Consequences of Unforgiveness in Scripture and Christian Life

Unforgiveness, in a biblical and Christian context, refers to the refusal to pardon an offense or release resentment towards another, and it carries significant consequences both spiritually and practically. Scripture frequently links unforgiveness with spiritual blindness, a state where individuals are unable to perceive divine truth ^[2]. This spiritual blindness is often described as an effect of sin, leading to further evil ^[2].

The Bible commands believers to forgive injuries, setting Christ as the ultimate example (Luke 23:34) ^[10]. This command is not limited but extends to an unlimited degree, as seen in Jesus' teaching to forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22; Luke 17:4) ^[10]. The motivation for such forgiveness stems from God's mercy, our own need for forgiveness, and God's and Christ's forgiveness of us (Luke 6:36; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13) ^[10]. Conversely, a lack of forgiveness is explicitly stated to preclude one from receiving forgiveness from God (Matthew 6:15; James 2:13) ^[10].

Unforgiveness is closely related to malice and revenge, both of which are forbidden in scripture ^{[6, 11]}. Malice, springing from an evil heart, is incompatible with the worship of God and hinders spiritual growth ^[6]. Revenge is forbidden by Christ, who taught his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19) ^[11]. Instead of seeking revenge, believers are encouraged to trust in God, show love, and overcome evil with kindness ^[11].

The consequences of disobedience, which includes the refusal to forgive, are severe. Disobedience provokes God's anger, forfeits His favor and promised blessings, and brings a curse (Psalm 78:10, 40; Isaiah 3:8; 1 Samuel 13:14; Deuteronomy 11:28) ^[1]. The wicked are characterized by their disobedience and persistence in it, and they will be punished (Jeremiah 2:21; Isaiah 42:24-25) ^[1].

The concept of condemnation is also tied to unforgiveness and sin. Condemnation is God's sentence against sin, universally caused by Adam's offense, and is an inseparable consequence of sin (Matthew 25:41; Romans 5:12, 16, 18; Romans 6:23) ^[3]. Impenitence, unbelief, pride, oppression, and hypocrisy all increase condemnation ^[3]. While saints are delivered from condemnation by Christ, the wicked face condemnation according to their deserts ^[3].

One specific and severe consequence mentioned in scripture is the "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit," which Jesus states "will not be forgiven men" in this life or the next (Matthew 12:31-32) ^{[7, 8]}. John Gill interprets this as blasphemy against the person and works of the Holy Spirit, such as attributing His works to diabolical power, and states that there is no pardon for such a sin in the covenant of grace ^[13]. This leads to eternal damnation ^[13].

The Old Testament also highlights the gravity of despising God's word and breaking His commandments, stating that such a soul "shall utterly be cut off" and their iniquity will remain upon them (Numbers 15:31) ^[9]. While God is described as "keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin," He "will by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:7) ^[5]. This means that while God is merciful and desires to forgive, sin still has consequences, and God's forgiveness is not a license to sin ^[14]. The effects of past choices, even if one repents and is forgiven, can continue to play out ^[14].

Matthew Henry, commenting on the history of Israel's provocations, notes that their disregard for God's works and word led to His wrath against them, serving as an admonition for Christians today ^[12]. He also observes that when God finds much evil among His people, He brings evil upon them as punishment, from which there is no relief ^[15].

