"Is It Wrong To Hold A Grudge?"

April 17, 2024 | By Chuck

   Some good people have the most difficult time forgiving those who hurt them. The struggle is real. Plenty of people cannot seem to forgive and move on. That reality begs the question, is it wrong to hold a grudge? A grudge is the direct result of an unwillingness to forgive. When you refuse to forgive someone, you are choosing to hold a grudge. Sadly, many would rather hold a grudge than deal with their hurt feelings and forgive.

            The question we must address is, Is it wrong to hold a grudge? The plain and simple answer is yes. Holding a grudge is wrong because it is the opposite of forgiving and is not Christlike. Jesus, while hanging on the cross, prayed for the forgiveness of those killing Him. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 24:34) The cross Jesus endured was all about forgiveness for you and me. If Jesus can forgive those who nailed Him to the cross and die so we can be forgiven of our sins, don’t you think we should forgive others? Christians are to be like Jesus which means avoiding grudges by forgiving those who wrong us. 

            We can easily make a list of the “big sins” we tend to believe will keep people out of heaven. The interesting thing is holding a grudge usually does not make that list. When we are wronged we feel justified withholding forgiveness and harboring a grudge instead. No matter what was done to you, holding a grudge is never acceptable behavior for a child of God. Holding a grudge only hurts the one who refuses to forgive. The stress, anxiety, and constant anger that come with a grudge are not good for anyone’s physical health. Holding a grudge is not good for us spiritually either as it affects our relationship with God and our own forgiveness from Him.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)