VERSES ABOUT FORGIVENESS

Forgiving others brings such freedom. It's like taking off a heavy backpack you've been carrying for way too long. There's a real beauty to forgiveness, and anyone who's experienced both giving and receiving it knows what I mean. God is our ultimate example, right? He shows us how it's done and calls us to practice it every single day.

So, I encourage you to forgive, just as Christ forgives you – every single day. It's time to let go and be free. Let's be real, in this life, someone is bound to hurt or offend you. But even then, we're called to learn to forgive and love again. Get that bitterness out of your system. Trust me, it'll help you grow and move forward. It'll even strengthen your relationship with God.

As children of God, we rejoice because we've received forgiveness for our sins through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. But it's important to remember that just as we've been forgiven, our hearts need to be ready to forgive others. Mark 11:25¹ says, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." As long as we repent and are faithful in forgiving others, God will completely forgive us. And that's when we can truly have a fresh start!

But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;

But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which spitefully use you.

Therefore if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?Jesus said to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.

Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles:

If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:For you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD shall reward you.

Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.

But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up,Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling smell.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:But I say to you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

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

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.

Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him.

Why receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

The discretion of a man defers his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

Judge not, that you be not judged.For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.

For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy to all them that call on you.

See that none render evil for evil to any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.

When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you.

Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?

A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any wise to do evil.

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient,In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven:

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covers shame.

With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

But why do you judge your brother? or why do you set at nothing your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Brothers, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.

But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

He that said he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now.He that loves his brother stays in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not where he goes, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.

He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.

Why, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.

Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

To whom you forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I say to you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; hold to that which is good.

And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

Let all your things be done with charity.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Let brotherly love continue.Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.

My little children, these things write I to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before,I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.

Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.

Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus to him, Go, and do you likewise.

For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his flavor, with which shall it be salted? it is thereafter good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said to the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; your sins be forgiven you.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

That you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We know that whoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not.

For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Now I beseech you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Prayer