The refusal to forgive can also lead to a "reproach that will not be wiped away" and "wounds and dishonor" (Proverbs 6:33) ^[4]. This suggests that unforgiveness can have lasting social and personal repercussions, beyond the spiritual.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Disobedience to God — Provokes his anger -- Ps 78:10,40; Isa 3:8. Forfeits his favour -- 1Sa 13:14. Forfeits his promised blessings -- Jos 5:6; 1Sa 2:30; Jer 18:10. Brings a curse -- De 11:28; 28:15. A characteristic of the wicked -- Eph 2:2; Tit 1:16; 3:3. The wicked persevere in -- Jer 2:21. Heinousness of, illustrated -- Jer 35:14. Men prone to excuse -- Ge 3:12,13. Shall be punished -- Isa 42:24,25; Heb 2:2. Acknowledge the punishment of, to be just -- Ne 9:32,33; Da 9:10,11,14. Warnings against -- 1Sa 12:15; Jer 12:17. Bitter results of, illustrated -- Jer 9:13,”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Blindness, Spiritual — Explained -- Joh 1:5; 1Co 2:14. The effect of sin -- Isa 29:10; Mt 6:23; Joh 3:19,20. Unbelief, the effect of -- Ro 11:8; 2Co 4:3,4. Uncharitableness, a proof of -- 1Jo 2:9,11. A work of the devil -- 2Co 4:4. Leads to all evil -- Eph 4:17-19. Is consistent with communion with God -- 1Jo 1:6,7. Of ministers, fatal to themselves and to the people -- Mt 15:14. The wicked are in -- Ps 82:5; Jer 5:21. The self-righteous are in -- Mt 23:19,26; Re 3:17. The wicked wilfully guilty of -- Isa 26:11; Ro 1:19-21. Judicially inflicted -- Ps 69:23; Isa 29:10”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Condemnation — The sentence of God against sin -- Mt 25:41. Universal, caused by the offence of Adam -- Ro 5:12,16,18. Inseparable consequence of sin -- Pr 12:2; Ro 6:23. Increased by Impenitence. -- Mt 11:20-24. Unbelief. -- Joh 3:18,19. Pride. -- 1Ti 3:6. Oppression. -- Jas 5:1-5. Hypocrisy. -- Mt 23:14. Conscience testifies to the justice of -- Job 9:20; Ro 2:1; Tit 3:11. The law testifies to the justice of -- Ro 3:19. According to men's deserts -- Mt 12:37; 2Co 11:15. Saints are delivered from, by Christ -- Joh 3:18; 5:24; Ro 8:1,33,34. Of the wicked, an example ”
Proverbs “He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away. -- Proverbs 6:33”
Exodus “keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.” -- Exodus 34:7”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
Matthew “Matthew 12:32 (BBE) — And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will have forgiveness; but whoever says a word against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come.”
Matthew “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. -- Matthew 12:31”
Numbers “Because he has despised Yahweh’s word, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off. His iniquity shall be on him.’” -- Numbers 15:31”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Revenge — Forbidden by our Lord -- Le 19:18; Pr 24:17,29; Mt 5:39-41; Ro 12:17,19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9. Christ an example of forbearing -- Isa 53:7; 1Pe 2:23. Rebuked by Christ -- Lu 9:54,55. Inconsistent with Christian spirit -- Lu 9:55. Proceeds from a spiteful heart -- Eze 25:15. Instead of taking, we should Trust in God. -- Pr 20:22; Ro 12:16. Exhibit love. -- Le 19:18; Lu 6:35. Give place to wrath. -- Ro 12:19. Exercise forbearance. -- Mt 5:38-41. Bless. -- Ro 12:14. Overcome others by kindness. -- Pr 25:21,22; Ro 12:20. Keep others from taking -- 1Sa 24:10; 25:24”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 106:13: This is an abridgment of the history of Israel's provocations in the wilderness, and of the wrath of God against them for those provocations: and this abridgment is abridged by the apostle, with application to us Christians (Co1 10:5, etc.); for these things were written for our admonition, that we sin not like them, lest we suffer like them. I. The cause of their sin was disregard to the works and word of God, Psa 106:13. 1. They minded not what he had done for them: They soon forgot his works, and lost the impressions they had made upon them. Those that do not”
Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 3:27: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost,.... Against his person, and the works performed by him, by ascribing them to diabolical power and influence, as the Scribes did, hath never forgiveness: there is no pardon provided in the covenant of grace, nor obtained by the blood of Christ for such persons, or ever applied to them by the Spirit; but is in danger of eternal damnation. The Vulgate Latin reads it, and so it is read in an ancient copy of Beza's, guilty of an eternal sin; a sin which can never be blotted out, and will never be forgiven, but will be p”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:7: 34:7 God’s unfailing love and his generous desire to forgive are not weakness or indecisiveness, nor are they reason to sin. Sin will have its effects, because God created a world of cause and effect. The murderer may repent, be forgiven, and lead a new life, but the effects of previous choices will continue to play out. We should not sin just because we know that God will forgive (see study note on 20:5-6). • a thousand generations: See Deut 7:9-11. • I lay the sins of the parents: Our sins affect future generations of descendants, but God restricts the natural e”
Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 11:11: This paragraph, which contains so much of God's wrath, might very well be expected to follow upon that which goes next before, which contained so much of his people's sin. When God found so much evil among them we cannot think it strange if it follows, Therefore I will bring evil upon them (Jer 11:11), the evil of punishment for the evil of sin; and there is no remedy, no relief: the decree has gone forth and the sentence will be executed. I. They cannot help themselves, but will be found too weak to contest with God's judgments: it is evil which they shall not”

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