1) The story of Cain and Abel: In Genesis 4, Cain becomes envious of his brother Abel’s offering to God and murders him out of hatred. This act leads to the first murder in human history, highlighting the destructive nature of hatred.
2) The story of Joseph and his brothers: In Genesis 37-50, Joseph’s brothers become jealous of their father’s favoritism towards him and sell him into slavery. Despite this act of hatred, Joseph forgives his brothers and they are ultimately reconciled.
3) The parable of the unforgiving servant: In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells a story of a servant who is forgiven a large debt by his master, but then refuses to show the same mercy to someone who owes him a much smaller debt. This parable emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and how holding onto hatred can lead to even greater harm.
4) The story of Saul and David: In 1 Samuel, King Saul becomes consumed with jealousy and hatred towards David, who he views as a threat to his reign. This eventually leads Saul to attempt to kill David multiple times, but David still chooses to show him respect and restraint. This story highlights how hatred can blind us to reason and cause us to act irrationally.
