Bible Verses About Forgiveness
Bible Verses about Forgiveness - Scriptures on Forgiving Ourself and Others
What does the Bible say about forgiveness? Forgiveness in the Bible isn't optional. God commands us to forgive others just as He has forgiven us of our sins. It is our responsibility as Christians to love others as Christ loves us, and to offer forgiveness to those who offend, even when it's the last thing we want to do. Spend time talking to God about your pain and disappointment, and seek His guidance in restoring relationships.
Unforgiveness is spiritually and physically unhealthy. It results in stress and bitterness that attacks your own soul, mind, and body, not the other person's. These Bible verses about forgiveness will remind you of God's own forgiveness of your sins and help you find freedom and peace to forgive.
Want to keep God's promises close at hand? Download your free printable of the 15 Bible verses every Christian should know by heart.
Best Bible Verses about Forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32 is one of the clearest commands on forgiveness in all of Scripture. Here are 5 of the best Bible verses about forgiveness to start with:
Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
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."
Matthew 6:14-15 - "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."
1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
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."
Discover the best Bible verses about forgiveness, quotations on forgiveness, and scripture below.
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Psalm 32:5 NIV
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalm 79:9 NIV
9 Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.
Psalm 130:4 NIV
4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Isaiah 55:7 NIV
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Matthew 6:12-15 NIV
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Mark 11:25 NIV
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Luke 6:37 NIV
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 17:3 NIV
3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother or sistersins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Acts 2:38 NIV
38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:43 NIV
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Ephesians 1:7 NIV
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
Colossians 2:13-15 NIV
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 3:13 NIV
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Hebrews 8:12 NIV
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
1 John 1:9 NIV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
21 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?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
James 5:16 NIV
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Ephesians 1:7 NIV
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
Luke 17:3-4 NIV
3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother or sistersins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them."
Isaiah 1:18 NIV
18 "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Romans 8:1-2 NIV
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
1 John 2:12 NIV
12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Genesis 50:20 NIV
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Psalm 25:6-7 NIV
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
Micah 7:18 NIV
18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
