“The Truth Concerning Anger!” Ephesians 4:25-32 Truth Matters.
The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?
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Transcript of The Law Of Kindness Ephesians 4:32 I. What Is Kindness?
The Law Of KindnessThe Law Of Kindness
Ephesians 4:32
I. What Is Kindness?
1Originally: “good quality” of things
• ‘Fine’ gold: Dn.2:32
• ‘Well-conditioned’ yoke: Mt.11:30
Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165):
as a carpenter, Jesus used to make plows and yokes for oxen.
His kindness reached beyond animals. His kindness reached beyond animals.
Justin Martyr (d. A.D. 165):
as a carpenter, Jesus used to make plows and yokes for oxen.
His kindness reached beyond animals. His kindness reached beyond animals.
1Originally: “good quality” of things
• ‘Fine’ gold: Dn.2:32
• ‘Well-conditioned’ yoke: Mt.11:30
• Wine that is ‘mild’ and ‘sweet’: Lk.5:39
Some food does not ‘agreeagree’ with usSome food does not ‘agreeagree’ with us
2Divine attribute
• Ps.100:5
• Lk.6:35
• 1 Pt.2:3
Benevolent, favorable, merciful
Kind: useful, good, gracious
Unthankful… Lk.17:17
3Attribute of princes & rulers
And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were
with him in Babylon – Jer.52:32
And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were
with him in Babylon – Jer.52:32
Evil-Merodach and Jehoiachin
4Virtue of honest people
• Behaves properly; honest, good morals
• 1 Co.15:33, ‘good’ morals
• NT: describes virtue of –
– Apostles, 2 Co.6:6
– All Christians, Ga.5:22
KINDNESS IS MOST COMMON VIRTUE MENTIONED ON
ANCIENT TOMB INSCRIPTIONS
KINDNESS IS MOST COMMON VIRTUE MENTIONED ON
ANCIENT TOMB INSCRIPTIONS
4Virtue of honest people
“Kindness or sweetness …means both – is a mild, tender, tranquil virtue, prepared to
share its goods; it invites to friendship; it is sweet in its speech, moderate in its morals.
Stoics define it as a virtue spontaneously disposed to doing good. Goodness proper is not far removed from kindness…but it differs in that goodness can be a bit somber, frown-ing in moral austerity, no doubt doing good
and giving what is asked but w/o being sweet and w/o attracting people by its mildness”
“Kindness or sweetness …means both – is a mild, tender, tranquil virtue, prepared to
share its goods; it invites to friendship; it is sweet in its speech, moderate in its morals.
Stoics define it as a virtue spontaneously disposed to doing good. Goodness proper is not far removed from kindness…but it differs in that goodness can be a bit somber, frown-ing in moral austerity, no doubt doing good
and giving what is asked but w/o being sweet and w/o attracting people by its mildness”
5Expression of love
• 1 Co.13:4
– Kindness, sweetness
– No kindness, no love
I. What Is Kindness?
II. What Accompanies Kindness?
1Calm emotions during provocation
1. Goodness: kindness
2. Longsuffering: long-tempered; patient w. people
3. Forbearance: to be patient with, in the sense of enduring possible difficulty
Or do you despise the riches of His good-ness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads
you to repentance? – Ro.2:4
Or do you despise the riches of His good-ness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads
you to repentance? – Ro.2:4
1Calm Emotions During Provocation2Charity
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…
– Tit.3:4
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared…
– Tit.3:4
1. Love of God toward man: “philanthropy”
2. Cyrus & Croesus / Jews
1Calm emotions during provocation2Charity
3Consistency
• Present tense; command
• Our example: God in Christ . . .
– Not on again, off again
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even
as God in Christ forgave you. – Ep.4:32
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even
as God in Christ forgave you. – Ep.4:32
Simon, Jesus, and the woman (Lk.7)
Simon
KIND
His ownLk.6:32
JesusWoman KIND
But lovelove your enemies, do gooddo good, and lendlend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be
great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kindkind to the
unthankful and evil – Lk.6:35
Love of Christians amazed pagans
• “Behold, how they love one another”
• Kindness was largely the character of Jesus’ ministry
– Tertullian:
‘Christus’ became ‘ChrestusChrestus,’and ‘Christiani’ ‘ChrestianiChrestiani’
(‘made up of mildness or kindness’(‘made up of mildness or kindness’)
‘Christus’ became ‘ChrestusChrestus,’and ‘Christiani’ ‘ChrestianiChrestiani’
(‘made up of mildness or kindness’(‘made up of mildness or kindness’)
I. What Is Kindness?
III. Who Needs Kindness?
II. What Accompanies Kindness?
1. SocietySociety
• Lk.10
– Enemies no more
• ““Don’t wait for people to be kind; show Don’t wait for people to be kind; show them how” them how”
“Kindness is the language that the blind can see & the deaf can hear” “Kindness is the language that the blind can see & the deaf can hear”
1. Society
2. FamilyFamily
• Prov.31:26
• DevotedDevoted love as of GodGod to Naomi, Ru.2:20
• DevotedDevoted love as of RuthRuth to Boaz (Ru.3:10)
– Husbands / wives. Ps.52:2
– Parents / children. Col.3:21
““denotes love showing itself in denotes love showing itself in kindness & gracefulness” kindness & gracefulness”
““denotes love showing itself in denotes love showing itself in kindness & gracefulness” kindness & gracefulness”
‘…the law of kindness…’
1. Society2. Family
3. FriendsFriends• Lk.15, false friends
• David, down and out (2 Sm.15-16)
– “What he deserves” (Shimei)
– “What I deserve” (Absalom)
– Friends:
Barzillai:Food,
support
Barzillai:Food,
support
Hushai:Emotional
support
Hushai:Emotional
support
Ittai:15:18-23;
18:2
Ittai:15:18-23;
18:2
1. Newcomer2. David is down
3. Dangers
1. Society2. Family3. Friends
4. ChurchChurch• Ep.4:31-32.
• Ja.4:1-3
AnimosityAnimosity RageRage
ResentmentResentment ThreatsThreats
SlanderSlander MaliceMalice
Kindness removes . . .Kindness removes . . .
1. Society2. Family3. Friends4. Church
5. LostLost• Ep.2:7• Tit.3:4
• Jn.8:1-11
• Col.3:12
Gn.1:26-27, imageEp.5:1Ep.5:1, imitation
Gn.1:26-27, imageEp.5:1Ep.5:1, imitation
He cannot overlook her evil.He can be kind (unlike Phar.)He cannot overlook her evil.He can be kind (unlike Phar.)
Being clothed does not just ‘happen’
Being clothed does not just ‘happen’
The last word• Gal.6:7-8
• Gal.6:10
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop
“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I
can do or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it
for I shall never pass this way again.”
“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I
can do or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it
for I shall never pass this way again.”