The Bible's greatest gift is Jesus and the life He gives: "If thou knewest the gift of God... thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (John 4:10). It calls salvation "the free gift" (Romans 5:15), and teaches that every believer has "gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us" (Romans 12:6).
Gifts are everywhere in December, and so is the question of what they mean. People look up gift verses for a Christmas gift tag or card, a birthday or thank-you note, a lesson on the wise men, or a study on spiritual gifts. The Bible speaks of three kinds: the gift of God Himself in Jesus, the gifts we give one another in love, and the abilities God gives each believer to serve others. These twelve King James verses cover all three. For generosity, see giving; for the Christmas story, see Christmas.
The gift of God
1. John 4:10
"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."
Jesus offered this to a Samaritan woman at a well at noon, someone her neighbours avoided. The gift of God is offered first to people who think they do not qualify. It makes a lovely gift tag line. See water.
2. Romans 5:15
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."
Paul compares Adam's offence with Christ's free gift, and the gift wins: much more the grace of God. The gift is not just the undoing of the damage; it is far greater. See grace.
3. Romans 5:16
"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification."
One sin brought condemnation, but the free gift covers many offences. God's gift is big enough for a whole lifetime of failures, not just one.
4. John 3:27
"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."
John the Baptist said this when his followers were leaving to follow Jesus. Everything we have, including our place and our gifts, is received from heaven. That frees us from envy and from pride; a few verses later John says, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). See surrender.
Gifts given in love
5. Acts 3:6
"Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
Peter had no money to give the lame man at the temple gate, so he gave what he had: healing in Jesus' name. Some of the best gifts are not bought: time, prayer, presence, a skill, a word of hope.
6. Psalms 72:10
"The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts."
A royal psalm about the coming King. Christians have long read it alongside the wise men's gifts in Matthew 2:11, especially at Epiphany (January 6). Matthew never says how many wise men there were or calls them kings; this verse and Isaiah 60:3 helped shape the We Three Kings tradition.
7. Genesis 33:11
"Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it."
Jacob's gift to his brother Esau, twenty years after he cheated him, was part of making peace. A gift can open a door to reconciliation, which makes this a good verse for family gatherings at the holidays. Notice his reason: because I have enough. See brothers.
8. Ecclesiastes 5:19
"Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God."
Being able to enjoy what you have, and to rejoice in your work, is itself the gift of God. Contentment is a gift worth asking for in a season of wish lists. See gratitude.
Your gifts to use
9. 1 Timothy 4:14
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."
Paul tells young Timothy, neglect not the gift that is in thee. A gift can be ignored out of fear, busyness or comparison. Paul lists many kinds of gifts, from teaching and encouraging to giving and showing mercy (Romans 12:6-8), and all of them are grace, not achievement.
10. 1 Corinthians 12:4
"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
Diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. Differences in a church are by design. Paul's picture is a body, where every part needs the others (1 Corinthians 12:12). See unity.
11. 1 Corinthians 12:7
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
To profit withal means for the common good. Spiritual gifts are given to build others up, not to put on a show. If you are not sure what your gift is, start by serving and ask others what they see in you.
12. 2 Timothy 1:6
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."
Stir up pictures fanning embers back into flame. Gifts can grow cold through fear or neglect, and the next verse speaks to exactly that, reminding Timothy that God has not given the spirit of fear. See mind.
A short prayer
Father, thank You for Your unspeakable gift, Jesus, and for the free gift of life in Him. Teach me to give the way You give: freely, joyfully and without keeping score. Help me to enjoy the good gifts You have given me with a thankful heart, and stir up the gifts You have placed in me so that I can serve others well. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Give the Starter Bundle as a Christmas gift · Tuck Scripture Memory Cards into a stocking · Print our free Christmas Bible verse printables for gift tags
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Bible verse for a Christmas gift tag?
Short options: "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15); "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6); and "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). John 4:10 above also fits a small tag if you shorten it to its first line. See Christmas card verses and our free Christmas Bible verse printables.
What are the spiritual gifts in the Bible?
The main lists are Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and 12:28, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Christians differ on the miraculous gifts such as tongues, prophecy and healing: continuationists believe they are active today, while cessationists believe they ended with the apostles. Both sides agree that love is greater than any gift, which Paul calls "a more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). See the fruit of the Spirit.
What did the wise men's gifts mean?
Matthew lists gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). A long Christian tradition reads them as gold for a king, frankincense (used in worship) for God, and myrrh (used in burial) for His death, since myrrh appears again at His burial (John 19:39). The text itself does not explain them, so these are traditional readings rather than statements of Scripture. See offering.
Is it biblical to give gifts at Christmas?
The Bible does not command Christmas gifts, and it does not forbid them. Many Christians give gifts to remember the wise men and God's gift of His Son; others keep the season simple. Paul's principle applies: "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Romans 14:5). Whatever you choose, give cheerfully and within your means. See giving.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about giving · Bible verses about offering · Bible verses about Christmas · Bible verses for Christmas cards · Bible verses about gratitude · Bible verses about stewardship · Bible verses about the fruit of the Spirit · Bible verses about blessing
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