What does the Bible say about forgiveness?
Forgiveness is at the center of the Bible's story. God's forgiveness of us is treated as the source — and the obligation — of our forgiveness of others. Jesus is unflinching about it: refusing to forgive blocks our own. Forgiveness in scripture is not pretending nothing happened; it is releasing the right to retaliate, trusting God with justice.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Bible verses about forgiveness
"and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you."
"forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:"
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
"Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven."
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
"And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:"
"As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Frequently asked
How many times should we forgive?
Jesus answers Peter's question in Matthew 18:22 — 'not seven times, but seventy times seven.' The number is symbolic: forgiveness is not rationed.
Does God forgive every sin?
1 John 1:9 promises that 'if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'
Do I have to forgive someone who isn't sorry?
Jesus' teaching ties our forgiveness to God's, not to the offender's repentance (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness can be unilateral; reconciliation requires both sides.
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