Kindness is one of the fruit of the spirit that often gets overlooked. Love, joy, and peace take center stage, and patience, kindness, and goodness get mumbled. What does the Bible say about kindness? Is it mentioned often? Is kindness a sign of weakness? Let’s uncover a few dozen things that bible says about kindness.
What Is The Biblical Definition of Kindness
According to the Bible, kindness is defined as “a favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the loving-kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and free heartedness of the Giver. Kindness, like grace, cannot be earned or ginned up by the efforts of another.”
Acts of Kindness in the Bible
God extended kindness to Joseph when he was falsely imprisoned.
Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison.
The spies showed kindness to Rahab.
Joshua 2:14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.”
The king dramatically repaid previous acts of kindness.
I Samuel 15:6 He warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I’ll sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.
Paul, and his fellow prisoners, found themselves on a strange island. The people of Malta showed great hospitality to Paul and the others.
Acts 28:2 The local people showed us extraordinary kindness. They lit a fire and took us all in since it was raining and cold.
How Does God Want Us To Be Kind
Paul instructs how to live and reflect God’s kindness in his letter to the Colossian church.
Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
Most of us forget what comes after peace. Love, joy, and peace get most of the attention but the other six are vital to our spiritual health.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
God wants us to have a soft spot in our hearts for the poor.
Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.
Other Examples of Kindness In The Bible
God honors the kindness of David.
Isaiah 55:3 Pay attention and come to Me; listen so that you will live. I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.
The Daniel Fast originated with kindness.
Daniel 1:8-9 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. God had granted Daniel kindness and compassion from the chief eunuch.
God will show us kindness throughout all of eternity.
Ephesians 2:6-7 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
David repaid kindness.
I Chronicles 19:2 Then David said, “I’ll show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father.
Kindness Withheld
Kindness doesn’t always move people. The Bible exposes everything. David called out his enemy in this Psalm.
Psalm 109:16-17 For he did not think to show kindness, but pursued the suffering, needy, and brokenhearted in order to put them to death. He loved cursing—let it fall on him; he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.
2 Chronicles 24:22 King Joash didn’t remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him but killed his son. While he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and demand an account.”
God freely forgives and so should we. Here’s a brief article on forgiveness.
Bible Verses About Kindness and Compassion
Let’s dig beneath the surface. Mulligans are not the same thing as kindness. God’s kindness, compassion, and mercy are all a result of the completed work of Calvary.
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?
Romans 11:22 Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you—if you remain in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off.
Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and great in faithful love.
Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Nehemiah 9:31 However, in your abundant compassion, you did not destroy them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and compassionate God.
It’s comforting to know that God will cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Here’s an article I wrote about the redemption of sin.
How Many Times Is Kindness Mentioned in the Bible
Kindness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. Kindness is mentioned forty-four times in the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). The English Standard Version (ESV) mentions kindness twenty-nine times. Kindness makes fifty-six appearances in the New International Version (NIV).
Every translation adequately covers kindness.
How are you on the kindness meter? Are you acting benevolently for no other reason than to imitate God? Or are you holding out for something good to happen as a result?
I need to work on this one.