Holding grudges is like carrying a weight that burdens your heart, soul, and mind.
The Bible teaches that harboring unforgiveness and bitterness prevents us from experiencing the peace and freedom God desires for us.
It encourages believers to forgive, just as God forgives us, and warns of the spiritual consequences of holding onto past hurts.
These 35 Bible verses offer powerful insights into how we are called to let go of grudges and embrace forgiveness.
By reflecting on these Scriptures, we gain wisdom on how to move forward in love, healing, and reconciliation, breaking the chains of bitterness that bind us.
Bible Verses About Holding Grudges
1. Ephesians 4:31-32 – Let Go of Bitterness
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
2. Colossians 3:13 – Forgiving One Another
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
3. Matthew 6:14-15 – The Condition of Forgiveness
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
4. Mark 11:25 – Forgiveness Brings Peace
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
5. Luke 17:3-4 – Repeated Forgiveness
“So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
6. Matthew 18:21-22 – Unlimited Forgiveness
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
7. Proverbs 17:9 – Love Covers Offenses
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
8. 1 John 1:9 – God’s Forgiveness for Us
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
9. Hebrews 12:14-15 – Pursuing Peace
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
10. Romans 12:19-21 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.'”
11. Matthew 18:35 – The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
12. Romans 12:9 – Genuine Love
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
13. Matthew 5:23-24 – Reconciliation First
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
14. 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 – Forgiving the Offender
“Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.”
15. 1 Peter 3:9 – Not Retaliating
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
16. Luke 6:37 – The Call to Forgive
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
17. Hebrews 12:14-15 – Pursuing Peace and Holiness
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
18. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 – Forgiveness Restores Fellowship
“Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
19. Matthew 7:3-5 – Removing the Log from Your Eye
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”
20. Romans 12:18 – Living at Peace
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
21. Luke 17:3 – Rebuking and Forgiving
“So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.”
22. Matthew 18:21-22 – Unlimited Forgiveness
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
23. Ephesians 4:32 – Be Kind and Compassionate
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
24. Proverbs 19:11 – The Wisdom of Overlooking Offenses
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
25. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 – The Lord’s Servant
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”
26. Colossians 3:12-13 – Compassion and Forgiveness
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
27. Galatians 6:1-2 – Restoring with Gentleness
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
28. Romans 14:19 – Pursue What Leads to Peace
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
29. Philippians 4:7 – Peace Beyond Understanding
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
30. Luke 6:28 – Bless Those Who Curse You
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
31. Matthew 18:35 – Forgiving from the Heart
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
32. John 20:23 – The Power of Forgiveness
“If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
33. 2 Corinthians 5:18 – Ministry of Reconciliation
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
34. Psalm 103:12 – God’s Forgiveness Toward Us
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
35. Romans 5:8 – God’s Love and Forgiveness
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Holding Grudges
The Bible consistently teaches that holding grudges is not just harmful to our relationships with others but also obstructs our relationship with God.
Unforgiveness creates barriers, not only in the hearts of those we are holding grudges against but also in our own hearts, preventing us from fully experiencing God’s love, grace, and peace.
Throughout the Bible, we are called to forgive as God has forgiven us, with mercy and without limit.
Holding on to resentment keeps us trapped in a cycle of bitterness and strife, but forgiving others frees us and aligns us with God’s will.
When we choose to forgive, we reflect Christ’s love and become instruments of peace in a world full of conflict.
The Bible reminds us that forgiveness is a key component of living a life that honors God and fosters healthy relationships.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your endless mercy and forgiveness. Help me to forgive those who have wronged me, just as You have forgiven me.
Release me from any bitterness or resentment, and heal my heart. Teach me to extend love and grace, even when it is difficult.
May I reflect Your forgiveness in all my relationships, bringing peace and reconciliation. Give me the strength to forgive, and help me to release the burden of grudges, walking in freedom.
I trust in Your ability to heal and restore, knowing that when I forgive, I also receive Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.