Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers
- Downloads：4934
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-20 13:55:16
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Dane C. Ortlund
- ISBN：1433566133
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Christians know that God loves them， but often think that he is perpetually disappointed and frustrated， maybe even close to giving up on them。 As a result， they focus a lot on what Jesus has done to appease God's wrath for sin。 But how does Jesus Christ actually feel about his people amid all their sins and failures？ This book draws us to Matthew 11， where Jesus describes himself as "gentle and lowly in heart，" longing for his people to find rest in him。 The gospel is primarily about God's heart drawn to his people， a heart of tender love for the sinful and suffering。 These chapters take readers into the depths of Christ's very heart for sinners， diving deep into Bible passages that speak of who Christ is and encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people。 His longing heart for sinners will comfort and sustain readers in their up-and-down lives。
Reviews
Chris Ross
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Great book。
Chris MacLeavy
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Gentle and Lowly is everything that brokenhearted sinners want to know about the heart of Christ。 Ortlund beautifully pulls back the curtain to reveal Christ's never-failing love by dissolving our own preconceived notions of love and replacing them with what Scripture defines love to be。 This definition isn't abstract or intangible though， because love isn't something Christ has—it's who he is。 Gentle and Lowly is immeasurably comforting， powerfully painting a portrait of Christ that both inform Gentle and Lowly is everything that brokenhearted sinners want to know about the heart of Christ。 Ortlund beautifully pulls back the curtain to reveal Christ's never-failing love by dissolving our own preconceived notions of love and replacing them with what Scripture defines love to be。 This definition isn't abstract or intangible though， because love isn't something Christ has—it's who he is。 Gentle and Lowly is immeasurably comforting， powerfully painting a portrait of Christ that both informs the mind and excites the heart。 Read it， rejoice in it， and recommend it。 。。。more
Stephanie Grove
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One of my favorite quotes from the book: We love until we are betrayed。 Jesus continued to the cross despite betrayal。 We love until we are forsaken。 Jesus loved through forsakenness。 We love up to a limit。 Jesus loves to the end。This is a book I could read once a year and learn something new every time。
Heidi Gifford
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Easily one of the best， most helpful books I’ve read and one I will revisit often。
Frances
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”You might know that Christ died and rose again on your behalf to rinse you clean of all your sin; but do you know his deepest heart for you？ Do you live with an awareness not only of his atoning work for your sinfulness but also of his longing heart amid your sinfulness？”One of the most important books I’ve read！ So incredibly encouraging， and one I know I’ll definitely be rereading。 No matter what your relationship with Jesus looks like right now， this book will be a breath of fresh air。
Jo
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I'd give this book six stars if I could。 I'd give this book six stars if I could。 。。。more
Pamela Kilzer
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book， but I do think I will take time to read it again。 It felt like more of a study to me， something to sit and read a chapter here or there or as you go through a book of the Bible。 While the book does have a nice flow， each chapter could be its own mini essay。 As a doer/workaholic/works-based fallen human， it’s hard for me to sit after reading this book and simply reflect。 There’s nothing left to be done， which is the beautiful point Ortlund wanted to drive home。 No I thoroughly enjoyed this book， but I do think I will take time to read it again。 It felt like more of a study to me， something to sit and read a chapter here or there or as you go through a book of the Bible。 While the book does have a nice flow， each chapter could be its own mini essay。 As a doer/workaholic/works-based fallen human， it’s hard for me to sit after reading this book and simply reflect。 There’s nothing left to be done， which is the beautiful point Ortlund wanted to drive home。 No matter where you are in your walk with Christ， I do recommend this book！ 。。。more
Tim
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This work is great， easily one of my top books 0f 2021 and of recent memory。 I highly recommend to all Christians and all who are curious about getting to know who Christ really is。
Andrew Hayes
