"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)
From these words of Jesus Christ on the cross, asking His Father to forgive those who crucified Him, we should humbly learn the importance of forgiveness.
If you wish to be like Christ and live by His example, then you can start by forgiving others the way He did and still does.
Forgiveness is beginning the process of healing from trauma and sin that has separated us from God.
As in the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Matthew 6:12)
"But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15)
Read through these Bible verses about forgiveness and find the inspiration to love others by forgiving their sins, as God loves us and forgives our sins.
Bible Verses about Forgiveness
These scriptures on forgiveness are from the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible.
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
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.”
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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 times seven.
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.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
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.
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.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
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.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
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.”
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
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. Selah
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
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.
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
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.
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.”
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
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