Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8282 intolerance
Unwillingness to allow or permit something beyond certain levels. God's intolerance should be the model for God's people, but they should avoid becoming wrongly intolerant.
God is intolerant of evil
God is pure and cannot tolerate evil
Habakkuk 1:13 See also Numbers 25:3; Joshua 7:1; 2 Samuel 6:7 pp 1 Chronicles 13:10; 2 Kings 17:11; Psalm 5:6; Romans 1:18; Revelation 21:27
God demonstrates his intolerance as the last resort
Jeremiah 44:22 See also Exodus 4:10-14; Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:30; Acts 17:30; Romans 2:3-5
Human intolerance should reflect God's attitudes
Human intolerance of God's enemies
Judges 5:31 See also 1 Samuel 17:26; Psalm 69:9; Matthew 26:51 pp Mark 14:47 pp Luke 22:50; John 18:10; Ephesians 5:6-7
Human intolerance of ungodliness
Exodus 32:19-20 See also Deuteronomy 6:13-15; Psalm 119:115; 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:16; Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:12
Human intolerance of error
Titus 3:10 See also Acts 17:11; Acts 20:30-31; Galatians 5:11-12; Ephesians 5:6-7; Colossians 2:8; Hebrews 13:9
Human intolerance of evil and sinfulness
Revelation 2:20 See also Job 28:28; Psalm 34:14; Psalm 101:4-5; Matthew 5:30; Romans 6:12; Romans 12:9; Ephesians 4:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; Revelation 2:2
Human intolerance can be misguided
It can be a form of hypocrisy
Luke 6:41-42 See also Matthew 23:29-30; Luke 13:14-15; John 12:5-6
It can amount to exclusiveness
Matthew 23:13 See also Acts 15:1
It can be a form of oppression
Intolerance of minority, afflicted or underprivileged groups oftens leads to oppression:
Exodus 1:11-14; Exodus 23:9; Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 28:3; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Matthew 20:31 pp Mark 10:48 pp Luke 18:39
It can be harshly condemnatory
John 8:5 See also Numbers 21:4-5; Esther 3:8; Matthew 23:34-35; John 7:45-51; John 16:2
It can be a form of bigotry
John 15:19 See also Numbers 11:27-29; Judges 12:5-6; Matthew 21:15-16; Matthew 23:16,18
Intolerance is usually a matter of decision
Intolerance leading to a good decision
Luke 18:4-5 See also Luke 11:7-8
Intolerance leading to a bad decision
Matthew 19:13-14 pp Mark 10:13-14 pp Luke 18:15-16 The disciples' intolerance is counteracted by Jesus Christ's tolerance.
See also
1025 God, anger of 1095 God, patience of 1125 God, righteousness 5883 impatience 6020 sin 8326 purity, moral & spiritual 8353 tolerance 8734 evil 8750 false teachings 8771 idolatry, objections 8790 oppression 8800 prejudice
