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Galatians 5:22
“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . kindness, goodness.”
The Holy Spirit produces various fruits in believers, including love, joy, peace, and patience. Continuing his list of the fruit of the Spirit, Paul next identifies kindness and goodness as those character traits cultivated in us by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew Henry comments that kindness is “such a sweetness of temper, and especially towards our inferiors, as disposes us to be affable and courteous, and easy to be entreated when any have wronged us.” Christian kindness is related to patience in that both kindness and patience are seen when we are slow to anger and do not pursue revenge. The Apostle Paul tells us that “love is . . . kind” and is not “rude” (1 Cor. 13:4–5). We see God’s kindness toward mankind in that “he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6:35). Dr. R.C. Sproul notes in his teaching series Developing Christian Character that kindness is born when we understand that we are not merely subjects called to exercise kindness but first and foremost objects of God’s kindness. When we find ourselves treating others rudely or with cruelty, it is likely that we have lost sight of God’s immeasurable kindness to us despite our rebellion, weaknesses, and failures. When we truly understand His kindness toward us, we seek to imitate Him by being kind to others: family, friends, coworkers, strangers, and even our enemies. Like the other fruits of the Spirit, the virtue of kindness grows in us over time. It is ours, Dr. Sproul writes, “only because of the Spirit of God, who melts our wrath, calms our spirits, and makes it possible for us to be kind and its corollary, to be gentle.”
Another fruit of the Spirit is goodness. This is both a moral goodness and a practical goodness that, Matthew Henry writes, “shows itself in a readiness to do good to all as we have opportunity.” Christians who bear the fruit of goodness seek to cultivate personal holiness, and they endeavor to do good to both their neighbors and their enemies (Luke 6:27). It can be said of an individual who practices Christian goodness, “That is a good person.”
All the fruits of the Spirit are actually characteristics of God Himself, with goodness and kindness on special display in how He provides for His creation and exercises His authority for the well-being of others. Indeed, He is “kind in all his works,” and His “abundant goodness” cannot be measured (Ps. 145:7, 17).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Kindness and goodness originate in the character of God, who perfectly displays these characteristics in all His works and ways. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and He is good to all (Ps. 145:9). In an age of increasing cruelty, callousness, and malice—especially online—may we faithfully represent our Lord through our kindness and goodness toward others.
For further study
- Psalm 34:14
- Proverbs 21:21
- Titus 3:4
- Philemon 14
The bible in a year
- Jeremiah 6–8
- 1 Timothy 3