Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible, emphasizing God’s mercy and the call for believers to extend forgiveness to others. The scriptures offer profound insights into the nature of forgiveness, its transformative power, and the divine example set by God. In this compilation, we explore 30 Bible verses about forgiveness, each accompanied by a commentary.
As readers reflect on these verses, may they gain a deeper understanding of the grace-filled act of forgiveness and its profound impact on individuals and relationships.
Bible verses about forgiveness
Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV):
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 highlights the Christian call to emulate God’s forgiveness by being kind and tenderhearted. This verse challenges believers to extend forgiveness to others, acknowledging the model of divine forgiveness demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV):
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 underscores the reciprocal nature of forgiveness—our forgiveness from God hinges on our willingness to forgive others. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a forgiving spirit, recognizing the interconnectedness of divine and human forgiveness.
Colossians 3:13 (NKJV):
“bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
Colossians 3:13 emphasizes the mutual forgiveness within the Christian community, modeled after Christ’s forgiveness. This verse challenges believers to extend grace and forgiveness to fellow believers, mirroring the redemptive love exemplified by Christ.
Mark 11:25 (NKJV):
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25 links forgiveness with effective prayer, highlighting the importance of a forgiving heart in maintaining a close relationship with God. This verse challenges believers to prioritize forgiveness, recognizing its role in fostering a vibrant and unhindered prayer life.
Luke 6:37 (NKJV):
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37 cautions against judgment and condemnation, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of forgiveness. This verse challenges believers to embody a non-judgmental spirit and extend forgiveness, understanding that such actions invite divine forgiveness in return.
Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV):
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘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 captures Peter’s inquiry about forgiveness, and Jesus’ response emphasizes boundless forgiveness. This verse challenges believers to embrace a limitless attitude of forgiveness, reflecting the abundant mercy offered by God.
Psalm 103:10-12 (NKJV):
“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:10-12 beautifully portrays God’s forgiveness, emphasizing His mercy and the complete removal of sins. This verse challenges believers to appreciate the depth of God’s forgiveness and extend a similar grace to others.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV):
“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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 outlines the conditions for divine forgiveness and restoration, emphasizing humility, prayer, and repentance. This verse challenges believers to actively seek God’s forgiveness and participate in the healing of communities through righteous living.
Psalm 32:1-2 (NKJV):
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
Psalm 32:1-2 extols the blessedness of those forgiven by God, highlighting the covering of sin and the absence of deceit. This verse challenges believers to rejoice in the blessing of divine forgiveness and cultivate a spirit of honesty before God.
Micah 7:18-19 (NKJV):
“Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.”
Micah 7:18-19 celebrates God’s incomparable forgiveness, highlighting His delight in mercy and the removal of sins. This verse challenges believers to appreciate the depths of God’s compassion and emulate His forgiving nature.
Acts 3:19 (NKJV):
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 3:19 connects repentance and conversion with the blotting out of sins and the experience of refreshing from God’s presence. This verse challenges believers to engage in genuine repentance, leading to the joy of divine forgiveness and renewal.
Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV):
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”
Isaiah 43:25 emphasizes God’s motivation for forgiving—His own sake—and the promise not to remember sins. This verse challenges believers to recognize the selfless nature of divine forgiveness and strive to emulate it in their interactions with others.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV):
“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 establishes the link between confession, God’s faithfulness, and the forgiveness of sins. This verse challenges believers to maintain a posture of confession, trusting in God’s unwavering faithfulness to extend forgiveness and cleansing.
Psalm 51:1-2 (NKJV):
“Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2 is a heartfelt plea for mercy and cleansing, acknowledging God’s lovingkindness. This verse challenges individuals to approach God with humility, seeking His mercy and the thorough cleansing that comes from divine forgiveness.
Matthew 26:28 (NKJV):
“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:28 relates Jesus’ sacrifice to the remission of sins under the new covenant. This verse challenges believers to appreciate the redemptive power of Christ’s blood, which brings about the forgiveness of sins.
Bible verses about forgiveness
Psalm 130:3-4 (NKJV):
“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.”
