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61 Bible Verses about Forgiving Others
Unforgiveness is like a poison we take in small doses every day, but it eventually ends up poisoning us. It's so easy to hold onto those hurts, isn't it? But think about it: the Lord calls us to repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness. He also urges us to forgive those who offend or hurt us. It's a two-way street.
As children of God, we're called to practice forgiveness constantly. Imagine bringing your offering to the altar and suddenly remembering someone you've wronged, or someone who has wronged you. What do you do? Leave the offering right there, go and reconcile, and then come back and worship. It makes you think, doesn't it?
It's hypocritical to say we love the Lord but can't stand the people we see every day. Think about that for a second. God wants us, as the body of Christ, to practice the same kind of love He has for us – the kind of love that led Him to sacrifice His Son. That's powerful stuff.
Holding a grudge can be toxic, you know? It can eat away at you. Bitterness toward someone in your church isn't a sign of maturity, it's a sign that something needs to change in our hearts. We need to repent of any hypocrisy, drop the pretense, and be the unified church Jesus is coming back for: a pure church, without spot or wrinkle. That's what the Lord wants, and it's what we should strive for, too.
Suppose they sin against you seven times in one day. And suppose they come back to you each time and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ You must forgive them.”
Forgive other people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins.
So watch what you do. “If your brother or sister sins against you, tell them they are wrong. Then if they turn away from their sins, forgive them.
“If you do not judge other people, then you will not be judged. If you do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.”
Let the priests who serve the Lord weep. Let them cry between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, “Lord, spare your people. Don’t let others make fun of them. Don’t let the nations laugh at them. Don’t let them tease your people and say, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
Peter came to Jesus. He asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.
Forgive other people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Get rid of all hard feelings, anger and rage. Stop all fighting and lying. Don’t have anything to do with any kind of hatred.Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.
Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.
You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient.Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
Brothers and sisters, what if someone is caught in a sin? Then you who live by the Spirit should correct that person. Do it in a gentle way. But be careful. You could be tempted too.
Those who have not shown mercy will not receive mercy when they are judged. To show mercy is better than to judge.
We have been set free because of what Christ has done. Because he bled and died our sins have been forgiven. We have been set free because God’s grace is so rich.
Here is how you can tell the difference between God’s children and the devil’s children. Anyone who doesn’t do what is right isn’t God’s child. And anyone who doesn’t love their brother or sister isn’t God’s child either.
But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.
Put up with one another. Forgive one another if you are holding something against someone. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you.
So watch what you do. “If your brother or sister sins against you, tell them they are wrong. Then if they turn away from their sins, forgive them.“It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is shown to the world.Suppose someone is on the housetop on that day. And suppose what they own is inside the house. They should not go down to get what they own. No one in the field should go back for anything either.Remember Lot’s wife!Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it. Whoever loses their life will keep it.I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed. One person will be taken and the other left.Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other left.”“Where, Lord?” his disciples asked. He replied, “The vultures will gather where there is a dead body.”Suppose they sin against you seven times in one day. And suppose they come back to you each time and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ You must forgive them.”
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them back.
At one time you were dead in your sins. Your desires controlled by sin were not circumcised. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people will also cry out and not be answered.
Whoever wants to show love forgives a wrong. But those who talk about it separate close friends.
I will wash from its people all the sins they have committed against me. And I will forgive all the sins they committed when they turned away from me.
Then here is what I want you to remember. Anyone who keeps a sinner from going astray will save them from death. God will erase many sins by forgiving them.
And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins.”
My dear friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, “I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back,” (Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord.Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect.Do just the opposite. Scripture says, “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads.” (Proverbs 25:21,22)Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.
He doesn’t punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn’t pay us back in keeping with the evil things we’ve done.He loves those who have respect for him. His love is as high as the heavens are above the earth.He has removed our sins from us. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west.
“Suppose you are offering your gift at the altar. And you remember that your brother or sister has something against you.Leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and make peace with them. Then come back and offer your gift.
He has removed our sins from us. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west.
Anyone you forgive I also forgive. Was there anything to forgive? If so, I have forgiven it for your benefit, knowing that Christ is watching.We don’t want Satan to outsmart us. We know how he does his evil work.
So turn away from your sins. Turn to God. Then your sins will be wiped away. The time will come when the Lord will make everything new.
“This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
So confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another so that you might be healed. The prayer of a godly person is powerful. Things happen because of it.
So he got up and went to his father. “While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him. He was filled with tender love for his son. He ran to him. He threw his arms around him and kissed him.“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer fit to be called your son.’“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.This son of mine was dead. And now he is alive again. He was lost. And now he is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them back.But what if they won’t listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’ (Deuteronomy 19:15)But what if they also refuse to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if they refuse to listen even to the church? Then don’t treat them as a brother or sister. Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.
Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God’s glory.The free gift of God’s grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free.
Lord, suppose you kept a close watch on sins. Lord, who then wouldn’t be found guilty?But you forgive. So we can serve you with respect.
Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You will receive a blessing by doing this.
“I am the one who wipes out your lawless acts. I do it because of who I am. I will not remember your sins anymore.
Lord, who is a God like you? You forgive sin. You forgive your people when they do what is wrong. You don’t stay angry forever. Instead, you take delight in showing your faithful love to them.Once again you will show loving concern for us. You will completely wipe out the evil things we’ve done. You will throw all our sins into the bottom of the sea.
But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.” (Jeremiah 31:31–34)
“Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged.Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake?Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what is written in the Law and in the Prophets.“Enter God’s kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is large and the road is wide that leads to ruin. Many people go that way.But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life. Only a few people find it.“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves.You can tell each tree by its fruit. Do people pick grapes from bushes? Do they pick figs from thorns?In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit. But a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree can’t bear bad fruit. And a bad tree can’t bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down. It is thrown into the fire.You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others.
God, have mercy on me according to your faithful love. Because your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts.God, create a pure heart in me. Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.Don’t send me away from you. Don’t take your Holy Spirit away from me.Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you. Give me a spirit that obeys you so that I will keep going.Then I will teach your ways to those who commit lawless acts. And sinners will turn back to you.You are the God who saves me. I have committed murder. God, take away my guilt. Then my tongue will sing about how right you are no matter what you do.Lord, open my lips so that I can speak. Then my mouth will praise you.You don’t take delight in sacrifice. If you did, I would bring it. You don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings.The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.May you be pleased to give Zion success. May it please you to build up the walls of Jerusalem.Then you will delight in the sacrifices of those who do what is right. Whole burnt offerings will bring delight to you. And bulls will be offered on your altar.Wash away all the evil things I’ve done. Make me pure from my sin.
All this is from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ’s death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ.
Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me.I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.
Anyone who hides their sins doesn’t succeed. But anyone who admits their sins and gives them up finds mercy.
At one time you were dead in your sins. Your desires controlled by sin were not circumcised. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.He wiped out what the law said that we owed. The law stood against us. It judged us. But he has taken it away and nailed it to the cross.
Blessed is the person whose lawless acts are forgiven. Their sins have been taken away.Sinful people have all kinds of trouble. But the Lord’s faithful love is all around those who trust in him.Be glad because of what the Lord has done for you. Be joyful, you who do what is right! Sing, all you whose hearts are honest!Blessed is the person whose sin the Lord never counts against them. That person doesn’t want to cheat anyone.
“Come. Let us settle this matter,” says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are deep red, they will be white like wool.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” The soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Suppose someone claims to love God but hates a brother or sister. Then they are a liar. They don’t love their brother or sister, whom they have seen. So they can’t love God, whom they haven’t seen.Here is the command God has given us. Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.