Grudges are harmful sentiments that can impact one’s spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. Understanding what the Bible says about grudges can help individuals cultivate forgiveness and promote healing. According to the Bible, holding grudges goes against the teachings of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is important to note that grudges can lead to feelings of bitterness, resentment, and wrath, which can hinder spiritual growth and hinder peace of mind.
What the Bible Says About Grudges
The Bible teaches that individuals should let go of grudges and foster an attitude of forgiveness. The importance of forgiveness is a recurring theme in the Bible. The philosophy is that holding grudges can lead to spiritual burden. The Bible encourages believers to seek reconciliation with those they have disputes with. It asserts that releasing grudges can lighten one’s emotional load and open the door to meaningful relationships and peace.
Why Forgiveness Matters According to The Bible
According to the Bible, forgiveness is a crucial aspect of exhibiting love and understanding towards others. It advocates for the dismissal of grudges as a means of cultivating a forgiving heart, mirroring God’s mercy and grace. It reminds us that everyone makes mistakes, so forgiveness is crucial for maintaining peace and love amongst individuals. The Bible suggests that, in practicing forgiveness, individuals can let go of any bitterness and experience more peace and joy in their lives.
Who Benefits from Letting Go of Grudges
Everyone stands to benefit from letting go of grudges, according to the Bible. On an individual level, letting go of grudges can promote spiritual growth, enhance mental well-being, and improve interpersonal relationships. On a collective level, the practice of forgiveness and letting go of grudges can lead to healthier communities marked by trust, unity, and peace. The Bible teaches that forgiveness has profound benefits for the forgiver, the forgiven, and the wider community.
When to Seek Forgiveness
The Bible advocates for seeking forgiveness promptly. There’s no specified timing for forgiveness in the Bible. Rather, it encourages believers to forgive as soon as they realize they hold a grudge. Letting go of bitterness and resentment promotes immediate inner peace and self-growth. The Bible encourages individuals to make peace with others before offering gifts at the altar, implying the importance of immediate reconciliation.
Where to Find Courage to Forgive
The Bible is a valuable resource for finding the courage to forgive. It provides guidance on how to let go of grudges, promote peace, and cultivate forgiveness. The Bible encourages believers to be influenced by the Holy Spirit to foster love, patience, kindness, and goodness. Believers are consoled that God understands their struggles with forgiveness and assures them of His unwavering support. Therefore, the teachings in the Bible provide both the guidance and the reassurance needed for forgiveness and dismissing grudges.
Below is the full list of bible verses on grudges (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Grudges
Ephesians 4:31-32
“31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Letting Go Gossip Criticism
Leviticus 19:18
“18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
Related Themes: Bullying Revenge Bitterness Love Morality
Matthew 6:14-15
“14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Bitterness Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32
“32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Forgiveness Kindness Bitterness Reconciliation
Romans 12:17-21
“17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Revenge Arguing Persecution Reputation
Mark 11:25
“25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Related Themes: Forgiveness Bitterness Trespassing Unforgiveness Revenge
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
Ephesians 4:26
“26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Related Themes: Bitterness Frustration Anger Letting Go
Proverbs 10:12
“12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Love Hate Forgiveness Strife
Luke 6:31
“31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
Related Themes: Gossip Business Judging Others Love Friendship
Luke 17:3-4
“3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Repentance Criticism Bitterness
Galatians 5:16-26
“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Related Themes: Lust Sin Holy Spirit Indulgence
Proverbs 19:11
“11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”
Related Themes: Frustration Bitterness Arguing Anger Offense
James 4:1
“1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
Related Themes: Lust Complaining Arguing
Proverbs 24:29
“29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.”
Related Themes: Revenge Retribution Vindictiveness
Ephesians 4:31
“31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
Related Themes: Bitterness Letting Go Gossip Criticism
1 John 4:11
“11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
Related Themes: Love Community Judging Others
Romans 12:2
“2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Related Themes: Complaining Lust Creativity Attitude Business
Titus 3:3
“3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
Related Themes: Lust Indulgence Bitterness Testimony Envy
Romans 14:10-12
“10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
Related Themes: Criticism Morality Judging Others Morals Opinions
Ephesians 4:26-27
“26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:27 Neither give place to the devil.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Frustration Anger Letting Go
Proverbs 20:22
“22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Revenge Hate Vindictiveness Retribution
Proverbs 16:28
“28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Related Themes: Gossip Criticism Friendship Strife Morals
Matthew 5:43-48
“43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Related Themes: Bullying Strangers Benevolence Morality Love
Matthew 18:15-17
“15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Criticism Resolving Conflict Gossip
Proverbs 15:1
“1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Related Themes: Arguing Criticism Bitterness Criticism Gossip
Colossians 3:7-8
“7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
James 1:19-20
“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Related Themes: Criticism Bitterness Frustration Patience Frustration
Colossians 3:12-14
“12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
Related Themes: Humility Patience Criticism Kindness Patience
Romans 13:8-10
“8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
