What does the Bible say about forgiving each other?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls believers to forgive one another freely and sincerely, because God has forgiven them in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13 ground Christian forgiveness in God's mercy: we forgive as the Lord forgave us. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:14-15 and Mark 11:25 that a refusal to forgive reveals a heart out of step with the grace we claim to receive. He teaches persistent forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-22 and Luke 17:3-4, while Luke 6:37 commands mercy rather than condemnation. Forgiveness does not deny evil or cancel justice, but entrusts vengeance to God, as Romans 12:19 teaches, and answers wrongdoing with blessing rather than retaliation.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- Matthew 6:14-15
[14] "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- Luke 6:37
Don't judge, And you won't be judged. Don't condemn, And you won't be condemned. Set free, And you will be set free.
- Colossians 3:13
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.
- Matthew 18:21-22
[21] Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
- 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.
- Luke 6:27
"But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Luke 17:3-4
[3] Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. [4] If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
- 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."
- 1 Peter 3:9
not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about forgiving each other and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about forgiving each other