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Toby Neal wrote the review I wanted to write， so read his。 Short version。。。 this lovely book was one I deeply wanted to be able to recommend， but it’s problems mean I can’t recommend it。Lovely。。。 beautifully written， full of soul nourishing gospel truths on every page that did genuinely warm my heart for Jesus。 But problematic。。。 1。 In his admirable efforts to show Jesus as the friend of sinners， Ortland makes it sound like Jesus is a fan of sin。 He repeatedly says that our sins are what makes u Toby Neal wrote the review I wanted to write， so read his。 Short version。。。 this lovely book was one I deeply wanted to be able to recommend， but it’s problems mean I can’t recommend it。Lovely。。。 beautifully written， full of soul nourishing gospel truths on every page that did genuinely warm my heart for Jesus。 But problematic。。。 1。 In his admirable efforts to show Jesus as the friend of sinners， Ortland makes it sound like Jesus is a fan of sin。 He repeatedly says that our sins are what makes us most lovable to Jesus。 Someone with a clear doctrine of repentance and the way our good deeds genuinely please God would be able to fill in the gaps。 But I think newer Christians might be left thinking that we should sin more so that Jesus will love us more。 E。g in his discussion of Rev 3 he completely omits Jesus’ command to repent。 I know that he was trying to focus on one aspect of Jesus， but the end result is so unbalanced as to be misleading。 2。 I also think the book communicates a slightly funny doctrine of God。 It sounds at times like God has 2 layers。 There are God’s attributes （e。g。 justice， holiness） but then below that is his “deepest heart” which is mercy。 But God does not have 2 layers。 He is entirely consistent。 He is his attributes。 The doctrine of simplicity is the name for this， and Ortland has a paragraph on it which is not entirely clear。 I do think that as God relates to us， his created image bearers， he does prefer to show mercy than to judge， but this is not because of 2 layers in God。 All the language in the book of God’s “deepest heart” was， I thought， confused。。。 and I wondered if there’s a bit of the contemporary “psychological self” influencing Ortland’s doctrine of God - see Carl Truman’s book on the rise of the modern self。 For the discerning reader， a book full of gems but ultimately in light of its shortcomings I was disappointed that I probably can’t recommend this book to the people who would most benefit。 。。。more
Tim Peterson
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I read this book as part of a book club at my church。 I learned so much from this book about Gods nature。 Ortlund does a great job of explaining God’s gentleness throughout the Bible。 It can be so hard to remember that at times and this book really helped to remind me of that。
Paige Redwine
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Each short chapter examines a passage from the Bible describing Christ's heart。 There are so many rich take-aways from this book。 I loved it。 Each short chapter examines a passage from the Bible describing Christ's heart。 There are so many rich take-aways from this book。 I loved it。 。。。more
Erik
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Phenomenal book on the tender heart of Christ for wayward sinners。
Debbie Peterson
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This book is an instant classic。 It’s beautifully written on a solid Biblical foundation。 I was moved to tears severaltimes at Ortlund’s deep exploration of God’s heart of love and mercy for His children。 I want to start all over and read it again。 I want to highlight every page。 I want to buy it for everyone I know。 I want to give it 6 stars。 You may not know it yet but whoever you are， you need to read this book。
Steve
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What can I say， that hasn't been said by others？ This has to one of the best books I have ever read。 It has done my heart good and I'll be going back again and again。 What can I say， that hasn't been said by others？ This has to one of the best books I have ever read。 It has done my heart good and I'll be going back again and again。 。。。more
Bates Whitaker
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Many， many tears from this book。 It met me where I am， and showed me Jesus in that moment。 Truly beautiful。 I am very grateful。
Aaron Endsley
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Absolutely a must readThere were many times when I read this that， that I shed tears， tears of joy。 I learned so much from this book。 I was encouraged。 I am so glad this book was suggested to me。 And it is one I will re read many times。 This book brought me joy and made me think more about what it means that Jesus loves me。 It made me more aware of sins In my life and some of my wrong perceptions of who God is and how He loves me， and that has implications on how I approach and why I fight sin i Absolutely a must readThere were many times when I read this that， that I shed tears， tears of joy。 I learned so much from this book。 I was encouraged。 I am so glad this book was suggested to me。 And it is one I will re read many times。 This book brought me joy and made me think more about what it means that Jesus loves me。 It made me more aware of sins In my life and some of my wrong perceptions of who God is and how He loves me， and that has implications on how I approach and why I fight sin in my life。 This book as it says in the title speaks much on the heart of Jesus towards sinners， as a result of that I felt this book brought much hope， and that where it found that was in the truths of who Jesus is， in the scriptures。 。。。more
