What Does the Bible Say About Understanding Forgiveness?

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 8 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.

Mark 11:25 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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.”

Luke 23:34 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 6:37 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Matthew 26:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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.”

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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.

1 John 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

James 5:16 ESV / 3 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.

Colossians 3:12-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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.

Colossians 1:13-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 10:43 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 2:38 ESV / 3 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.

Luke 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

Luke 11:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 3 helpful votes

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ...

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

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 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 2 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, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Acts 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

John 20:22-23 ESV / 2 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 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 13:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 24:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Luke 23:33-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 17:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Luke 17:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

Luke 9:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 7:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Luke 6:36-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Luke 6:27-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ...

Matthew 18:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:28-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ...

Matthew 18:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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?”

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ...

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“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.

Matthew 18:15-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“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. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 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. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ...

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Daniel 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

Jeremiah 31:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Proverbs 24:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Psalm 103:8-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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.

Psalm 86:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

64 Bible Verses about Understanding Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 11:25 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 23:34 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:37 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:12-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:13-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 10:43 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:38 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 17:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 11:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

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

Colossians 1:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 20:22-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 24:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 23:33-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 17:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 17:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 9:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 7:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:36-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:27-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:28-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:15-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:14-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 31:34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 103:8-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 86:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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