"This is a book about the heart of Christ." So begins Dane Ortlund in Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Suffers. The controlling question of the book is "Who is Christ?" It is written so that sinners and suffers can understand the heart of Christ towards them even amidst their sins, doubts, weariness, and failures.

In his sermon, "The Heart of Jesus," Charles Spurgeon points out, "Now it is very remarkable that the only passage in the whole New Testament in which the heart of Jesus is distinctly mentioned is the one before us [Matt 11:29]."

Biblically, a person's heart is "the central animating center of all we do." It is not merely "part of who we are but the center of who we are." It is "what defines and directs us."

At His heart, Jesus is "gentle and lowly." This points to the fact that Jesus is by nature "accessible" and "tender." But He is not this way to everyone "indiscriminately." And this point is important. Jesus does takes sin seriously, and He will ultimately bring judgment for sin (Matt 11:21,24). But for those who approach him with a humble and repentant heart recognizing their need and dependence for Christ, He will respond to us in gentleness.

The Puritan Thomas Goodwin summarizes Jesus this way: "I am meek: gentleness is my nature and temper [temperament]."