What Does the Bible Say About Priests Power To Forgive Sins?

James 5:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:14-15 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

John 20:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

John 20:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Leviticus 5:4-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

Acts 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

John 20:22-23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20:21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

John 20:1-31 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ...

Matthew 18:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

2 Corinthians 2:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,

Matthew 9:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

John 20:21-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Mark 2:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Matthew 9:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Leviticus 19:21-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But he shall bring his compensation to the Lord, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the Lord for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has committed.

1 John 5:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

Hebrews 10:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And since we have a great priest over the house of God,

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Acts 2:38 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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.

Mark 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Matthew 23:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 3:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Exodus 19:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Revelation 1:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Luke 12:47-48 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Luke 5:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Mark 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 5:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Nehemiah 9:2-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.

2 Samuel 12:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

Numbers 5:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.

James 5:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 13:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ...

Luke 10:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

47 Bible Verses about Priests Power To Forgive Sins

James 5:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:14-15 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 5:4-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 19:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:22-23 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:21 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:1-31 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 2:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:21-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:21-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 10:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:38 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 3:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 19:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 3:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 12:47-48 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nehemiah 9:2-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 12:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 5:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 13:38 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 10:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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