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Bible verses about kindness
Passages on compassion, tender-heartedness, the kindness of God, and practical instructions to show kindness to others.
What does the Bible say about kindness?
Kindness is listed as a fruit of the Spirit and runs through the character of God himself. The Old Testament calls it lovingkindness. The New Testament places it alongside compassion and forgiveness as essential marks of Christian behaviour.
These verses are practical and direct. They teach that kindness is not weakness but strength expressed gently, and that God's own kindness is the basis for showing it to others.
Key passages
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,"
The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, kindness. If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us.
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
Put on as the elect of God, kindness, humbleness, meekness. We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all.
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
A soft answer turns away wrath. A right cause will be better pleaded with meekness than with passion. Nothing stirs up anger like grievous words.
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
As you would that others should do to you, do likewise to them. These are hard lessons to flesh and blood. But if we are thoroughly grounded in the faith of Christ's love, this will make his commands easy to us.
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. This is the description of a virtuous woman of those days, but the general outlines equally suit every age and nation.
Main takeaways
- Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, not a personality trait.
- God's lovingkindness is a major theme across both Testaments.
- The Bible ties kindness to forgiveness and compassion as a daily practice.
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