Kindness as a Fruit of the Spirit
Kindness (in Greek, chrestotes) is one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit listed by the apostle Paul: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness..." (Galatians 5:22). It is the quality of being gentle, helpful, and attentive toward others, especially toward those who do not deserve it. Colossians 3:12 calls believers to put on "tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering." Kindness thus reflects the way God deals with us: with graciousness and generosity. Romans 2:4 even reveals the kindness of God as an agent of repentance: "Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" God's kindness toward us is therefore not passivity in the face of sin, but an active love that seeks our transformation. Ephesians 2:7 speaks of "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Believers are called to reflect this same kindness in their relationships. This kindness is not mere surface-level pleasantness, but an active kindness expressed through concrete actions of service and attentiveness. It is cultivated by practicing small acts of goodness, by being attentive to those in need, and by asking the Spirit to produce in us the gracious character of Christ. These verses invite us to let the Holy Spirit shape in us a kindness that is true and lasting.
Key verse snapshot
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Bible Verses about Kindness as a Fruit of the Spirit
6 Scripture passages on this theme
Colossians 3:12
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
Deuteronomy 28:4
“Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.”
Deuteronomy 28:11
“And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.”
Deuteronomy 30:9
“And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:”
Ezekiel 47:12
“And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.”
Galatians 5:22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
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Apply These Verses to Your Life
Scripture comes alive when we meditate on it and apply it daily. Read these verses in full context, pray for understanding, and ask God how they speak to your situation with kindness as a fruit of the spirit.
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Category:
- Scripture Guidance