Forgiveness is a fundamental virtue in many religious and moral traditions, and it holds a central place within the pages of the Bible. The act of forgiving others who have wronged or hurt you is not only a profoundly spiritual concept but also a deeply transformative one.
In a world where conflicts, misunderstandings, and personal grievances are all too common, the Bible offers a guiding light, showcasing the power of forgiveness as a path to healing and reconciliation.
In this article, we discuss the sacred scriptures of the Bible to explore a collection of verses that address the art of forgiving those who have caused pain, anguish, or harm.
These verses span across both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating how forgiveness is not merely a New Testament teaching but a timeless, enduring principle that threads its way through the entire biblical narrative.
Bible Verses About Forgiving Others Who Hurt You
1. Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
2. Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
3. Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
4. 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.”
5. Mark 11:25
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
6. Romans 12:19
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
7. Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
8. Proverbs 17:9
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
9. James 5:16
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
10. 1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Forgiving Those Who Have Hurt You
11. Romans 12:17-19
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
12. Matthew 5:44
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
13. Luke 6:27-28
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
14. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
15. Proverbs 20:22
“Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.”
16. Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
17. Luke 17:3-4
“So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
18. 1 Peter 3:9
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
19. Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Scriptures on Forgiving Others
20. Psalm 103:10-12
“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
21. Luke 23:34
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
22. Romans 12:20-21
“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
23. Matthew 18:15
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
24. 1 John 4:20
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
25. Proverbs 24:29
“Do not say, ‘I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.'”
26. Matthew 5:46-48
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
27. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”
28. Romans 12:14
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
29. Proverbs 25:21-22
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
30. 1 Peter 2:23
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
Finding Strength in God’s Word to Forgive
31. Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
32. Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
33. 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.”
34. Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
35. Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
36. 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
37. Mark 11:25
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
38. Psalm 86:5
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”
39. Romans 2:1
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.”
40. Micah 7:18
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”
Practical Scriptures to Forgiving as Guided by Scripture
41. Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
42. Mark 11:25
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
43. Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
44. Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
45. Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
46. 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.”
47. 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
48. Psalm 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
49. Isaiah 43:25
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
50. Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the Bible is replete with powerful verses that provide us with profound insights into the act of forgiving those who have hurt us. From the teachings of Jesus to the wisdom found in the Old Testament, the Scriptures consistently emphasize the importance of forgiveness as a cornerstone of the Christian faith.
Through the verses presented in this article, we have learned that forgiveness is not contingent on the severity of the offense but is rooted in our obedience to God’s command to forgive as we have been forgiven. It requires us to release the burden of anger, resentment, and judgment and replace them with love, compassion, and reconciliation.
In the end, forgiveness is not only a gift we extend to others but also a gift we give ourselves. It liberates us from the chains of bitterness and enables us to experience the peace, healing, and freedom that come from living out God’s Word. Let us remember the timeless wisdom found in the Bible, knowing that forgiveness is a path to redemption, restoration, and a deeper connection with our Creator.
