Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5889 ingratitude

The absence of due thankfulness. Scripture gives examples of human ingratitude to God for all the blessings and gifts which he provides for them. It is especially important for Christians to give thanks to God.

The ingratitude of human beings to one another

Examples of ingratitude

Genesis 40:23 the chief butler towards Joseph; Numbers 16:13-14 Dathan and Abiram to Moses

The Israelites to Gideon and his family:

Judges 8:35; Judges 9:18 1 Samuel 25:21 Nabal to David; 2 Chronicles 24:22 King Joash to Jehoiada; Ecclesiastes 9:15 the citizens to the wise man who delivered a city

Returning evil for good

Psalm 35:12 See also Genesis 44:4; Psalm 109:5; Proverbs 17:13; Jeremiah 18:20

Ingratitude to God

It was in evidence at the fall

Genesis 3:2-3 Eve showed ingratitude for God's provision by not believing him.

It is part of fallen human nature

Romans 1:21

It is a sign of the last days

See also 2 Timothy 3:2

Israel's repeated ingratitude to the LORD

For deliverance from Egypt:

Exodus 16:3,8; Exodus 17:7; Hebrews 3:7-9,15; Psalm 95:7-9 Deuteronomy 32:6 They were rebuked by Moses for the way they repaid God; 1 Samuel 8:7-8 They rejected the LORD when they rejected Samuel; Nehemiah 9:26 They rejected God's law and killed his prophets.

Ingratitude compared with other sins

Becoming like animals

Isaiah 1:3

Becoming like prostitutes

Ezekiel 16:17-19

Becoming like an adulterous wife

Hosea 2:8; Hosea 4:12; Hosea 5:4; Hosea 9:1

Jesus Christ exposed ingratitude

Luke 17:15-18

God is kind even to the ungrateful

Luke 6:35

It is important for believers to show gratitude to God

Psalm 100:4 See also Psalm 107:22; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

See also

1055  God, grace & mercy
8352  thankfulness
8676  thanksgiving
8764  forgetting God