Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
The apostle Paul wrote this letter to believers in Rome around 57 AD. At this point in the letter, he is addressing people who judge others harshly while committing the same wrongs themselves — essentially calling out moral hypocrisy. God's 'kindness, tolerance and patience' refers to the fact that he doesn't immediately punish every act of wrongdoing — he waits, giving people time to turn back to him. The word 'repentance' in the original Greek means a change of mind that leads to a genuine change of direction in life. Paul's warning is sobering: assuming that God's patience means he is okay with what you are doing is a serious and dangerous mistake.
God, forgive me for the times I've treated your patience like permission. Your kindness is not indifference — it's mercy on loan, holding the door open longer than I deserve. Give me the honesty to walk through it while it's still open, and the courage to actually change. Amen.
Picture someone who has been getting away with something for years. No fallout, no consequences, no clear signal that anything is wrong. It's easy to read that silence as permission — as God's implicit approval stamped on whatever you're doing. Paul saw this pattern and named it plainly: you're reading his patience backwards. His silence isn't a green light. It's an open door. This verse has a way of making you squirm if you let it. Is there something you've drifted into — a habit, a relationship, a slow compromise you've never fully named — that you've quietly told yourself is fine because nothing bad has happened yet? God's kindness isn't apathy. It's the most patient, persistent love you will ever encounter, holding the door open longer than you deserve. But doors open for a reason. He's not waiting for you to get caught. He's waiting for you to come home.
Paul says showing 'contempt' for God's kindness means failing to let it lead you toward repentance — what does contempt for grace actually look like in a person's everyday life?
Have you ever mistaken God's patience — or a lack of immediate consequences — as approval for something you were doing? What helped you see it differently?
Paul argues that even moral, religious people can show contempt for grace by judging others while quietly excusing themselves — how does self-righteousness become its own barrier to real change?
How does the way you respond to other people's failures reflect or distort your understanding of God's patience with you?
What is one specific thing in your life right now that God's kindness might be gently calling you to turn away from — and what has kept you from responding?
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Isaiah 30:18
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 9:13
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering , and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exodus 34:6
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:1
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11
Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?
AMP
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
ESV
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?
NASB
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
NIV
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
NKJV
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
NLT
Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
MSG