What does Ephesians 4:32 mean?
“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Quick answer
‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’—forgiven people forgive.
What it means
Paul roots kindness and forgiveness in the gospel: we forgive because we have been forgiven by God in Christ.
The cross is both the motive and the measure—‘just as’ God forgave us, lavishly and freely.
Common questions
Why should I forgive others?
Because God forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 makes God’s forgiveness the model and motive for forgiving others.
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Original BibleDawn explanation · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.