Bible answers
What does the Bible say about kindness?
The Bible treats kindness as part of God’s own character before it is ever a command. God is kind even to the ungrateful, and his kindness in Christ is how we are saved. Scripture then asks his people to be kind in return: tenderhearted, forgiving, generous to the poor, and good even to enemies. Kindness is listed as fruit of the Spirit, which means it grows from a changed heart rather than from trying harder to be nice.
Bible verses about kindness
- Micah 6:8God seeks justice, a love of kindness, and a humble walk with him.
- Ephesians 4:32Be kind and tenderhearted, forgiving each other as God forgave you.
- Colossians 3:12Clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Luke 6:35Love your enemies and do good, because God is kind to the ungrateful.
- Galatians 5:22-23Kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit.
- Titus 3:4-5God saved us through his kindness and mercy, not our works.
- Proverbs 19:17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to Yahweh.
- Proverbs 11:17A kind person does good to himself; cruelty brings trouble.
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God also forgave you in Christ.Kindness can sound soft, like a manners lesson. In Scripture it is closer to steadfast goodwill: choosing someone’s good when you do not have to. Paul ties it to forgiveness, because the hardest kindness is the one shown to someone who has hurt you. Jesus goes further and points to the Father, who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. That is the pattern: kindness that does not wait to be earned.
It also starts with being on the receiving end. Titus says the kindness of God our Savior appeared, and he saved us because of his mercy, not our record. People who know they were treated kindly when they did not deserve it find it easier to pass on. Practically, kindness is small and specific. It is a gentle answer, a meal brought over, a debt forgiven, attention given to someone who is easy to overlook. Pick one of those today.
Your version of the question
Still wondering about your situation? Ask it.
Lumin answers in a few sentences and names the passages it rests on. Each verse it cites is checked and shown in full below the answer, so you can read it yourself.
Keep going
Keep asking in the Lumin app.Keep this conversation going on the web.
The same short answers with the verse beside each one, plus your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible to read in.
Make a free Lumin account and this conversation opens in Ask, ready for your next question. Your saved questions, prayer, and the whole Bible come with it.
People also ask
- What does the Bible say about being kind to others?
- Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving because God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). Clothe yourself with kindness (Colossians 3:12), be kind to the poor (Proverbs 19:17), and do good even to enemies, as God is kind to the ungrateful (Luke 6:35).
- Is kindness a fruit of the Spirit?
- Yes. Galatians 5:22-23 lists love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as the fruit of the Spirit. It grows as the Spirit changes a person, not by effort alone.
- What is the most famous Bible verse about kindness?
- Ephesians 4:32 is the best known: be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving each other just as God also forgave you in Christ. Micah 6:8, which asks us to love kindness, is close behind.
- Does being kind mean being a pushover?
- No. Jesus was kind and also told hard truths, and Scripture asks for kindness alongside justice (Micah 6:8). Kindness seeks the other person’s real good, which sometimes means saying no or setting a limit gently.