Scriptures on Forgiveness
Are you wanting to know what forgiveness in the bible looks like? Here are a few Bible verses that talk about forgiveness.
- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Here Paul encourages us to be gently and patient with each other and to forgive one another. Why? Because God forgives us. We forgive others, because God sets the example and forgive us.
- For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
Anyone who refuses to forgive others is rebelling against God’s forgiveness. No sin committed against us, great or small, should stand in the way of our granting forgiveness to others. If we have been forgiven by God for so much, how could we withhold forgiveness from people who seem to do nothing wrong but offend us? Side note here: Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. Sometimes we must forgive and close the door of friendship to someone.
- Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22
Peter is asking this question because the Jewish rabbis required those who followed the law to forgive a person who was guilty of the same offense only three times. And Jesus tells us here that we are to extend grace many more times.
There is a long long list of Bible verses on forgiveness, but those are a few to get you started in your search and study on this topic.
What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness?
“From the example of Jesus, it has been inferred that Christians must always forgive all offenses against them, even when repentance is not offered.
However, the most that we can legitimately infer from Jesus’ actions on that occasion is that we have the right to forgive people unilaterally.
Though that may be indeed a wonderful thing, it is not commanded. If we look at the commandment that Jesus gives in Luke 17:3, He says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him.”
Notice that the first response to the offense is not forgiveness but rather rebuke. The Christian has the right to rebuke those who commit wrong doing against him. That’s the basis for the whole procedure of church discipline in the New Testament.
If we were commanded to give unilateral forgiveness to all, under all circumstances, then the whole action of church discipline to redress wrongs, would itself be wrong.” – Ligonier.org
Forgiveness In The Bible: How Do You Truly Forgive Someone?
It’s a daily process.
We all can pull out a few quick bible verses on forgiveness, but real life calls for practical step by step advice linked hand in hand with scripture.
- Take it one day at a time.
- Tell God all about it. Share with him the pain, the raw ugly pain that you are feeling.
- Read your Bible and pray. Then read your Bible and pray again.
- Ask God to help you heal from the offense and help you to forgive.
- Every time those scaring, painful memories come to the surface bring it to God. Every moment, everyday, every time.
- Set boundaries with the ones that are hurting you on an ongoing basis.
I believe forgiveness is a process. A day by day, moment by moment and season by season process.
Forgiveness is not condoning the bad behavior. It is not forgetting what has happened. It is not restoring trust to the offender. It is not doing that person a favor nor is it easy. Forgiveness is a process.
Forgiving someone, even if they haven’t apologized, is about your freedom, your spiritual life, trusting God, and your responsibility to move forward.
It is a process and not a one time event. It’s not a one time prayer and it’s done. It takes time. Especially if the pain is deep.
Verses On Forgiveness
We have a whole book in the Bible that deals with lamenting. Lamentations! Learn to lament at the feet of Jesus. In your prayer time, it’s okay to let it all out to Him.
King David wrote so many cries to God for help dealing with enemies as well. Read them. Look at what his cries for help and lamenting looked like.
I suggest learning and setting healthy boundaries with those that are hurting you on an ongoing basis.
Boundaries are okay and Biblical. God sets boundaries with us even.
You do not have to stand and take toxic behavior over and over again.
Study forgiveness in the Bible, cry out – lament to God, sharing your pain with him, asking for help in healing and forgiving.
Never let anyone shame you for your process.
Yes as Christians we are called to forgive and we move forward every day laying the pain at the feet of Jesus, but it is a process. Repeat after me….Forgiveness is a process.
A moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month process of us continuing to seek after God and reading scripture to help us with forgiveness.
Knowing who you are in Christ is so important in forgiving others. Their sin is about them. It’s not yours to fix. It’s not yours! It doesn’t label who you are.
Remind yourself who you are in Christ as you work thru forgiveness. It’s so important to your healing through this great pain.
What happens when I don’t forgive?
If we choose not to work on forgiveness or flat out choose not to forgive, when the one who offended us has truly repented, we offend God. Choosing not to forgive those who have repented is sinning against God. This is the command of Jesus. We are to extend the same grace and forgiveness that Christ gives us.
The Power Of Forgiveness In The Bible
Forgiving others is important, but sometimes it can be really difficult to do without God’s help and power.
God’s call to forgive is not merely a suggestion. It’s a command. Colossians 3:13 tells us, “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Luke 6:37 says, “forgive, and you will be forgiven.”And Matthew 6:15 goes on to say, “but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” God does not take forgiveness lightly.
Why should I forgive and how can I do it?
The Bible offers some great instruction on the why and how to forgive. Let’s look at a few Bible Verses About Forgiveness…
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” Matthew 18:21-22.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15.
If we are filled with resentment and bitterness, we are exhibiting the “works of the flesh,” not the fruit of the Spirit which is evidence of true salvation (Galatians 5:19-23).
What did Jesus teach about forgiveness?
A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered ( read Matthew 6:15) and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward (read Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).
How do you forgive yourself?
Here’s to finally forgive yourself—or at least try.
- Pray and Pray again. Ask God to help you.
- Understand the difference between guilt and shame.
- Admit you messed up.
- Apologize to anyone you may have hurt.
- Write yourself an apology.
- Take care of yourself, mentally and physically.
- Be patient.
- Print off the list of Bible Verses About Forgiveness below. Read them every day.
Why should we forgive?
