ineptitude by relapsing into
interchanges of spleen as frankly human as those of the meanest of their ...
/.../chapter xlviii the forged sermon.htm

On the Road to Jerusalem
... "So, my Mars of the gray temples, thou meanest in all faith to deliver up this lady
and her treasure to Julian?". "By those same gray temples, I do! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter ii on the road.htm

On Mutual Subjection {1} --(First Printed in 1744)
... They depend for every necessary of life upon the meanest of their people; besides,
obedience and subjection were never enjoined by God to humour the passions ...
/.../swift/three sermons three prayers/on mutual subjection 1first printed.htm

Sanctified Commonplaces
... He took the very meanest vessel of the whole household, and He consecrated and
sanctified it to His Divine use. Look at the water"that is common enough. ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xvi sanctified commonplaces.htm

The Dispensation of the Spirit.
... instruments and obeying a holy will, became transfigured; so that, in his language,
the body becomes a temple of the Holy Ghost, and the meanest faculties, the ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/iii the dispensation of the.htm

On Sleeping in Church
... evil through all degrees and both sexes; for, since sleeping, talking, and laughing
are qualities sufficient to furnish out a critic, the meanest and most ...
/.../swift/three sermons three prayers/on sleeping in church.htm

"That which we have Seen and Heard, Declare we unto You, that Ye ...
... The lowest and meanest amongst you hath this high dignity in your offer, to be fellow
citizens with the saints, with the eminent pillars of the church,"the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon v that which we.htm

Meanest (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Meanest (4 Occurrences). Genesis 33:8 And he
said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And ...
/m/meanest.htm - 7k

Meaneth (9 Occurrences)

/m/meaneth.htm - 9k

Droves (17 Occurrences)
... find him. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Genesis 33:8 And he said, What
meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said ...
/d/droves.htm - 11k

Bondage (55 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Obligation; tie of duty. 3. (a.) Villenage; tenure of land on condition
of doing the meanest services for the owner. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/b/bondage.htm - 28k

Camp (222 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 33:8 And he said, What meanest thou by all
this company which I met? And he said, To find favor in the sight of my lord. ...
/c/camp.htm - 41k

Caesar's (10 Occurrences)
... The domus or familia Caesaris (represented by the Greek oikia Kaisaros) included
the whole of the imperial household, the meanest slaves as well as the most ...
/c/caesar's.htm - 18k

Drove (89 Occurrences)
... and drove. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Genesis 33:8 And he said, What
meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said ...
/d/drove.htm - 34k

Sleepest (5 Occurrences)
... with thee. (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Jonah 1:6 So the shipmaster came to him, and
said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call ...
/s/sleepest.htm - 7k

Ship-master (2 Occurrences)
... stood afar off, (WBS). Jonah 1:6 So the ship-master came to him, and said
to him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy ...
/s/ship-master.htm - 7k

Favour (171 Occurrences)
... (DBY JPS). Genesis 33:8 And he said, What meanest thou by all the drove which I
met? And he said, To find favour in the eyes of my lord. (DBY JPS). ...
/f/favour.htm - 37k

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