33 Bible Verses about Good Works

You know what has happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

What then? Are we Jews any better off? Certainly not; for we have already charged that all men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks for God.read more.
All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to practice deceit." "The poison of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their ways are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Certainly not! But it was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, so that through the commandment sin might become sinful beyond measure. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand what I do. For I do not do what I want to do, but I do what I hate.read more.
Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. So then, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will to do what is good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want to do; but the evil I do not want to do is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law, at war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. But if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.read more.
And if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

"But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic.read more.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For he is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble in spirit. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead; for to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing. For, "He who would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.read more.
He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

For what credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you patiently endure? But if when you do right and suffer for it you patiently endure, you have favor with God.

For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's will, than for doing wrong.

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For he is kind to the ungrateful and evil.

But by your hardness and your impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. For he "will render to each one according to his works": to those who by patience in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life;read more.
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with everything to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that life which is life indeed.

In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble. If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble, he will be a vessel for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

What good is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?read more.
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believeand shudder. But are you willing to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his deeds in the humility of wisdom.

For, "He who would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may have an abundance for every good work.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which is translated Dorcas). She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

so that you will live a life worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we would walk in them.

If anyone cleanses himself from what is ignoble, he will be a vessel for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the supreme authority, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

And he went on from there, and went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?read more.
Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might destroy him.

He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him closely, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here."read more.
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise and stand here." And he rose and stood there.read more.
Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" And he looked around at them all, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."read more.
And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? Then ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years, be loosed on the Sabbath day from this bond?" When he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man sinned nor his parents sinned. But that the works of God might be revealed in him,read more.
we must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the saliva, and anointed the man's eyes with the clay. And he said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered and said, "A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight. And they asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." Then they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks with you." Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Then some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this, and said to him, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.