The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?

I do think that William Hendriksen's comments on this passage are most accurate and appropriately applied. Here is a little of what he wrote:

The reason for this frequency [Hendriksen was discussing the number of times Paul mentions the Spirit in his epistles] of occurrence is obvious: Paul wishes to impress upon us that apart from God we cannot be saved; that is, that whatever good there is in us has its origin in the Holy Spirit. He both imparts life and sustains it. He causes it to develop and to reach its ultimate destination. It is he, therefore, who is the Author of every Christian virtue, every good fruit. Hence, whenever the believer pollutes his soul by any deceitful, vengeful, covetous, or filthy thought or suggestion, he is grieving the Holy Spirit. This is all the more true because it is the Spirit that dwells within the hearts of God's children, making them His temple, His sanctuary (2:22; I Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19). By means of every evil imagination, cogitation, or motivation that indwelling and sanctifying Spirit is therefore, as it were, cut to the heart.