Tara
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Especially if you are going through any trial or type of suffering， this is book draws you to the heart of Jesus。 I knew the basic truths of the book in my head， but Ortlund really applies these Biblical truths in a way that reaches your heart so you really KNOW them。 It is also good if you know someone else who is suffering or if you really don't know that much about Jesus other than Bible "stories。" Reading this book felt like a refuge in the Person who is the fullness of compassion。 Especially if you are going through any trial or type of suffering， this is book draws you to the heart of Jesus。 I knew the basic truths of the book in my head， but Ortlund really applies these Biblical truths in a way that reaches your heart so you really KNOW them。 It is also good if you know someone else who is suffering or if you really don't know that much about Jesus other than Bible "stories。" Reading this book felt like a refuge in the Person who is the fullness of compassion。 。。。more
Jill Millsap
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Without a doubt， one of the best books I've ever read！ I've been a Christian for over three decades， but this book challenged me and gave new insights， refreshing my relationship with God and emboldening me to share the book with others。 It is a Christian must-reas。 Without a doubt， one of the best books I've ever read！ I've been a Christian for over three decades， but this book challenged me and gave new insights， refreshing my relationship with God and emboldening me to share the book with others。 It is a Christian must-reas。 。。。more
Grace D
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An encouraging book that looks at the heart of Christ。 It considers many bible passages/verses and quotes many puritans and other Christians。I would recommend this book to mature Christians who have a holistic understanding of God as judge， but also God as merciful Father。 As Ortlund mentions， this book only looks at one attribute/aspect of God and if we're not careful， our views on God can become warped。 An encouraging book that looks at the heart of Christ。 It considers many bible passages/verses and quotes many puritans and other Christians。I would recommend this book to mature Christians who have a holistic understanding of God as judge， but also God as merciful Father。 As Ortlund mentions， this book only looks at one attribute/aspect of God and if we're not careful， our views on God can become warped。 。。。more
Ethan Campbell
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Great book。 Such a good read。 Explaining how the heart of God is drawn toward sinners and sufferers。 The very heart of God is drawn out by the ugliness of our sin。 This book taught me the tender， gracious and gentle heart of God toward broken and depraved humanity。
sincerely
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I have seen more rave reviews for Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund than any other Christian non-fiction on Instagram， ever。 And every single one was right。 And all the people who have said， they had to move through this one slowly。。。they can't find the words to accurately describe it。。。they're still trying to process it - I can see why。 Whew。 WHEW 😭 "Look to Christ。 He deals gently with you。 It's the only way he knows how to be。 He is the high priest to end all high priests。 As long as you fix y I have seen more rave reviews for Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund than any other Christian non-fiction on Instagram， ever。 And every single one was right。 And all the people who have said， they had to move through this one slowly。。。they can't find the words to accurately describe it。。。they're still trying to process it - I can see why。 Whew。 WHEW 😭 "Look to Christ。 He deals gently with you。 It's the only way he knows how to be。 He is the high priest to end all high priests。 As long as you fix your attention on your sin， you will fail to see how you can be safe。 But as long as you look to this high priest， you will fail to see how you can be in danger。 Looking inside ourselves， we can anticipate only harshness from heaven。 Looking out to Christ， we can anticipate only gentleness。" There is a capability in Ortlund's writing that is astounding。 