Top 10 Bible Verses About Forgiveness

Last Updated: 15 February 2020

I think you’ll agree with me when I say: It’s really hard to forgive those who hurt us and forget what they did. Some people don’t even deserve forgiveness. Yet, the Bible is very clear: forgive, so God can forgive us.

This post is a compilation of the top 10 Bible verses about forgiveness. May these scriptures help you understand that forgiveness is God’s command, and inspire you to let things go and allow God to heal your soul.

1. Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Reflection
We are living in a world full of hatred, meanness and anger. Kindness and compassion towards others don’t seem the norm these days. Do you think it’s normal that random acts of kindness go viral on the internet? As if, conflict is the norm whereas being gentle is not. But, it should be the other way around. We should be kind, gentle, gracious, tolerant and merciful. Why, because Jesus is compassionate, Jesus is tolerant, Jesus forgives. Let’s make an effort to be more like Jesus.

Pray the verse
Heavenly Father, give me a gentle heart and help me treat everyone around me with kindness, respect and dignity. When people hurt my feelings, please give me the strength to forgive them just as you forgave me. Amen.

2. Mark 11:25

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.

Reflection
Our Heavenly Father forgave us through Jesus. He also commands us repeatedly in His Word to forgive and love our neighbors. How can we then ask God for a favor if we are not willing to follow His second most important commandment, which is: “love thy neighbor as thyself”? God is all-knowing and no one can fool Him. So, if we really want Him to answer our prayers, we better start forgiving and stop holding grudges.

Pray the verse
Lord God, I don’t want you to find my prayer an abomination due to un-forgiveness in my heart. I ask you therefore to help me forgive anyone who wronged me in any way. Amen.

3. Matthew 6:14-15

If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Reflection
God’s love is unconditional. But, His forgiveness is not. Jesus was very clear here. We cannot expect God to forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others. Maybe, God wants to teach us a lesson. Did you know that according to science forgiveness is great for your mental health? And God, being omniscient, knew that long before scientists knew anything. After all, He created us, right? So, maybe the reason why He puts so much emphasis on forgiveness, is because He knows that forgiveness will also heal our heart and give us peace of mind.

Pray the verse
Dear Lord, your Holy Word is clear: if I don’t forgive, you won’t forgive me. I ask you therefore to search me Oh Lord and if you find un-forgiveness in my heart, bring it to my attention. And help me make the decision to forgive, so that you too can forgive and accept me. Amen.

4. Matthew 18:21-22

Peter asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.”

Reflection
Jesus actually meant here that you should not forgive once but always. But, His reply was sheer genius. Seventy times seven is 490. That’s a huge number of times. And don’t forget, it’s 490 times for every person who hurt you. Who could keep count for that many wrongdoings? Besides, humans are creatures of habits. By that time, we would have learnt how to forgive and forget.

Pray the verse
Lord in Heaven, let me take Jesus’ words in my heart and make it a habit of forgiving those who hurt me. Let your love flow in such a manner in my heart that forgiveness happens spontaneously without it being a difficult process. Amen.

5. Luke 6:37

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Reflection
Sometimes, we just don’t realize how much we judge and condemn others. It’s very easy to see the mistakes of others, but difficult to recognize our own faults. Consider the following examples. We are eager to talk about the bad behavior of a co-worker, but forget that talking behind’s people back is also bad. We don’t hesitate to tell the children of others how not to behave, while giving a pass to our own. We repudiate the behavior of current generations without acknowledging that it is our generation that raised them. And, we can keep going. We all have faults in our star. Let’s embrace and help each other become better.

Pray the verse
Lovely Father, this world is full of judgement and condemnation. Don’t allow me to be a part of the flock. Don’t let me judge and condemn my neighbor. But, help me see people as you see them: a beautiful creature that needs the creator. Amen.

6. Colossians 3:13

Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Reflection
This verse reminds us of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no place for hatred and revenge in a heart full of these things. It is our duty as Christians to be more like this. The Christian that bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit, is the Christian that forgives. Let’s allow the Spirit of God to take control, so that we may bear fruit and become more like Jesus.

Pray the verse
Dear God, I pray for a heart full of compassion, a mind that seeks harmony with others, a humble and gentle spirit, a tongue that speaks with kindness, eyes that see the good in people, and an attitude of forgiveness and tolerance. Amen.

7. Luke 6:27

But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

Reflection
We all crave reciprocal love. How can you then love someone that hates you or that wants to hurt you? It’s not easy. It’s a difficult thing to do. It seems like that sometimes Jesus ask a lot from us. But, Jesus is right. True forgiveness is a heavy burden and it requires us to absolve our ‘enemies’ unconditionally – with no strings attached. Meaning: greet that person again, talk to them, help them when in need, forget the wrongdoings and love again.

Pray the verse
Oh Lord my God, you know that it’s not easy to love mean-spirited people. But, I want to obey you and try to love everyone who hurt me. Give me strength to be kind to them despite of all they have done to me. Amen.

8. Matthew 5:38-40

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

Reflection
One would think: Jesus are you mad? If someone hits me, don’t hit back or run? Just, stay there and take another one? Well, here is the thing. Of course, this verse is not to be taken in the literal sense. It’s a metaphor expressing that our attitude should always be willingness to forgive. If someone wants to fight us, of course we should always try to avoid the conflict or if necessary even defend ourselves. But, afterwards, we should put an effort to mend affairs, forgive and move on.

Pray the verse
Sweet Lord, help me become more like Jesus by learning me to do good in the face of evil. Help me keep my mouth shut, when they insult me or talk behind my back. Help me stay kind and calm when they treat me badly or hurt my feelings. Shield my heart, Lord, so that their negativity does not affect my positive attitude. Amen.

9. Romans 12:19

Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Reflection
Obviously, God doesn’t want us to take revenge, otherwise He wouldn’t tell us multiply times to love and forgive. It’s not our duty to punish our ‘enemies’. Our obligation is to love and let God take care of the rest.

Pray the verse
Lord Jesus, you know how badly and unfair they treated me. It’s not my concern what you do to them. But I ask you to help me forgive and don’t allow me go through life bitter. Don’t allow their injustice stop me from my destiny. Give me strength to keep going and so become the person you created me to be. Amen.

10. Proverbs 25:21-22

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Reflection
Heaping coals of fire on someone’s head is a figure of speech. It actually means keep food on your enemies’ table. In other words: helping those who hate us even if they don’t deserve it.

Pray the verse
My God, when my enemies are in need, help me to not rejoice in their suffering, but extend my hand and pull them up. Help me make peace with them and live loving each other as you commanded in your Word. Amen.