The ingratitude of man towards God is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the human tendency to forget or dismiss the benevolence and providence of the Creator. This lack of thankfulness is often depicted as a moral failing and a departure from the righteous path that God desires for His people.

Old Testament Instances

In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently exhibited ingratitude despite the numerous miracles and acts of deliverance performed by God on their behalf. One of the most notable examples is found in the wilderness wanderings after the Exodus from Egypt. Despite witnessing the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna, and water from the rock, the Israelites repeatedly complained and expressed dissatisfaction. In Numbers 14:11 , the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?"

The book of Deuteronomy serves as a reminder to the Israelites to remember and be grateful for God's blessings. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 warns, "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets also addressed the issue of ingratitude. In Isaiah 1:2-3 , the Lord laments through the prophet, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: 'I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.'"

Jeremiah echoes this sentiment, highlighting the people's forgetfulness of God's goodness. Jeremiah 2:32 states, "Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number."

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the theme of ingratitude is further explored. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, describes the spiritual decline of humanity, beginning with a failure to honor God. Romans 1:21 states, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Jesus Himself encountered ingratitude during His earthly ministry. In the account of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, only one returned to give thanks. Luke 17:17-18 records Jesus' response: "Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where then are the other nine? Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?'"

Theological Implications

Ingratitude towards God is not merely a social or ethical issue but a spiritual one. It reflects a heart that is turned away from God, failing to recognize His sovereignty and grace. The Scriptures consistently call believers to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness, recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).

The Psalms frequently exhort the faithful to remember and give thanks for God's deeds. Psalm 103:2 encourages, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds." This call to remembrance and gratitude is a central aspect of worship and devotion, serving as a safeguard against the pride and self-sufficiency that lead to spiritual decline.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to practice gratitude as a daily discipline, acknowledging God's provision and grace in all circumstances. The Apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, instructs, "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This attitude of gratitude fosters a deeper relationship with God and aligns the believer's heart with His purposes.Numbers 16:9,10
Seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
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Deuteronomy 8:12-14
Lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwelled therein;
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Deuteronomy 6:11,12
And houses full of all good things, which you filled not, and wells dig, which you digged not, vineyards and olive trees, which you planted not; when you shall have eaten and be full;
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Deuteronomy 28:47,48
Because you served not the LORD your God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
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Deuteronomy 31:16
And the LORD said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
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Deuteronomy 32:6,13,15,18
Do you thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he your father that has bought you? has he not made you, and established you?
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Judges 2:10-12
And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
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Judges 8:34,35
And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
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Judges 10:11,14
And the LORD said to the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
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Nehemiah 9:25,35
And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells dig, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
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Psalm 106:7,21
Our fathers understood not your wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of your mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
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Jeremiah 2:6,7
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelled?
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1 Samuel 8:7,8
And the LORD said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you: for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
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1 Samuel 10:19
And you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to him, No, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
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1 Samuel 15:17,19
And Samuel said, When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel?
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2 Samuel 12:7-9
And Nathan said to David, You are the man. Thus said the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul;
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1 Kings 16:1-3
Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
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2 Chronicles 12:1
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
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2 Chronicles 26:15,16
And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and on the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones with. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
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2 Chronicles 32:25
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
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Psalm 78:16,17,27-32
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
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Psalm 106:7
Our fathers understood not your wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of your mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
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Isaiah 1:2
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
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Jeremiah 2:17,31
Have you not procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
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Jeremiah 5:7,9,24
How shall I pardon you for this? your children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
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Ezekiel 16:17-22
You have also taken your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made to yourself images of men, and did commit prostitution with them,
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Daniel 5:18,20,21
O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
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Hosea 2:8,9
For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.
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Hosea 4:7
As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
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Hosea 7:13,15
Woe to them! for they have fled from me: destruction to them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
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Hosea 11:1,3
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
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Hosea 13:6
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
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Amos 3:1,2
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
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Micah 6:3,4
O my people, what have I done to you? and wherein have I wearied you? testify against me.
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Luke 17:17,18
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
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John 1:11
He came to his own, and his own received him not.
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Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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2 Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
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Vile Ingratitude!
... The rich man in the parable of Jesus was clothed in scarlet ... glorious garments, and
then we have gone and sinned against our God. O ingratitude of the vilest sort ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/vile ingratitude.htm

Whether Sins that have Been Forgiven, Return through Ingratitude ...
... A man does not, however, incur ingratitude by committing a venial sin, because by
sinning venially man does not act against God, but apart from Him, wherefore ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sins that have been.htm

Whether Ingratitude is Always a Mortal Sin?
... But one is not ungrateful to God by committing a venial sin: else every man would
be guilty of ingratitude. Therefore no ingratitude is a venial sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether ingratitude is always a 2.htm

Whether the Ingratitude Whereby a Subsequent Sin Causes the Return ...
... Now by any mortal sin whatever, a man becomes ungrateful to God, as evidenced from
what has been said [4796](A[1]). Therefore ingratitude is not a special sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the ingratitude whereby a.htm

The Need of Scripture, as a Guide and Teacher, in Coming to God as ...
... though the effulgence which is presented to every eye, both in the heavens and on
the earth, leaves the ingratitude of man without excuse, since God, in order ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 6 the need of.htm

Whether Ingratitude is a Special Sin?
... Reply to Objection 1: In every sin there is material ingratitude to God, inasmuch
as a man does something that may pertain to ingratitude. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether ingratitude is a special.htm

Inexcusable Irreverence and Ingratitude
... the like of which is not beneath the cope of heaven, and God has exercised ... in all
periods of the world's history; and yet, such is man's ingratitude, that he ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/inexcusable irreverence and ingratitude.htm

Daily Bread.
... their sin, till the fiery stream overtook them, and that same fire which destroyed
them preserved the bread, as a sign of God's goodness and man's ingratitude. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lxii daily bread.htm

Maxims to Know a Simple, Humble, and True Heart.
... nay more) doth false humility displease God, as true ... The truly humble Man, though
every thing falls out ... imperfection in every thing, his ingratitude and his ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap xi maxims to know.htm

Of Patient Endurance
... no profit to so many men, and because of the ingratitude of man and because ... also
His bodily nature and His lower reason suffered, because God had withdrawn ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter v of patient endurance.htm

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