#BibleStudy Timeless Truths. The Miracle Tree – Fruit of the Spirit. #6 Goodness






19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23

6. Goodness

Goodness can be defined as “moral excellence, generosity.”
Good people do whatever’s necessary to write a wrong.

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”A
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25-37
A scholar asks, “What must I do…?”
Jesus provides two actions to be done.
However, before Jesus answers, he asks the scholar, “How do you read (see/understand) it?” This is the eternal aspect.

The Big Question comes next.
“Who is my neighbor?”

What separates the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan?
The willingness to GIVE.
  • TIME. The Samaritan stops.
  • ATTENTION. The Samaritan sees what is wrong.
  • FRIENDSHIP. This is a big investment. We all need friends and need to be a friend.


The generosity in Goodness is far more than giving money.

INTEGRITY is another key element of Goodness.
The Good Samaritan showed integrity—doing the right when no one else is looking.

Goodness has the ability to make room for others.
  • The fact that the Priest and the Levite walk by was not shocking to Jesus’ listeners.
  • The fact that the Samaritan stopped—making room in his life—to help a Jew was shocking to Jesus’ listeners.


The key command: “Go and do likewise.” - Do Good!

What evidence of Goodness can you provide from your life?


Thanks to Dr. Scott Peterson for the primary teaching in this post.
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