Ephesians 4:32

KJV

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} be {G1096} ye kind {G5543} one to another {G1519}{G240}, tenderhearted {G2155}, forgiving {G5483} one another {G1438}, even as {G2531}{G2532} God {G2316} for {G1722} Christ's {G5547} sake {G1722} hath forgiven {G5483} you {G5213}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.

Berean Standard Bible

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

American Standard Version

and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ephesians 4:32 serves as a pivotal exhortation within Paul's letter, encapsulating the transformed conduct expected of believers in Christ. It calls for Christians to embody kindness, tenderheartedness, and mutual forgiveness, directly mirroring the profound and gracious forgiveness they have received from God through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This verse not only outlines essential virtues for healthy Christian community but also grounds these virtues in the theological reality of divine grace, making God's forgiveness the ultimate standard and motivation for human interaction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes a significant section in Ephesians (chapters 4:1-32) where Paul transitions from foundational theological truths (chapters 1-3) to practical ethical living. Having established the unity of the Spirit and the diverse gifts within the body of Christ in [Ephesians 4:1-16](/ephesians/4-1-16 "Ephesians 4:1-16 - Unity and Growth in the Body of Christ"), Paul then urges believers to "walk not as other Gentiles walk" ([Ephesians 4:17](/ephesians/4-17 "Ephesians 4:17 - Do Not Walk as the Gentiles")) but to "put off the old man" and "put on the new man" ([Ephesians 4:22-24](/ephesians/4-22-24 "Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting Off the Old, Putting On the New")). The immediate preceding verse, [Ephesians 4:31](/ephesians/4-31 "Ephesians 4:31 - Putting Away Bitterness"), lists negative vices—bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice—that believers must discard. Verse 32 then presents the positive, Christ-like virtues that are to replace these destructive behaviors, offering a direct antithesis and a path forward for redeemed living.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus, a prominent Roman city in Asia Minor, known for its diverse religious practices, including the worship of Artemis, and a strong presence of magic and paganism. The early Christian community in Ephesus, composed of both Jewish and Gentile converts, faced challenges of internal cohesion and external pressures. The cultural norms often glorified self-assertion, vengeance, and a lack of compassion for outsiders. Paul's emphasis on kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness directly challenged these prevailing societal values, calling believers to embody a counter-cultural ethic rooted in the radical grace of God. This ethical transformation was crucial for the nascent church to distinguish itself and to live out its new identity in Christ amidst a hostile or indifferent world.

* **Key Themes:** Ephesians 4:32 deeply connects to several overarching themes in the letter. Firstly, the theme of **Christian Unity** is paramount, as these virtues are essential for maintaining the "unity of the Spirit" ([Ephesians 4:3](/ephesians/4-3 "Ephesians 4:3 - Unity of the Spirit")) and fostering harmonious relationships within the body of Christ. Secondly, it highlights **Sanctification and Ethical Transformation**, emphasizing that salvation is not merely a legal declaration but a call to live a new life characterized by God's own moral attributes. Believers are called to "be imitators of God" ([Ephesians 5:1](/ephesians/5-1 "Ephesians 5:1 - Imitators of God")), and this verse provides concrete examples of what that imitation looks like. Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Primacy of Divine Grace and Forgiveness**, positioning God's forgiveness in Christ as the foundational motivation and standard for human forgiveness, thereby linking practical ethics directly to core theological truths.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **kind (Greek, _chrēstós_):** This word signifies being useful, good, gracious, and benevolent. It describes a disposition that is pleasant, gentle, and beneficial to others, reflecting moral excellence and a helpful nature. It's the opposite of harshness or severity.
* **tenderhearted (Greek, _eúsplanchnos_):** Literally meaning "well-compassioned" or "having good bowels," this term conveys deep compassion, mercy, and sympathy. In ancient thought, the bowels were considered the seat of emotions, making "tenderhearted" a powerful expression of profound inner empathy, pity, and a readiness to feel for others.
* **forgiving (Greek, _charízomai_):** This verb means "to grant as a favor," "to show grace," "to pardon freely," or "to give as a gift." It is closely related to the Greek word for grace (_charis_), emphasizing that forgiveness is a gratuitous act, often extended without merit, mirroring God's own unmerited grace towards humanity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And be ye kind one to another":** This is an active command for believers to cultivate and display a disposition of goodness, benevolence, and gentleness in their interactions within the Christian community. It calls for intentional acts of graciousness rather than passive indifference.
* **"tenderhearted":** This phrase further specifies the internal disposition that should accompany kindness. It calls for deep empathy, compassion, and a willingness to feel the pain or struggles of others, leading to merciful actions. It's about having a heart that is soft and responsive to human need and suffering.
* **"forgiving one another":** This is a direct imperative to practice mutual pardon. It implies letting go of grievances, resentment, and the desire for retribution, extending grace to fellow believers who have wronged them, just as God has extended grace.
* **"even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you":** This clause provides both the ultimate motivation and the standard for the preceding commands. The "even as" (καθώς, _kathōs_) indicates a direct parallel and a causal link. Our capacity and obligation to forgive others are rooted in the profound and undeserved forgiveness we have received from God, which was made possible solely "in Christ" or "through Christ's work on the cross." This divine act of forgiveness sets the precedent and empowers the believer's ability to forgive.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs **Parallelism** and **Analogy** in this verse. The structure presents a clear antithesis to the negative vices listed in [Ephesians 4:31](/ephesians/4-31 "Ephesians 4:31 - Putting Away Bitterness"), directly contrasting "bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking" with "kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiving." The most prominent device is **Analogy**, specifically a **Divine Analogy**, where human behavior is explicitly modeled after God's character and action. The phrase "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" serves as the powerful standard and motivation, drawing a direct parallel between God's boundless grace and the grace believers are called to extend to one another. This analogy elevates the ethical commands from mere humanistic ideals to divinely mandated and empowered virtues, grounding them in the very nature of God's redemptive work.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ephesians 4:32 profoundly connects the practical outworking of Christian ethics to the core of God's redemptive plan. It underscores that true transformation in Christ involves not only a change in status but also a radical change in character and conduct, mirroring the very attributes of God. The ability to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving is not a natural human capacity, but a supernatural outflow of the divine forgiveness received through Christ. This verse highlights the participatory nature of the Christian life, where believers are called to embody the grace they have experienced, becoming agents of reconciliation and compassion in a fallen world. It emphasizes that our vertical relationship with God profoundly impacts our horizontal relationships with others, making forgiveness a hallmark of authentic discipleship.

