Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21

Sermon Title: Are You Grudge Free?

Peace Lutheran Church

9/13/2026

 

Introduction –

Are you grudge free?

Former Los Angeles Lakers basketball coach Pat Riley was brutally honest about this profound lesson in life.

Following their championship run in 1980, the Lakers were touted to be the best in the world and a “shoe-in” for back-to-back titles.   

However, shortly before the 81 season, Laker star, Magic Johnson, tore cartilage in his knee, which required several weeks of recovery.  Amazingly, his team rallied and won the majority of their games before Magic’s return to the hardwood. 

[Even if you don’t follow basketball, you can see where this is going, can’t you?]

As time drew closer, the public address announcer mentioned during a home game, “Don’t forget to mark your calendars for February 27th.  Magic Johnson returns to the lineup of your World Champion Los Angeles Lakers!” His teammates couldn’t believe it,  “We’re winning now!  What’s so great about February 27th?”

Adding fuel to the fire–most of the media attention was on Magic’s return, not on the players and coaches who put in the work.  Finally, the 27^th of Feb came, and to the thousands of Laker season ticket holders, they received a button that said, “The Magic is back!”

While Magic wasn’t in the starting lineup in his first game back, he was inundated with cameras flashing and fans applauding.  Consequently, resentment, envy, and rage settled in, which caused the team to spiral out of control.  They could hardly beat sub-500 teams, and when they finally reached the playoffs, they lost in the first round.

To label the 81 season as “disappointing” would be an understatement.  In fact, Coach Riley was quite open about it in his book, The Winner Within, saying, “Because of greed, pettiness, and resentment, we executed one of the fastest falls from grace in NBA history  [Magic Johnson- from Nelson’s pg. 634. From a sermon by Scott Carroll, The Disease of “Me” 5/9/2011, www.sermoncentral.com].”

Folks, in the same way, begrudging, resenting God, people—it can happen to your “closest teammates”–even your own family members—resentment can spread in you like a deadly plague.  Name calling, blaming, lying, tongue lashing, gossiping…layer after layer…what about you?  Are you grudge free?

“I know,” we try to justify it this way, “I’ll make more money, have more likes on my Facebook, Snapchat accounts, have more fun with my toys…that’ll ease my grudge.” Does it?

Or is that “cool stuff” building up more insecure walls of resentment?

When that path loses steam, we try another one, “I know, I’ll stay busy. Keeping my nose to the grindstone might prevent me from saying or doing something I’d regret later.”

But running yourself ragged—with numerous irons in the fire—have you stopped for a moment to consider, are you truly serving the Lord in your work, or are you working yourself to the bone to avoid… “that grudge”?  

 

You see–our grudges don’t care who we are, where we are from, or what we have or haven’t done.

But being afraid, being resentful is the name of the game for that deadly grudge that weighs heavily on your chest.    

Is it mental, spiritual, physical, even material? 

Yes!  It’s all connected. 

One might be able to lift an incredible amount of weight, but no fallible human has the physical or mental strength to remove the brutal weight of deadly grudges off their weary shoulders.

Did you catch that in our first story in Genesis 50?

 

Following Jacob’s funeral, Joseph’s brothers feared the worst without their dad in the picture.  That would be difficult no matter what, but after mistreating and selling Joseph to foreigners–alone with two decades of betrayal, envy, infidelity, violence, deceit, etc.,–from Reuben, Jacob’s oldest, to Benjamin, his youngest–Joseph’s brothers couldn’t bear the weight of their fear and shame.

Look at the text again.

“What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the things we did to him?”

What about you?

Are you in that fearful place today?

 

Remember, Joseph was second in command to Egypt’s Pharaoh.  This Pharaoh trusted Joseph.  Despite the many hardships the Lord’s servant faced, God was always with Joseph, preparing him to give a faithful defense for the forgiveness and faith that God showed him repeatedly.

Did you know this gospel truth applies to you and your family today?

This OT story never ceases to amaze because, on a human level, if Joseph demanded to the king of Egypt, “Bring the hammer down on my brothers,” Pharaoh wouldn’t have given it a second thought.

Imagine a snake–coiled up and trapped in a corner, what’s it going to do?

Will it attack the one it deems a threat?

Or will it frantically turn and bite itself?

 

Likewise, when you are backed into a corner, what’s your knee-jerk reaction, are you a “fight” or “flight” person?

Not if but when grudges weigh you down, where do you go? 

Or better yet, to whom are you turning to for help?

 

To illustrate God’s life-changing promises in our naturally broken lives, I’m reminded of Pr. John Bunyan’s parable of his faith journey in Pilgrim’s Progress.

Specifically, when the main character, Christian, is begrudging his faith journey with the Lord and others–he is led to the one place that changes everything. 

Do you remember this powerful scene in the book?

Through the Holy Spirit–one of the godly characters, Evangelist, points Christian to the cross–the cross of Jesus Christ who took/forgave Christian’s/our sins.   

