1. Occasionally by withholding a loan one also transgresses the prohibition of ‘You must not take revenge’(Vayikra19:18). For instance, Reuven had asked Shimon to do him a favor, such as to lend him some money or the like, but Shimon did not do the favor. Later, the situation was reversed and Shimon went to Reuven and asked him for a loan. If Reuven now refuses to give Shimon a loan because of Shimon’s original denial, then Reuven will be committing the prohibition of revenge. It is even worse if as a result of his ill-feelings towards Shimon, Reuven publicizes that Shimon cannot be trusted with loans. Now, in addition to committing revenge, Reuven will is also transgressing lashon ha-ra (slander) and is literally destroying Shimon’s life.

Even if the person does give the loan, but goes on to say, “I am not like you who did not act kindly to me,” the person is transgressing ‘do not bear a grudge’ (ibid.). Rather, one should give the loan wholeheartedly and completely erase the fact that the other person did not do him the favor in the past. One should remember that all the matters of this world are but nothingness, so it is a waste to take revenge or harbor a grudge over them.