There are hundreds of Bible verses about forgiveness. In fact, the Christian faith is established on the act of forgiveness. Jesus, while being tortured interceded on behalf of His executioners by asking God to forgive them!
Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
What else does the Good Book mention about forgiveness?
FORGIVENESS MEANING
Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary act of releasing the emotional and spiritual debt owed from the offending behavior of another. The release is freely granted in spite of lingering pain or emotional trauma. Forgiveness is an act of the will and is often done by faith. Forgiveness does not, however, require one to forget the experienced wrong. It does, however, release the offending person in full and provides them with a clean slate.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Refusing to forgive another person poisons our hearts. All of us have been wronged or treated unfairly at some point in our life. Some more so than others.
Each of us has been victimized or will have been. Victimhood is a choice, however. Jesus was betrayed, tortured, and murdered yet He freely forgave. He was not a victim.
“Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free
only to discover that the prisoner was you.”
— Lewis Smedes
Matthew 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Exodus 10:17 Now, therefore, forgive my sin, please, only this once, and plead with the Lord your God only to remove this death from me.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “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.
Psalm 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
SCRIPTURES ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Stephen was simply preaching the Good News one day and his reward was being stoned to death. With his dying breath, he interceded on behalf of his murderers.
Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
Hebrews 9:22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Psalm 25:18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in mercy; And You did not abandon them.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FORGIVING YOURSELF
Surprise!
The Bible doesn’t mention the act of forgiving ourselves. Apparently, that’s a man-made tradition that has seeped its way into the Church. We are to ask God to forgive us for our sins against Him and we’re to seek forgiveness from those we harm with our sin.
The idea behind forgiving oneself leans toward the territory of “ME-OLOGY instead of Biblical theology.
VERSES ABOUT FORGIVING OTHERS
God fully expects us to forgive others even for the most heinous atrocities. Take some time and read the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35) to get a firm grasp of forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
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.
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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.”
JESUS AND FORGIVENESS
Jesus mentioned or modeled forgiveness on a daily basis. When He told His disciples to forgive others more than seventy times in one day the apostles cried out, “Lord, increase our faith!” Forgiveness often requires faith as it makes little sense to our human nature.
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.
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Acts 13:38 Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.
Luke 7:47-48 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are 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.”
PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS
Don’t be shy, hesitant, or reluctant to ask for forgiveness. He’s the one that made the offer to us so let’s take Him up on His offer of mercy!
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Matthew 6:11-12 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Exodus 10:17 Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the Lord your God to take this deadly plague away from me.
Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
FORGIVENESS SCRIPTURES
Forgiveness is woven through both the Old Testament and New Testament. Embrace these scriptures on forgiveness!
II Chronicles 6:21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Psalm 65:3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.
Jeremiah 33:8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.
I John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT FORGIVING OTHERS WHO HURT YOU
Yes, you will get hurt by someone you love. Typically strangers cannot hurt us emotionally. It’s going to happen and forgiveness will keep our hearts pure from the poison that tries to arrive and metastasize in our souls.
Luke 17:3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 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.”
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
UNFORGIVABLE SIN IN THE BIBLE
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is serious business. Please do your best to understand what that truly means and don’t just do a bumper sticker investigation.
Additionally, refusing to forgive another person has serious consequences.
Matthew 12:31-32 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Mark 3:28-30 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Lamentations 3:42 We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven.
Matthew 18:34-35 And in anger, his master delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
SONG ABOUT FORGIVENESS
Here is a deep cut from a timeless record.
The song is titled Help Me To Forgive and it’s by Chris Falson and the Amazing Stories. Please don’t skip this song. I promise that the lyrics will truly bless you!
God continues to do great things here at The Profit Dare and over on YouTube at Sola Melodica.
BENEDICTION
Romans 15:5-6 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.