What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?
The Bible says God forgives completely, and He asks you to do the same. Forgiveness is not a suggestion in Scripture. It is a command and a gift. God forgave you through Christ, and that same grace is what powers your ability to forgive the people who have hurt you.
The Short Answer
Forgiveness is one of the most important themes in the entire Bible. The message is simple: God forgives you, and you forgive others. Not because the other person deserves it, but because God's forgiveness changes how you see everything.
Two verses capture the heart of it. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." And Colossians 3:13 says, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
The pattern is always the same: look at how God forgave you, and let that be the standard for how you forgive others.
What the Bible Actually Says About Forgiveness
God's forgiveness is complete
When God forgives, He does not hold back. Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." That is not partial forgiveness. That is total removal.
1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." God does not just forgive. He cleanses. He does not bring it back up.
You are called to forgive others
Jesus made this unmistakably clear. In Matthew 6:14-15, right after teaching the Lord's Prayer, He said: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
That is a hard teaching. But it is consistent throughout the New Testament. Forgiveness is not optional for believers. It is the natural overflow of having been forgiven by God.
Forgiveness does not mean pretending it did not happen
The Bible never says to ignore the hurt. Joseph forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery, but he still tested their character before trusting them again (Genesis 42-45). David forgave Saul, but he did not walk back into the palace.
Forgiveness means releasing the debt. It does not mean removing boundaries or pretending the wound was not real. You can forgive someone and still protect yourself.
What This Means for Your Life Today
Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a decision. You may not feel like forgiving the person who hurt you. That is normal. But the Bible does not ask you to wait until you feel ready. It asks you to choose forgiveness and let God work on your feelings over time.
Here is what forgiveness looks like in practice: it means you stop replaying the offense in your mind as fuel for resentment. It means you stop making the other person pay emotionally for what they did. It means you hand the situation to God and trust Him to sort out the justice.
This is not easy. Nobody said it would be. But holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to get sick. It does not punish them. It only holds you hostage. Forgiveness sets you free.
How to Apply This Biblical Teaching
Name the person and the offense
Vague forgiveness does not work. Be specific about who hurt you and what they did. Write it down if that helps. God already knows the details. Being honest about the wound is the first step to releasing it.
Choose to release the debt
Say it out loud: "I choose to forgive [name] for [what they did]. I release them from the debt they owe me." You may need to say it more than once. That is okay. Forgiveness is not a one-time event. It is a decision you return to whenever the hurt resurfaces.
Ask God to change your heart
You cannot manufacture forgiveness on your own. Ask God to give you the grace to forgive the way He forgives you. This is one prayer He always answers.
Set boundaries without bitterness
Forgiveness does not require you to return to an unsafe situation. You can forgive someone and still limit your contact with them. Boundaries protect you. Bitterness poisons you. Choose boundaries over bitterness.
Related Questions
Does the Bible say I have to forgive everyone?
Yes. Jesus taught that forgiveness is not optional for those who follow Him. In Matthew 6:14-15, He said that if you forgive others, your heavenly Father will forgive you, but if you do not forgive others, He will not forgive you. That does not mean forgiveness is easy. It means it matters to God.
What if the person never apologizes?
You can still forgive. Forgiveness in the Bible is about releasing the debt someone owes you, not about their response. Jesus forgave from the cross while His executioners showed no remorse (Luke 23:34). Your forgiveness frees you, regardless of what the other person does.
Is forgiveness the same as reconciliation?
No. Forgiveness is one-sided. You release the person from what they owe you. Reconciliation is two-sided and requires both people to participate. You can fully forgive someone without restoring the relationship, especially if the situation was abusive or unsafe.
How many times do I have to forgive someone?
When Peter asked Jesus this exact question (Matthew 18:21-22), Jesus answered "seventy times seven," meaning there is no limit. Forgiveness is not a one-time event. It is a posture you return to as often as the hurt resurfaces.
Try This Today
- ✓ Think of one person you have been holding a grudge against, even a small one.
- ✓ Say out loud: "I choose to forgive [their name] for [what they did]. I release them from the debt they owe me."
- ✓ Ask God to help you mean it a little more tomorrow than you do today.
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