The benefits include reducing anger, hurt, depression and stress, while increasing feelings of optimism, hope, compassion, physical vitality, self–efficacy, conflict resolution skills and confidence. Forgiveness can even improve our physical health with some studies suggesting it reduces hypertension.
Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice. Choosing forgiveness will mean that you have to go to God on your knees for the power and help to forgive.
It’s choosing not to let thoughts of hatred and bitterness rule in your heart. It’s choosing to go to God to find help and comfort instead of dwelling on the past, even when our feelings would rather do anything but. Check out these Bible Verses About Forgiveness below.
Bible Verses About Forgiveness
More Articles on Forgiveness In The Bible
Practical Steps on Forgiveness – There are practical steps to forgiving others that each Christian should take into consideration when needing to forgive others and when instructing others to forgive.
Praying for those that hurt us – God doesn’t want us to take revenge, hate, nor return the hurt towards those that have scarred our hearts. And equally He doesn’t want us holding onto the pain and letting it fester inside us and allowing it to turn into bitterness.
Forgiving without an apology – Holding on to the hurt and pain will only hinder us from true healing. Un-forgiveness can put a wedge between us and the true inner healing God has for us. It puts a wall up between us and God.
This is something I’m putting into practice myself. I’ve often demanded an apology in order to forgive someone. But when it’s done this way, we, more often than not, are reacting based on the desires of our flesh. We feel an apology is owed to us.
In scripture, we can find encouraging and inspiring verses that encourage us to be forgiving. When we read a bible verse about forgiveness, it can show us how to bring these ideas into our life. Verses like the ‘practice being slow to judge quick to forgive’ bible verse help explain why the idea of forgiveness is so important. Still, it can be a challenge to put into practice.
Below are some bible verses on forgiveness that I like to turn to for encouragement when I’m struggling with the difficulty of forgiveness. We’ll review bible verses about forgiving criminals and all those who have done us wrong.
For those who already have a strong grasp on forgiveness, we’ve identified some of the best Bible verses for other situations as well. Whether you need strength, want to build more diligence, or are or are feeling discouraged, we’ve got you covered.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Interpretation: A direct command, loud and clear. As He died for our sins, so, too, should we be lenient and forgiving with those around us. While we should impose the highest standards on ourselves, we should not expect or demand the same of others as we’ll never be able to truly understand their circumstances and struggles. Recognize that much of how others behave is out of our control, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Interpretation: This is not saying that seventy-seven is the ceiling, but rather that there should be no limit to how we forgive others. The second we start keeping count, we’ve already gone down the wrong path. Forgiveness is a continuous, ongoing process that has no end. You can count on the fact that your entire life will be filled with instances and opportunities for you to practice forgiveness – it’s best to develop and train this muscle sooner than later.
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
Interpretation: It’s likely a fair statement to say that most people struggle with forgiveness. Knowing that, we should try to be the few who are more forgiving. There are enough in the world who will do the admonishing on our behalf.
Colossians 3:13
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive
Interpretation: Another reminder to be patient and understanding with each other. Complaints, misunderstandings, disputes, and debates are fine, but we should make sure to come together in the end and try to understand each other’s perspectives and differing points of view.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-6
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Interpretation: Love and forgiveness are intrinsic in one another. Forgiveness requires patience and kindness. Forgiveness does not come from a stance of superiority. It does not involve imposing our standards for ourselves onto other people.
Luke 6:37
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Interpretation: To do any of the above is to be hypocritical for we are not individually perfect and flawless. We are all human and will have moments where we slip up and fall off the path. Just as we should, at some point, find it in ourselves to forgive ourselves, we should do the same for others. In the end, He will do the same for us.
John 8:7
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Interpretation: There’s not a single one of us who hasn’t faltered at least once in our life. To judge others and forget out own mistakes is hypocritical, and this is an appeal to that. Who among us has made no mistakes?
Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Interpretation: If there is bad blood between you and your fellow humans, an attempt should be made to settle those differences amicably. We’re all equal in the mistakes we’ve made, and if it’s all the same, whether we’re with or at odds with one another, then we might as well choose love and harmony.
Luke 23: 33-34
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Interpretation: In a brilliant display of the ultimate sacrifice, he forgave all our sins, leading by example. We should strive to follow in his lead, knowing that we’re imperfect and that our light shines dull compared to his. However, we should nonetheless shine a light for our fellow humans and continue to pave the way for one another.
Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Interpretation: Only by striving to achieve love amongst all, as intended by Him, will be able to see the Lord in the end.
James 1: 19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Interpretation: Anger is the most dangerous opponent of all. We should practice patience and take the time to let harsh emotions pass before taking the opportunity to respond and exercise understanding.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour
Interpretation: In order to maintain clarity, we should observe ourselves and everything around us. Only by being present-minded can we recognize when we’re about to be consumed by negative emotions.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Interpretation: By acknowledging our mistakes to those around us, we can build safe spaces to build up one another. It helps give reassurance that we’re not alone in our struggles, that our suffering is not unique, and that there is a way to find community and mutual understanding through our difficulties.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Interpretation: Even though our loved ones may not be perfect, having their fair share of blunders and slip ups, we love them for their flaws regardless. Our unconditional love for them is the ultimate embodiment of our ability to forgive.
Do you have any verses you turn to when you are struggling with forgiveness?
Did any of these verses resonate with you? If so, grab a journal and jot these verses down so you can quickly turn to them whenever you’re struggling. If you know someone who could use a little more support today, feel free to share this article via Facebook, Pinterest, or email by clicking one of the buttons below.
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