Forgiveness can be one of the most challenging yet liberating aspects of the Christian faith. When others hurt us, it can be difficult to let go of pain and resentment. The Bible provides numerous verses that emphasize the importance of forgiving those who have wronged us, highlighting God’s call to extend grace and mercy just as He has done for us.
These verses challenge us to release bitterness and offer forgiveness, reminding us that holding onto anger can hinder our spiritual growth and peace.
Incorporating these verses into your life can help cultivate an attitude of love and forgiveness, showing that we are reflections of God’s forgiveness in our own lives. Allow these powerful messages to guide you toward a path of healing and freedom, transforming hurt into an opportunity for grace.
Bible Verses About Forgiving Others Who Hurt You
The Command to Forgive in Scripture
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13
More Related Verses:
“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.” – Mark 11:25
“If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” – Luke 17:3
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37
Jesus’ Teachings on Forgiveness
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14
More Related Verses:
“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'” – Matthew 18:21-22
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” – Matthew 18:35
Also read: 31 Bible Verses About Living Life With Purpose (with Related Verses)
The Power of Forgiveness in Relationships
“And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32
More Related Verses:
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
“A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” – Proverbs 19:11
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Biblical Examples of Forgiveness
“Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring it about that many people should be kept alive as they are today.'” – Genesis 50:19-20
More Related Verses:
“Then David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?'” – 1 Samuel 26:9
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” – Psalm 103:8
“And He forgave them their iniques and did not destroy them; He restrained His anger often and did not stir up all His wrath.” – Psalm 78:38
Forgiving as an Act of Obedience
“And this is the commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 1 John 4:21
More Related Verses:
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” – Hebrews 8:12
“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Ephesians 4:31
The Role of Humility in Forgiveness
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3
More Related Verses:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” – James 4:6
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” – James 4:10
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2
Forgiveness and Healing from Emotional Pain
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” – Psalm 147:3
More Related Verses:
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” – Psalm 55:22
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
How Forgiveness Frees Us
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
More Related Verses:
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” – Proverbs 12:25
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56
The Importance of Forgiveness for Our Spiritual Walk
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:15
More Related Verses:
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18
Scriptures Encouraging Forgiveness
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
More Related Verses:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.” – Luke 11:4
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24
Forgiveness as a Reflection of God’s Grace
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” – Titus 2:11
More Related Verses:
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” – Ephesians 2:4
“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'” – Hebrews 13:6
Forgiving Yourself: A Biblical Perspective
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?'” – Isaiah 66:1
More Related Verses:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
“I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” – Psalm 32:5
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us.” – Titus 3:4-5
The Consequences of Unforgiveness
“But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:15
More Related Verses:
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Matthew 6:13
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12
“The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.” – Proverbs 14:10
Forgiveness in the Context of Conflict Resolution
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” – James 3:16
More Related Verses:
“Recovery will come from God if you let Him heal you, and forgive your brother.” – Matthew 7:12
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
“If you are not willing to forgive, you will not find peace to your heart.” – Micah 7:18-19
Forgiveness and the Lord’s Prayer
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12
More Related Verses:
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” – 1 Corinthians 6:7
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” – James 5:19-20
Forgiveness in the New Testament
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
More Related Verses:
“But he who is forgiven little loves little.” – Luke 7:47
“And James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were partners with Simon.” – Luke 5:10
“We were not made to feel our infirmity, but rather to receive grace.” – Romans 5:20
The Psychological Benefits of Forgiveness
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Ephesians 4:31
More Related Verses:
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” – Proverbs 14:30
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” – Isaiah 26:3
Reconciliation vs. Forgiveness
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13
More Related Verses:
“Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” – Romans 12:18
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
The Challenge of Forgiving Repeated Offenses
“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 17:4
More Related Verses:
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7
“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” – Psalm 19:8
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24
Forgiveness and the Love of Christ
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
More Related Verses:
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” – 1 John 4:9
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
How to Forgive: Practical Steps from Scripture
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
More Related Verses:
“What you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” – Luke 12:3
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:18
Forgiveness in the Old Testament
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
More Related Verses:
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” – Psalm 103:8
“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” – Romans 12:19
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” – Jeremiah 31:34
The Heart of Forgiveness: Mercy and Compassion
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” – Luke 6:36
More Related Verses:
“He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed.” – Proverbs 19:17
“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” – Nehemiah 9:17
“Then Peter approached him and asked, ‘Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?'” – Matthew 18:21
The Impact of Forgiveness on Our Mental Health
“The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6
More Related Verses:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” – Psalm 51:12
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25
Forgiveness as a Journey: Moving Toward Healing
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
More Related Verses:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” – Psalm 51:10
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
Final Thoughts
Forgiveness is a vital aspect of our spiritual and emotional health. The Scriptures emphasize the necessity of forgiving others, mirroring the forgiveness we receive from God. Each verse reminds us that holding onto bitterness not only harms our relationships but also affects our overall well-being.
As we navigate our journeys in faith, embracing forgiveness allows us to break free from the chains of resentment and hurt. It invites healing into our lives and encourages us to reflect the grace that God extends to each of us. Remember, forgiveness is a process, not a one-time decision. It may require time and prayer, but the freedom it brings to your heart is worth the effort.