What Does the Bible Say About Kindness?
Kindness is one of the most celebrated and commanded virtues in the Bible, rooted deeply in God’s own character and expected of His people. While modern ideas of kindness may revolve around politeness or vague positivity, the biblical vision is far richer—often tied to covenant loyalty, mercy, and practical compassion.
This article explores what the Bible teaches about kindness, why it matters, how it's demonstrated by God and His people, and how believers are called to embody it.
1. Kindness Begins with God’s Own Character
In the Bible, kindness is not just a human virtue—it flows from the very heart of God. The Hebrew word chesed, often translated as “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness,” reflects God's faithful, covenantal kindness to His people. Psalm 145:17 declares, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”
God’s kindness is seen in His patience with Israel, His compassion toward the brokenhearted, and His provision even for the undeserving. In the New Testament, Paul reminds us in Titus 3:4–5 that “when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…” The kindness of God is not passive; it is redemptive and transformative.
2. The Bible Commands Kindness Among Believers
Throughout the Bible, God commands His people to practice kindness—not as an optional trait, but as a reflection of His own nature. Micah 6:8 calls us to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” Kindness is also listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, showing that a Spirit-filled life will naturally express kindness.
In Ephesians 4:32, Paul urges Christians: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Here, kindness is linked with forgiveness and humility. It involves more than being nice—it means actively seeking the good of others, especially when it costs us something.
3. Kindness Has Practical and Relational Power
Biblical kindness is often expressed in action. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), Jesus highlights the practical side of kindness—binding wounds, covering costs, and helping someone in need without expecting anything in return.
The Bible also shows kindness as a healing balm in human relationships. Proverbs 19:22 says, “What is desired in a man is kindness.” Whether in family life, church community, or public witness, kindness disarms hostility, builds trust, and strengthens unity. The apostle Paul even says in Romans 2:4 that it is “God’s kindness [that] is meant to lead you to repentance.”
4. Kindness Is a Witness to the World
One of the most powerful apologetics for the Christian faith is how believers treat others. Jesus tells His disciples in Luke 6:35 to “love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great… for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”
Kindness to those who don’t deserve it mirrors the grace of God in the Gospel. The early church grew in part because of its radical kindness—feeding the poor, caring for the sick, and embracing orphans and widows. When Christians show kindness, they reflect the generosity and mercy of the God they serve.
5. Gospel Kindness Transforms Us from the Inside Out
According to the Bible, kindness isn’t something we muster by human effort. It is the supernatural outworking of a changed heart. As recipients of divine kindness, we are called to extend that same compassion to others. This Gospel-shaped kindness isn’t sentimental or selective—it’s generous, sacrificial, and rooted in grace.
In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones… kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Christians are not merely called to acts of kindness but to a life clothed in it—a new nature transformed by the kindness of Christ.
Conclusion: What the Bible Says About Kindness Matters
The Bible presents kindness as a core virtue that flows from God’s heart, transforms His people, and bears witness to the watching world. True kindness is not random or superficial—it is deliberate, covenantal, and sacrificial. It brings healing where there is pain, light where there is darkness, and peace where there is division.
And in the Gospel, we see the ultimate kindness: the Son of God giving His life for sinners. When Christians embrace this truth, their lives will overflow with the kind of kindness that reflects the love and justice of God.
Bible verses about kindness:
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Titus 3:4–5 – “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.”
Proverbs 19:22 – “What is desirable in a person is kindness, and it is better to be a poor person than a liar.”
Galatians 5:22–23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Romans 2:4 – “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.”
2 Samuel 9:7 – “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant.”