Why must we go through Jesus Christ–crucified for our sins?  

 

Because only Jesus Christ–God in flesh– “Who knew no sin,” –took Christian’s, our grudges/sins/debts that we don’t have the power to pay back or to overcome. 

“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”   

Christian’s grudges–the mental, the physical, the spiritual, the material all of it–the Lord Jesus Christ died in his/your place and rose again from the dead–providing the grudge free life that we need for all eternity. 

I love the way that Pr. Bunyan illustrates the power of the Lord’s forgiveness here. Christian’s old, heavy, filthy, and worn clothes and rags are replaced with new and light clothes, a renewed vision…a fresh start…in his faith journey that speaks of the Lord’s forgiveness.

 

Peace Lutheran, in the same way, the righteous work of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for you–each grudge, act of pride, malice, lust, greed, you name it–Jesus–the only blameless Son of God–paid our debts–taking what no earthly king, queen, president, prime minister could through His sacrificial death on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead–making you and yours…grudge free.

 

That’s exactly what happens between Joseph and his brothers.

We assume the power of Christ’s forgiveness and faith is just a New Testament idea.  No!  Old and New Testament alike–the same Creator, Redeemer, Lord removed, covered our insurmountable debts/sins.

Joseph’s brothers couldn’t begin to pay back the rotten things they did to their brother. They didn’t deserve anything, but we don’t either.

Like the Father’s prodigal son, expecting the worst from his dad, Joseph’s brothers dropped to their knees, begging for his mercy, “Treat us like slaves!”

What in the world?! Does it prove anything to exchange a grudge for a grudge?

Of course not!

 

Rather, Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit of Jesus–His mighty forgiveness and faith–moved him in such a way to promise what only the Lord can do, “Don’t be afraid.” 

Twice the Lord says through Joseph, “Don’t be afraid.”

Can we pray together, “Lord, remove my fear”?

Amen.

 

Look at Genesis 50 again.  Imagine that heavy, fearful wall coming down in Joseph’s brothers’ minds as he says, “Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Don’t be afraid, I will provide for you and your children.”

 

Peace Lutheran, in the same way, when the Lord Jesus Christ sets you free, you shall be free indeed.  Think of the impact this Christ-centered, grudge-free life has on you, your spouse, your children, and grandchildren–it’s everlasting!

Because of the enormous cost that Jesus Christ paid for our sins, I’m reminded of that amazing Scripture in Psalm 130 that says, “If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?”

Undoubtedly, we would all miss the mark!

 

But praise be to God through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ–for His infallible grace through faith in what he accomplished for you–and still accomplishes through the same forgiveness–your greatest debts, your deepest grudges, “As far as the east is from the west,” complete opposite directions–the Lord removes our sins from us. 

Yes!

The same Creator who positioned east and west in the universe is the same Savior who stretched his arms east and west for the forgiveness of your sins– “It is finished,” He promised!

Do we believe that?

 

Please hear me.

Jesus’ amazing forgiveness and faith doesn’t mean we deserve to act like the careless servant in the Lord’s sermon. 

“I can act religious on Sunday but be rebellious the rest of the week because Jesus will forgive me.”

How stupid is that?!

Why would you go back to the deadly poison of sin that the Lord delivered you from? 

Jumping ahead to Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 18, the King’s/the Savior’s mighty forgiveness and faith in your life doesn’t mean we are ungrateful, demanding choke collars on people who owe far less than the servant who owed the king bags of gold!

 

Rather, through the King of kings–we forgive in the name of Jesus like he does—70×7 times?!

Absolutely! 

Peter thought he was going the extra mile by saying “7 times” because more than “3 times” you didn’t have to forgive someone who wronged you. 

Are we listening to what Jesus is saying? 

Whether the Lord’s forgiveness is spoken in Hebrew, Greek, English, Spanish, German, Swahili, Sotho, Chinese—the Lord is mighty to save the least of these, of which we all are because we are sinners, so why wouldn’t we in the name of Jesus extend the same forgiveness that Christ gave to us? 

 

Does Jesus’ forgiveness mean that we’re flippant about someone’s rebellious behavior, “It’s all good…it’s no big deal!”

No!  Sin–its consequences–are a huge deal! 

Joseph didn’t act like that toward his brothers; his brothers didn’t either.

Rather, through God’s forgiveness and faith, Joseph told the truth about what God’s forgiveness would actually do in their lives, a 70×7 multiplication— “What you meant for evil, God used it for His good, to save lives.”

 

Likewise, we don’t sweep our careless words/actions under the rug, but by the power of God’s grace through faith in Jesus’ mighty forgiveness—we come clean in His name–believing and living the…grudge free life through Jesus Christ. 

Joseph was straight up with his brothers about what God’s forgiveness would do in their lives, “Don’t be afraid. What you meant for evil, God used it for His good, to save lives, you and your children.”

 

My friends, what about you?

Are you grudge free?