What does the Bible say about being kind? So much! The stories and verses about kindness woven throughout the Bible reveal its deep meanings and its important effects. In defining kindness, we tend to recall examples of people being well-mannered, thoughtful, or nice. But, the Bible tells us God intends for kindness to be all that AND MORE. Biblical kindness is a commitment from the heart to follow God’s loving, compassionate, and merciful example in our own lives.
Throughout Scripture, God teaches us about nurturing his kindness in our own character. Some of his instructions about extending kindness include: offering forgiveness, treating others the way we want to be treated, serving where needed, and encouraging others. He graciously illustrates these lessons for us in the life story of Jesus Christ.
As the perfect example of a life demonstrating kindness, Jesus reached out to the world around him with patience, gentleness, affection, and humility. He noticed the forgotten, healed the sick, fed the hungry, forgave criminals, celebrated with the merry, and weeped with the grieving. In the ultimate act of loving kindness, he sacrificed himself to save us all from sin and death. These examples are just a taste of the Lord’s kindness. See how far they stretch beyond being nice and polite?!
How do we even begin developing our character into the likeness of Jesus? Reading and exploring what the Bible says about being kind is a good place to start. We also ask God to help us become increasingly more aware of the needs around us, better listeners, tender-hearted, eager to help, and bold in displaying his love. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and so it is through his power and guidance that we will discover our own unique ways of being kind, both at home and out in the world.
With each new day, we receive God-given opportunities to practice being kind. These opportunities work at shaping our own character for the better, improving someone’s life, and pointing others toward Christ. May we stay alert, mindful of possibilities, and seize every day with kindness!
Take a deeper dive into defining kindness by studying these verses:
30 Inspiring Bible Verses about Being Kind
(1) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
(2) Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1 John 3:18
(3) Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
(4) Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9
(5) Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.
Proverbs 11:17
(6) Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Luke 6:31
(7) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23
(8) Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
(9) If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Romans 12:8
(10) In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16
(11) So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:34-35
(12) No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
(13) When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
Proverbs 31:26
(14) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
(15) Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Proverbs 12:25
(16) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Galatians 6:9
(17) Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
Proverbs 3:3
(18) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25:34-40
(19) And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Acts 20:35
(20) If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?
1 John 3:17
(21) Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24
(22) A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.
2 Timothy 2:24
(23) We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Romans 15:2
(24) We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
2 Corinthians 6:6
(25) This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.
Zechariah 7:9
(26) Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Hebrews 13:2
(27) Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Psalm 112:5
(28) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7
(29) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Philippians 2:3-4
(30) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14
Press on in faith my friends ~Jamie
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