---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Revenge is irreverent … To forgive…"
description: "\"“Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg"
---

#  Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display…

![“Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and he will do what is right.” quote by Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg)

> ““Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and he will do what is right.””

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Forgiveness honors higher values, not the offender’s actions, and trusts divine justice.

**In simple terms:** Forgiveness respects higher values.

Key Takeaway

Choose forgiveness over resentment.

Themes

forgiveness humility faith

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal healing
- spiritual practice
- relationships

Key Concepts

theology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What does true forgiveness mean to you?
- How does faith influence your ability to forgive?

A Different Perspective

Forgiveness may feel like condoning wrongdoing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [God is faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-is-faithful/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/)

## Related quotes

> [“Some of you are rehashing the same hurt every chance you get with anyone who will listen. For you, I have this question: Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/some-of-you-are-rehashing-the-same-hurt-every-chance-you-get-with/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying that the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and he will do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/forgiveness-is-not-saying-that-the-one-who-hurt-you-was-right/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God is faithful even when his children are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-faithful-even-when-his-children-are-not/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“Child, you do not forgive because the person who wronged deserves it.You misunderstand the point of forgiveness entirely. The only cage that a grudge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrie-haskell/child-you-do-not-forgive-because-the-person-who-wronged-deserves-it/)

[Merrie Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrie-haskell/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying what did you do to me is okay It is saying, I'm not going to let what you did to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-did-you-do-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“When the eternal God looked at my record and said, “Michael is found guilty, the penalty of his crimes is death and his crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-heil/when-the-eternal-god-looked-at-my-record-and-said-michael-is-found/)

[Michael J Heil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-heil/)

> [“sometimes it takes time for a person to be ready to forgive. It often helps to explain that forgiveness is not saying it didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/sometimes-it-takes-time-for-a-person-to-be-ready-to-forgive-it-often/)

[John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/)

> [Stop holding grudges. Don't live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-holding-grudges-don-t-live-your-life-with-hate-in-your-heart-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“Go ahead. Make the midnight knock. Stand up on behalf of those you love. And, yes, stand up on behalf of those you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/go-ahead-make-the-midnight-knock-stand-up-on-behalf-of-those-you-love/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So to confess is to breathe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonette-bright/god-is-faithful-and-just-to-forgive-us-our-sins-and-to-cleanse-us/)

[Vonette Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vonette-bright/)

> [When I cannot understand my Father's leading, And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate, Still I hear that gentle whisper ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/when-i-cannot-understand-my-father-s-leading-and-it-seems-to-be-but/)

[A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/)

> [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/)

Dr William R Bright

> [“It is worth asking ourselves: Where am I saying “I can’t” but God is saying “You won’t”? Israel’s failure to obey was based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/it-is-worth-asking-ourselves-where-am-i-saying-i-can-t-but-god-is/)

[Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/)

> [“The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-gift-of-singleness-is-more-a-vocation-than-an-empowerment/)

[John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/)

## More by Max Lucado

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [When we look at the love of Christ, we make a wonderful discovery. Love is more a decision than an emotion! Christ-like love applauds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/when-we-look-at-the-love-of-christ-we-make-a-wonderful-discovery-love/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“Ageing. We laugh about it, and we groan about it. We resist it, but we cant't stop it. And with the chuckles and wrinkles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/ageing-we-laugh-about-it-and-we-groan-about-it-we-resist-it-but-we/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“You’ve already learned, haven’t you, that a promise made is not always a promise kept? Just because someone is called your dad, that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-ve-already-learned-haven-t-you-that-a-promise-made-is-not-always/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God is near whether you sense His presence or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-is-near-whether-you-sense-his-presence-or-not/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [If there are a thousand steps between us and God, He will take all but one. He will leave the final one for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-there-are-a-thousand-steps-between-us-and-god-he-will-take-all-but/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God's love never ceases. Never... God doesn't love us less if we fail or more if we succeed. God's love never ceases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-s-love-never-ceases-never-god-doesn-t-love-us-less-if-we-fail-or/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Are you on the eve of change? Embrace it. Accept it. Don't resist it. Change is not only a part of life, change is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/are-you-on-the-eve-of-change-embrace-it-accept-it-don-t-resist-it/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [There's no limit to God's love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/there-s-no-limit-to-god-s-love/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/god-will-use-whatever-he-wants-to-display-his-glory-heavens-and-stars/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

[Explore all 968 Max Lucado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

## More Forgiveness quotes

> [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/)

[Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/)

> [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/)

Serge Kahili King

> [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/)

[Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/)

> [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/)

Enhance Dreams

> [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/)

[Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/)

> [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/)

[Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/)

> [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/)

[Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/)

> [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/)

[Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/)

> [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/)

[Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/)

> [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/)

[Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/)

> [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/)

[Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/)

[Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is faithful and he will do what is right.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Lucado"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone-is-to-display-reverence/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forgiveness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone-is-to-display-reverence/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/max-lucado-190_forgiveness_revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone_1738013.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Revenge is irreverent … To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who…” — Max Lucado",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Max Lucado",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Revenge is irreverent … To forgive...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone-is-to-display-reverence/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/revenge-is-irreverent-to-forgive-someone-is-to-display-reverence/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
