Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8765 grudge

8765 grudge

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8765 grudge

A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment held by one person against another, often as the result of an injury or insult. Christians are not to bear grudges against others; instead they are to forgive those who have wronged them.

Examples of those who held grudges

Esau against Jacob

Genesis 27:41

Joseph's brothers and Joseph

Genesis 37:4 See also Genesis 37:5,8,18-19,23-24; Genesis 50:15

The Israelites against Moses and Aaron

Numbers 11:1; Numbers 14:1-4,27

Saul against David

1 Samuel 18:7-9

Ahab against Elijah

1 Kings 18:16-17; Kings 21:20; Kings 22:8

Herodias against John the Baptist

Mark 6:18-19

The disciples against others

See also Matthew 26:6-9 pp Mark 14:3-5; John 12:3-6

The Sadducees against the apostles

Acts 5:17

The Jews against Stephen

Acts 7:54

Severe grudges that led to hatred and murder

That of Abel by Cain

Genesis 4:4-8

That of Joseph by his brothers, averted by Reuben

Genesis 37:18-20

That of Amnon, on the orders of Absalom

2 Samuel 13:22,28-32

That of John the Baptist by Herodias

Mark 6:22-24,27-28

Warnings against the holding of grudges

In the OT

Leviticus 19:18 See also Deuteronomy 15:10; Judges 8:1-3; Job 5:2; Job 36:13; Proverbs 3:11; Proverbs 20:22; Proverbs 23:17

In Jesus Christ's teaching

Mark 7:21-23 pp Matthew 15:19-20

In the apostles' teaching

Romans 12:17-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:15 See also Galatians 5:15,19-21; Philippians 2:13-15; Colossians 3:8; 2 Timothy 2:24; James 3:14-16; 1 Peter 2:1

Christians should not hold grudges

Matthew 5:43-47 See also Matthew 18:21-35; Colossians 3:13