Colossians 3:12 - Meaning and Application

The apostle now urges believers to mutual love and compassion: “Put on therefore bowels of mercy” (Colossians 3:12). We must not only put off anger and rage, as in Colossians 3:8, but also put on compassion and kindness. It is not enough to stop doing harm, we must also learn to do good. We should not merely avoid hurting others, but do all the good we can for everyone.

The reason behind this appeal is deeply moving: “Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved.” Those who are holy are God’s chosen people, and those whom God has chosen and made holy are loved by him. They should live in a way that matches who they are, so they do not lose the honor of their holiness or the comfort of being chosen and loved. Those who are holy toward God should also be humble and loving toward all people.

What we are to put on includes several things. First is compassion toward those who are suffering: “bowels of mercy,” which means the tenderest mercy. Those who have received so much mercy from God should show mercy to all who need it. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

Second is kindness toward our friends and those who love us. A gracious and courteous spirit fits God’s chosen people. The gospel does more than calm the mind, it softens it and makes people more pleasant to live with. It also promotes friendship among people, not only peace with God.

Third is humility of mind, both in submitting to those above us and in being considerate toward those below us. We need more than a humble outward manner, we need a humble heart. “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Fourth is meekness toward those who have annoyed us or wronged us in some way. We must not let ourselves be carried away into rude or sinful behavior because of insult or neglect. Instead, we should wisely restrain our anger and patiently endure the anger of others.

Fifth is long-suffering toward those who keep provoking us. “Love is patient” as well as kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). Many people can bear a short annoyance, but grow tired when it lasts. Yet we must endure both human injuries and the blows of God’s providence. Since God is patient with us in spite of all our offenses against him, we should show the same patience toward others.

Sixth is mutual forbearance, because we all have weaknesses and faults: “bearing with one another.” Each of us has something that others must put up with, and that is a good reason to bear with what bothers us in them. We need the same kindness from others that we are required to give them.

Seventh is a readiness to forgive wrongs: “forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another.” While we live in this world, with so much sin in our hearts and so many causes of conflict, quarrels will sometimes happen, even among God’s chosen people. Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement that separated them (Acts 15:39), and Paul and Peter also had conflict (Galatians 2:14). Still, it is our duty to forgive one another in such cases, not to hold a grudge, but to let the insult go. The reason is clear: “even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.”

Knowing that Christ has forgiven us so many sins is a strong reason to forgive others. His power to forgive sins shows his divine authority, and his example is one we must follow if we want forgiveness ourselves. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

To carry all this out, we are told to do several things. First, we must clothe ourselves with love: “Above all things put on charity” (Colossians 3:14). This means love should be our outer garment, our badge, and the mark that sets us apart. It is also the chief thing, the sum of all that belongs to our duty toward one another. Faith is the foundation, and love is the top stone. Love is the bond of perfectness, the tie that holds happy society together.

Second, we must let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). This means either the peace we have with God, and the comforting sense of his favor, or a peaceful spirit among ourselves. It is called the peace of God because God works it in those who belong to him. “The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace” (Romans 14:17). This peace should govern our hearts, like an umpire settling disputes among us. We were called to this peace in one body, so we should live at peace with one another, as the parts of a body do. To keep this peaceful spirit alive, we must be thankful. Thanksgiving is so sweet and pleasant before God that it helps make us sweet and pleasant toward others.

Third, we must let the word of Christ live in us richly (Colossians 3:16). The gospel is Christ’s word, given to us, but that is not enough. It must dwell in us, like the master of a house who directs everything under his roof. We should take our guidance from it, and also receive from it our strength, grace, and comfort in due time. It must stay close to us in every situation and shape the way we live. We must know it well and use it for our good (Job 5:27). It must dwell in us richly, not just barely. Many people have the word in them, but only in a weak way, with little power over their lives. The soul thrives when God’s word dwells richly in us, when we are full of Scripture and the grace of Christ. And this must be done in wisdom. Wisdom’s work is to apply what we know to ourselves. The word of Christ must not live in us only as ideas or study, but as wisdom that makes us good Christians and helps us live as children of wisdom.

Fourth, we must teach and warn one another. This helps us grow in grace, because we sharpen ourselves by stirring up others and improve our knowledge by sharing it for their good.

We should warn and encourage one another with psalms and hymns. Singing psalms is part of gospel worship. The phrase includes David’s Psalms, along with spiritual hymns and songs drawn from Scripture and suited to special occasions, in place of the filthy and immoral songs used in idol worship. These lines show that sacred poetry has a rightful place and can greatly help people grow.

But when we sing psalms, we do not really sing unless we do so with grace in our hearts. That means we must be rightly moved by what we sing, and join in with real devotion and understanding. Singing psalms is not only for praise, it is also for teaching. We should use it to stir ourselves up, encourage one another, and pass along instruction.

Everything must be done in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:17). Whatever we do in word or deed, we should do it by Christ’s command and under his authority, relying on his strength, and aiming at his glory. We also depend on his worthiness for God to accept what is good in us and forgive what is faulty.

We should give thanks in all things. Whatever we do, we must keep giving thanks, as in (Ephesians 5:20), giving thanks always for everything. The Lord Jesus is the mediator, that is, the one who brings us to God, for our praises as well as our prayers. We give thanks to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as in (Ephesians 5:20). Those who do all things in Christ’s name will always have reason to thank God the Father.