Shalom, Mitspacha!
Prohibition of Bearing a Grudge
"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am YHVH."
- Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:18
"He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
- Mishlei (Proverbs) 17:9
The Torah not only forbids revenge, but also the quiet keeping of a grudge. A grudge may not always be visible outwardly, yet it lives in the heart. It remembers the offense, replays the injury, and withholds warmth or kindness.
YHVH commands us to release resentment and to choose love instead. Bearing a grudge binds us to the past; releasing it allows healing to begin.
Sometimes we say, “I forgive, but I will not forget.” Yet the commandment challenges us to examine whether we are truly free from the offense.
Ask yourself:
Letting go does not mean pretending nothing happened. It means refusing to nurture bitterness. Love seeks restoration; grudges preserve separation.
Abba YHVH, reveal to us any hidden grudges we may be carrying. Cleanse our hearts from resentment and help us to walk in sincere forgiveness. Teach us to reflect Your mercy and to choose love over bitterness. May our hearts be light, free, and aligned with Your righteousness.
Baruch YHVH.
Shalom until tomorrow.