“The Fifth Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness”

By Mark A. Horne

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

If I had to bet a dollar against a doughnut, I believe that everyone would agree of all the things this world needs more, kindness would be at the top of the list. It is a virtue that is lacking in most communities all over the world. Children feel the lack of kindness in school as reports show an increase of bullying. Politicians set terrible precedents in how they speak to and about one another. Marriages suffer, if from nothing else, from the lack of kindness spouses show one another.  And don’t get me started on the topic of kindness in the sphere of social media. As with many of the other fruits, selfishness is what actually grows from the heart in the place of kindness.

Paul knew that the Galatians were having similar issues. They were struggling with how they were treating one another in this gift given by God through the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts.

Sanderson tells us, “The Judaizers teaching was making the Galatians selfish. Since they had to please God by their own works, their personal concerns took precedence over any claim someone else had on their time. Selfishness was leading to all sorts of evil thinking and evil acting.”[1] It can be agreed upon then that we are in as much need of kindness as the Galatians were in their day.

What is kindness? It may seem laughable to hear that question asked, but have you ever thought about what kindness is? It’s interesting that the King James Bible translates the original word with “gentleness.” Is kindness and gentleness that much different? No. Not really.

The Greek word Paul uses for this particular aspect of the fruit is chrestotes. The root adjective is chrestos and means useful, profitable; thus, the noun’s definition is a gracious attitude, and describes the quality of being helpful and beneficial.  Like the other qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit, kindness is an attribute of God. Romans 2:4 states, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Therefore, kindness is a godly trait which the Spirit produces in the surrendered saint. Hendriksen reminds us, “The early Christians by means of [kindness] commended themselves to others.”[2] One might contrast this with the unregenerate sinner as Paul does in Romans 3:12 “All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good (chrestotes, i.e. shows kindness), there is not even one.” Trench says no one has this beautiful grace “pervading and penetrating their whole nature, mellowing all which would have been harsh and austere (and producing)…a goodness which has no edge, no sharpness in it.”[3] That is until the Holy Spirit changes the heart and a “new creature in Christ” is made.

Kindness then is a new way of living out our salvation towards others because that is how we come to understand God’s dealing with us. We exercise this gift as a faint reflection of the elemental kindness manifested by God.  Romans 11:22 states, “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” Jesus even teaches that our kindness is to extend to those who aren’t kind to us. In Luke 6:32 He states, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” We are admonished to become like Him in this respect (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 7:11-17; John 8:1-11 – to only mention a few passages).

There is probably no greater passage that teaches the kindness a believer must display as that of the “good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37). Here a lawyer asks Jesus how one might obtain eternal life. The lawyer gave a reply, but with justification for his own actions. He knew that he had not treated all people kind, at least not equally kind, and so he asks, “who is my neighbor?”

Again, Sanderson gives us some great insight. He states, “It was fashionable in his day to interpret the Old Testament to mean that love for all men equally was not required. In particular, love need not be shown to Samaritans, for they were enemies, of a mixed racial stock and therefore inferior, and perverters of the Old Testament religion, for they received only the five books of Moses (and even them in a corrupted form).”[4]

In the parable Jesus speaks of an unidentified man. He doesn’t address the man’s class, race, heritage, or wealth – for that in the end is the point. This man is in dire need for he has been beaten and robbed, even of his clothes (“stripped him”), and left half-dead. Jesus tells of two of the most religious and wealthiest classes of people who walked past this man on the other side of the road. Fearful of contaminating their own “cleanness” by touching a possible dead man, or gentile they proceed having no regard for the welfare of this unfortunate soul. They were neither kind nor merciful. However, the Samaritan was kind. He went beyond the normal care for this poor person, even risking his own safety in the process. Jesus’ lesson for the lawyer wasn’t “who is my neighbor?” Rather it was and is, to whom will I act as a neighbor? To whom am I willing to be kind towards?

James M. Boice states that kindness “is the divine kindness out of which God acts toward men. It is what the Old Testament means when it declares that ‘God is good,’ as it so frequently does. The Christian is to show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward him.”[5] Kindness reflects love in action. It is kindness that disposes one to do good; not a goodness qualitatively, but a goodness in action and expressed in deed. Kindness is the character of a person that delights in contributing to the happiness of others and cheerfully gratifies their wishes and supplies their wants or alleviates their distresses. Kindness is not just a sweet disposition but is a serving trait. Paul in his famous definition of love writes that “love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

One of the most beautiful illustrations of this volitional aspect of human kindness is King David’s treatment of Mephibosheth (2Sa 9:1ff). Scripture records David’s question — “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” David’s desire was to show “the kindness of God” to King Saul’s family because of his covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan. The young man chosen was Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who “was lame in both feet.” (2Sa 9:13) If David had acted according to justice, he would have condemned Mephibosheth who belonged to a condemned family. But David acted on the basis of kindness, seeking out Mephibosheth, assuring him he had no need to fear, inviting him to live in the king’s palace as family and to eat at the king’s table. This is but a veiled picture of the infinite kindness of God! Indeed every believer has experienced even greater kindness, for we are now children of the King and shall revel in His majestic presence forever! What kindness![6]

As believers we must realize that kindness goes a long way. As Kingdom people we must realize that our kindness may be the greatest testimony of Christ’s love to us and His salvation is for anyone. Our kindness may be the best of salt and the brightest of light to another person. The greater our love for God, the greater our kindness will be towards others. This is a life-long task. May we heed the words of our Lord to the lawyer, “Go, and continue doing likewise” (Luke 10:37).

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[1] Sanderson, John W. The Fruit of the Spirit. Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 1985, 98.

[2] Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004, 224.

[3] Trench, R. C. Synonyms of the New Testament. Hendrickson Publishers. 2000

[4] Ibid. 103.

[5] Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor’s Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing.

[6] Hurt, Bruce. https://www.preceptaustin.org/galatians_522