Bible Verses About Forgiveness
The Bible ties being forgiven and extending forgiveness together so tightly that Jesus makes them a single request in the Lord's Prayer.
Forgiveness verses in scripture move in two directions at once: God's forgiveness of people, and the forgiveness people are asked to extend to each other, sometimes — as in Matthew 18 — without a stated limit.
Featured verses
“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 · WEB
“For 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.”
Matthew 6:14-15 · WEB
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 · WEB
“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.”
Colossians 3:13 · WEB
“Then Peter came and said to him, "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."”
Matthew 18:21-22 · WEB
More verses
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12 · WEB
Questions about forgiveness
Does the Bible say forgiveness means forgetting or reconciling?
The Bible's forgiveness language (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13) focuses on releasing a claim against someone rather than erasing memory or requiring reconciliation, which many pastors and counselors treat as a separate, sometimes unsafe, additional step.