Ingratitude

The ingratitude of human beings to one another

Examples of ingratitude

Ge 40:23 the chief butler towards Joseph; Nu 16:13–14 Dathan and Abiram to Moses

The Israelites to Gideon and his family:

Jdg 8:35; Jdg 9:18

1 Sa 25:21 Nabal to David; 2 Ch 24:22 King Joash to Jehoiada; Ec 9:15 the citizens to the wise man who delivered a city

Returning evil for good

Psalm 35:12 NASB95

They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.

See also Ge 44:4; Ps 109:5; Pr 17:13; Je 18:20

Ingratitude to God

It was in evidence at the fall

Ge 3:2–3 Eve showed ingratitude for God’s provision by not believing him.

It is part of fallen human nature

Romans 1:21 NASB95

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

It is a sign of the last days

See also 2 Ti 3:2

Israel’s repeated ingratitude to the Lord

For deliverance from Egypt:

Ex 16:3; Ex 16:8; Ex 17:7; Heb 3:7–9; Heb 3:15; Ps 95:7–9

Dt 32:6 They were rebuked by Moses for the way they repaid God; 1 Sa 8:7–8 They rejected the Lord when they rejected Samuel; Ne 9:26 They rejected God’s law and killed his prophets.

Ingratitude compared with other sins

Becoming like animals

Isaiah 1:3 NASB95

“An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master’s manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand.”

Becoming like prostitutes

Ezekiel 16:17–19 NASB95

“You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. “Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. “Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God.

Becoming like an adulterous wife

Ho 2:8; Ho 4:12; Ho 5:4; Ho 9:1

Jesus Christ exposed ingratitude

Luke 17:15–18 NASB95

Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

God is kind even to the ungrateful

Luke 6:35 NASB95

“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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

It is important for believers to show gratitude to God

Psalm 100:4 NASB95

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

See also Ps 107:22; Col 1:12; Col 3:15; 1 Th 5:18