* [Colossians 3:13](/colossians/3-13 "Colossians 3:13 - Forgive One Another")
* [Matthew 6:14-15](/matthew/6-14-15 "Matthew 6:14-15 - Forgiveness and Prayer")
* [Luke 6:36](/luke/6-36 "Luke 6:36 - Be Merciful")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ephesians 4:32 presents a profound challenge and a liberating truth for every believer. In a world often characterized by harshness, unforgiveness, and self-preservation, this verse calls us to embody a counter-cultural ethic rooted in divine grace. It reminds us that our capacity to extend kindness, compassion, and pardon to others flows directly from the immense, undeserved forgiveness we have received from God through Christ. This isn't merely a suggestion but an imperative for those who claim to be new creations in Christ. Practicing these virtues transforms not only our individual lives but also the fabric of our families, churches, and communities, fostering environments of healing, unity, and love. It compels us to confront our own tendencies toward bitterness and resentment, replacing them with the radical grace that defines God's character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific relationships or situations do I find it most challenging to be kind, tenderhearted, or forgiving?**
* **How does reflecting on God's forgiveness of my own sins empower me to extend forgiveness to others, especially when it feels undeserved?**
* **What practical steps can I take this week to intentionally demonstrate kindness and tenderheartedness to someone in my sphere of influence?**

### FAQ

**What does "for Christ's sake" mean in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "for Christ's sake" (KJV, from the Greek _en Christō_ or _dia Christon_ in other manuscripts, meaning "in Christ" or "through Christ") highlights the foundational theological truth that God's forgiveness of humanity is not arbitrary but is entirely mediated and made possible through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. It means that God's forgiveness is granted on account of what Christ accomplished on the cross—His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection. It is "in Christ" that believers are reconciled to God and receive pardon for their sins, as seen in passages like [Romans 3:24-26](/romans/3-24-26 "Romans 3:24-26 - Justification by Grace Through Faith") and [2 Corinthians 5:19](/2_corinthians/5-19 "2 Corinthians 5:19 - God Was in Christ Reconciling the World"). Therefore, when we are called to forgive "for Christ's sake," it means our forgiveness is empowered by, modeled after, and rooted in the very same divine act of grace that saved us.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ephesians 4:32 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness that believers are called to demonstrate. Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's character, showing us what divine kindness and compassion truly look like in human form. His entire ministry was marked by tenderheartedness towards the sick, the marginalized, and the lost, as seen in His healing miracles and His compassion for the crowds ([Matthew 9:36](/matthew/9-36 "Matthew 9:36 - Jesus Has Compassion on the Crowds")). Most significantly, Jesus' death on the cross is the supreme act of forgiveness, where God, "for Christ's sake," extended pardon to humanity, reconciling a fallen world to Himself ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19-20 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). The call to "forgive one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" is therefore a call to participate in the very nature of Christ's redemptive work, allowing His self-sacrificial love and boundless grace to flow through us, transforming our relationships and making us living reflections of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Colossians 3:12

¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:13

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

Matthew 6:14

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:15

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

1 Peter 3:8

¶ Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:

1 Peter 3:9

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.