This book isn't a rapid skim through to quickly grasp at some new nugget of truth， rather his writing style leads you to ponder and reflect on the misunderstanding you may have had up until now regarding Christ's heart for sinners， or at the very least your need to refocus and recalibrate your perspective。 Regardless of Ortlund's obvious skill in communicating what we need to hear on this subject， he humbly chose to share his precious word count with greats such as Thomas Goodwin， John Bunyan， and Charles Spurgeon， giving the reader a sense of overwhelming continuity and solidarity in the processing of the incredible truths found within these pages。 I loved that， and I think avid readers will as well。 Gentle and Lowly is one for the ages。 Bravo to Ortland for birthing such a contemplative， humble， helpful and beautiful book。 I am ever increasingly grateful to Crossway for providing me with these complimentary books - it is a joy to read them and a joy to share my sincere thoughts ❤ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+❤ 。。。more
Sarah Nash
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I felt as if God was giving me a great big hug as I read this book！ It helped me see so much of why I do things in my Christian walk are because of this false notion that I am not actually completely forgiven。 When really the gospel truth is this: while we were dead in our sins Christ died for us！ Go read it！ Great book！
Logan
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This book took me awhile to finish because I really wanted to let it sink in。 I am in tears finishing it tonight。 My heart has been weary and burdened for quite some time and this book helped me to understand Christ’s intentions and love toward me more than any other book besides the Bible。 I am eternally grateful it was written。
Sean
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Excellent！
Daniel Mann
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Maybe my favorite book！ Seriously！ It is incredible！
Amanda Geaney
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DNF
Leslie Padgett
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I did not finish this book。 It’s so hard for me to decide to put a book down。 But this one， I just couldn’t finish。 I made it about 2/3 and it just wasn’t saying anything new。 There is nothing particularly offensive about the book at all。 The premise is actually beautiful and I enjoyed the beginning。 It’s just in the style of faith based book I simply cannot read anymore。 It’s extremely doctrinally conservative but acting like it isn’t， it contains a heavy use of language that would appeal only I did not finish this book。 It’s so hard for me to decide to put a book down。 But this one， I just couldn’t finish。 I made it about 2/3 and it just wasn’t saying anything new。 There is nothing particularly offensive about the book at all。 The premise is actually beautiful and I enjoyed the beginning。 It’s just in the style of faith based book I simply cannot read anymore。 It’s extremely doctrinally conservative but acting like it isn’t， it contains a heavy use of language that would appeal only to a very small margin of believers， and has a formality that I don’t think is familiar to any generation after mine。 Neither of my adult kids would read this， and not for lack of “quality” content。 Culture is rapidly changing and we as faith based authors must with it。 It’s definitely written for only very well-churched folk， and that pool is shrinking daily。 I wanted so badly to love this book and was surprised it felt like I was taking a dry class on familiar attributes of God。 。。。more
Christina Mansfield
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I agree with Mike Reeves’ endorsement: “For any feeling bruised， weary， or empty， this is the balm for you。” This book displays Christ’s gentle heart， and for those who tend towards a functional gospel of “doing，” it offers a message of grace that needs repeating。 This will be a classic of personal devotion， written without a to-do list of applications—just an invitation to come to Jesus。
Paul
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This book may be in my top 5 of all times。 Here is what I loved about this book*Strong use of scripture throughout the book*Unending strings of rich quotable text （that works well in our social media world）*Logical building of his case*Reshapes one of the biggest faults we have as people and as God's children*Filled my heart with awe and wonder*drew me into greater worship of our Savior， Jesus*Painted an accurate， but This book may be in my top 5 of all times。 Here is what I loved about this book*Strong use of scripture throughout the book*Unending strings of rich quotable text （that works well in our social media world）*Logical building of his case*Reshapes one of the biggest faults we have as people and as God's children*Filled my heart with awe and wonder*drew me into greater worship of our Savior， Jesus*Painted an accurate， but 。。。more
Mitchell Springfield
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