The Bible teaches us the importance of forgiveness and warns against holding grudges. Grudges can hinder our spiritual growth, block our relationship with God, and affect our relationships with others. Through scripture, we can see how vital it is to release anger and seek reconciliation. Below are seven important themes related to holding grudges and Bible verses that speak to the topic.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Betrayal
Forgiveness Is Essential
The Bible repeatedly teaches that forgiveness is not optional for believers. Holding onto grudges only harms us spiritually. God calls us to forgive just as He forgave us through Christ. It is through forgiveness that we experience freedom from bitterness and resentment.
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Colossians 3:13
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Matthew 6:14-15
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
Mark 11:25
“But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Reconciliation Brings Healing
Reconciliation is a key part of Christian living. We are encouraged to settle our disputes and make peace with one another. Grudges create division and prevent the healing that comes through unity and reconciliation.
Matthew 5:23-24
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
Romans 12:18
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
James 5:16
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Hebrews 12:14
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”
Letting Go of Bitterness
Bitterness is like a poison that can consume our hearts if we allow it to take root. The Bible encourages us to let go of bitterness and instead choose kindness, mercy, and love.
Hebrews 12:15
“Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Ephesians 4:26-27
“And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9
“Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.”
Psalm 37:8
“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.”
Love Covers Over Wrongs
The love of Christ enables us to overlook offenses and wrongs. When we walk in love, grudges and resentments lose their power. Love is the antidote to the anger and hurt that often accompany a grudge.
1 Peter 4:8
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”
Proverbs 17:9
“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”
1 Corinthians 13:5
“It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”
1 John 4:20
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”
Proverbs 19:11
“Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”
Grudges Hinder Our Walk with God
Grudges can hinder our spiritual growth and our relationship with God. Unforgiveness blocks our prayers and damages the flow of grace in our lives. To experience God’s full blessings, we must let go of past hurts.
Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”
Isaiah 43:25
“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
“When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us.”
Psalm 66:18
“If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
Mark 11:26
“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Jesus Teaches Us to Forgive Repeatedly
Jesus emphasized that forgiveness should be a continual practice in the life of a believer. He taught us to forgive others endlessly, just as He continually forgives us.
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’
Luke 17:3-4
“So watch yourselves! If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks for forgiveness, you must forgive.”
Matthew 5:7
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Colossians 3:12
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Proverbs 24:29
“Don’t say, ‘I will get even for this wrong.’ Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.”
The Freedom of Letting Go
When we let go of grudges, we experience true freedom in Christ. Holding onto bitterness enslaves us to our past, but when we forgive, we are set free to live in peace and joy.
John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Romans 8:1-2
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
Galatians 5:1
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
Psalm 103:12
“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Backstabbing
What Does the Bible Say About Holding Grudges
Holding a grudge is like carrying a heavy load that only makes your heart bitter and your spirit tired. We are called to forgive others, just as God forgives us. The Bible teaches us a lot about the danger of holding grudges and the importance of letting go.
In the book of Ephesians 4:31-32, it says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” This passage reminds us that bitterness and grudges have no place in the life of someone who follows Christ. Instead, we are to be kind and forgiving, reflecting the love that God shows to us every day.
When we hold on to a grudge, it does more harm to us than to the person we’re upset with. In fact, sometimes the person who wronged us may not even know how we feel, but we’re the ones suffering inside. This is why the Bible encourages us to forgive. In Colossians 3:13, it says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We are called to live with patience and to forgive, even when it feels hard. Holding onto a grudge only traps us in a cycle of pain, but forgiveness frees us.
Jesus Himself showed us the greatest example of forgiveness. When He was on the cross, suffering for the sins of the world, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even in the middle of His pain, Jesus forgave the people who hurt Him. This shows us that forgiveness is not about waiting until we feel like it but about choosing to let go of anger and bitterness, just like Jesus did.
It’s not always easy to forgive, especially when someone has deeply hurt us. But when we remember how much God has forgiven us, it can make it easier. Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to ask for forgiveness and to forgive others: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). This reminds us that our relationship with God is closely tied to how we treat others.
Holding a grudge is like building a wall between us and the people in our lives, and it can even block our relationship with God. But when we forgive, we tear down those walls and open our hearts to love, peace, and freedom. Letting go of grudges allows us to live in the fullness of God’s grace and mercy.