Forgiveness is a major theme throughout the Bible. Here are some key Bible verses about forgiveness and explanations around them:
Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
This verse from the Sermon on the Mount makes it clear that we should forgive others, just as God forgives us. Jesus teaches us to pray “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Our forgiveness of others is connected to receiving forgiveness ourselves.
Matthew 18:21-22
“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.”
When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive, Jesus responded with a number representing limitless forgiveness. We should always be willing to forgive others no matter how many times they sin against us.
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.”
Jesus teaches us not to judge or condemn others, but rather to forgive. If we forgive others, God will in turn forgive us. The depth we forgive others is the depth we will be forgiven.
Luke 17:3-4
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Jesus tells us to forgive someone who sins against us and asks for forgiveness, even if this happens repeatedly in one day. Our forgiveness should be abundant.
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
We are to forgive others in the same way Christ forgave us. Because we have been completely forgiven by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we should extend that same grace to others.
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.”
Again we see the connection between Christ forgiving us and our forgiveness of others. Out of gratitude for the forgiveness we’ve received, we can forgive others.
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.”
Jesus taught that broken relationships should be reconciled before worshiping God. We ought to seek forgiveness from those we’ve wronged before offering our gifts to God.
Proverbs 17:9
“Whoever covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
This proverb encourages overlooking minor offenses to preserve relationships, rather than dredging up past hurts. Forgiveness leads to stronger bonds.
Psalm 103:8-12
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
This passage praises God for not giving us what we deserve for our sins. Though we deserve judgment, God forgives us, covers our transgressions, and lavishes us with unfailing love.
Mark 11:25
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
When praying, Jesus instructs us to forgive others. Harboring unforgiveness in our hearts blocks us from receiving forgiveness from God.
Acts 7:59-60
“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
As Stephen was being martyred, he prayed for the Lord to forgive those stoning him. This demonstrates radical forgiveness, even in horrific circumstances.
Romans 12:14-21
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them… Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves… To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Paul instructs the church to live at peace with everyone, even enemies. We overcome evil with good by loving our enemies and forgiving those who persecute us.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8
“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.”
Paul urges the church to forgive and comfort someone who had caused them pain, being careful not to overwhelm him with condemnation. This prevents him from being swallowed by sorrow.
Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.”
Jesus gives instructions for confronting a brother who sins against you. The goal is restoration; if he listens and repents, you have “gained your brother back.” Accountability within the church family aims for repentance and forgiveness.
Matthew 6:9-13
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”
In Jesus’ model prayer, he includes asking God for forgiveness as we have forgiven our debtors. Our request for God’s pardon is connected to our extending pardon to others.
In summary, the consistent biblical message is that because God has forgiven us through Christ, we should forgive others. Forgiveness brings reconciliation, restoration, and enables relationships to flourish as God designed.