Psalm 130:3-4 acknowledges the inevitability of sin but highlights God’s forgiveness as a reason to fear and reverence Him. This verse challenges believers to approach God with awe, recognizing His forgiveness as a source of reverence.
Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV):
“No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Jeremiah 31:34 anticipates a time when God’s forgiveness leads to an intimate knowledge of Him. This verse challenges believers to embrace the transformative power of divine forgiveness, experiencing a deep and personal relationship with God.
Psalm 86:5 (NKJV):
“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Psalm 86:5 extols God’s goodness, willingness to forgive, and abundance of mercy for those who seek Him. This verse challenges individuals to call upon God, confident in His readiness to extend forgiveness and shower abundant mercy.
Luke 7:47 (NKJV):
“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Luke 7:47 reflects on the connection between love and the forgiveness of sins, emphasizing the depth of the forgiven woman’s love. This verse challenges believers to love much in response to the abundant forgiveness they have received from God.
Psalm 103:3 (NKJV):
“Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.”
Psalm 103:3 intertwines forgiveness with healing, emphasizing God’s comprehensive ability to address both spiritual and physical needs. This verse challenges believers to trust in God’s holistic healing, embracing the forgiveness that brings wholeness.
Daniel 9:9 (NKJV):
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.”
Daniel 9:9 acknowledges God’s ownership of mercy and forgiveness, even in the face of human rebellion. This verse challenges individuals to turn to God in humility, recognizing His merciful disposition toward those who seek forgiveness.
Matthew 18:15 (NKJV):
“Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”
Matthew 18:15 provides a practical approach to conflict resolution and reconciliation, emphasizing communication and resolution. This verse challenges believers to pursue reconciliation with those who have wronged them, fostering an environment of forgiveness and restoration.
Psalm 130:4 (NKJV):
“But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.”
Psalm 130:4 repeats the idea that forgiveness leads to fear and reverence for God. This verse challenges believers to cultivate a deep sense of awe and respect for God as they experience His forgiveness and mercy.
Luke 17:3-4 (NKJV):
“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Luke 17:3-4 outlines the process of addressing offenses within the community, highlighting the importance of rebuke, repentance, and forgiveness. This verse challenges believers to engage in the cycle of correction and forgiveness, fostering a culture of grace and restoration.
Nehemiah 9:17 (NKJV):
“But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.”
Nehemiah 9:17 describes God as ready to pardon, gracious, and merciful, emphasizing His patience and kindness. This verse challenges individuals to appreciate God’s longsuffering nature and extend similar grace to others.
Mark 3:28 (NKJV):
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter.”
Mark 3:28 expresses the assurance that all sins, including blasphemies, can be forgiven. This verse challenges believers to trust in the boundless capacity of God’s forgiveness, embracing the assurance of complete pardon.
Psalm 78:38 (NKJV):
“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath.”
Psalm 78:38 recounts God’s forgiveness and compassion toward His people, highlighting His willingness to turn away anger. This verse challenges individuals to recognize God’s compassionate nature and approach Him with confidence in His forgiveness.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV):
“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24 underscores the priority of reconciliation in worship, emphasizing the need to address conflicts before presenting offerings to God. This verse challenges believers to prioritize relationships and forgiveness in their worship practices.
Psalm 25:11 (NKJV):
“For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”
Psalm 25:11 appeals to God’s reputation and mercy, seeking pardon for sins based on His character. This verse challenges individuals to approach God with humility, recognizing the greatness of their need for His forgiveness.
Acts 13:38-39 (NKJV):
“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Acts 13:38-39 proclaims the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, highlighting the contrast with the limitations of the Mosaic law. This verse challenges believers to embrace the freedom and justification offered through faith in Christ, understanding the unique power of His forgiveness.
Conclusion: Bible verses about forgiveness
These 30 Bible verses about forgiveness, accompanied by detailed commentaries, provide a rich exploration of the biblical teachings on forgiveness.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the scriptures consistently emphasize God’s gracious forgiveness and call believers to extend the same grace to others. May readers be inspired to cultivate a forgiving spirit, drawing from the well of divine forgiveness, and experience the transformative power of reconciliation in their relationships and communities.
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