What Does the Bible Say About Bitterness And Unforgiveness?

Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ...

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

Romans 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Mark 11:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

1 John 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

1 John 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

James 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And give no opportunity to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 11:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Luke 6:35-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Mark 16:9-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. ...

Matthew 18:23-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ...

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Psalm 103:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

36 Bible Verses about Bitterness And Unforgiveness

Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Mark 11:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 11:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 6:35-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Mark 16:9-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 18:23-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 103:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

36 Bible Verses about Bitterness And Unforgiveness

Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 11:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 11:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:35-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 16:9-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:23-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 103:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 5:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Mark 11:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 John 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 3:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 15:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 11:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Luke 6:35-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Mark 16:9-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 18:23-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 103:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes