Bible verses about forgiveness
Forgiveness runs in two directions in Scripture — what is forgiven, and what is then asked of the forgiven — and these passages hold both. They are set out with a sentence on each, so you can see what is being said before deciding what it asks of you.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. — Psalm 103:12 · WEB
A man instructs his own soul to remember, and the list he produces is the fullest account of God's character in the collection.
“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. — Isaiah 1:18 · WEB
God says he cannot bear the worship he himself commanded, and names what is wrong with it in one clause.
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
Two claims to sinlessness are quoted and answered, and between them stands the letter's promise about confession.
Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. — Psalm 51:1 · WEB
The most complete confession in Scripture, made by a man who had committed adultery and arranged a murder to cover it.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots. — Luke 23:34 · WEB
The first word from the cross is a prayer for the men driving the nails.
“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. — Luke 15:20 · WEB
A son asks for his inheritance early, spends it, and rehearses a speech he never gets to finish.
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” — Matthew 18:21 · WEB
Peter offers a generous limit on forgiving and is given a number meant to end the counting — then a parable about a debt nobody could pay.
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness. — Micah 7:18 · WEB
The book ends by asking the question the prophet's own name asks, and answers it with the words God once used of himself.
They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says Yahweh, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” — Jeremiah 31:34 · WEB
The law is not repealed but relocated to the heart, the whole arrangement rests on sins being remembered no more, and the valley where children were burned ends up holy ground.
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8 · WEB
God's love is proved by its timing — the death came while the beloved were enemies — and the argument runs from the harder thing to the easier.
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
Five garments to wear, one clasp to hold them, and a standard for forgiving that removes all discretion.
“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, — Acts 3:19 · WEB
The crime is real and the ignorance is real, and the offer that follows runs from present forgiveness to a restoration of all things still to come.
Read the comment on You acted in ignorance: times of refreshing
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. — 2 Corinthians 5:17 · WEB
One word appears five times in three verses and always runs the same direction, and the letter's central sentence describes two transfers that trade places.
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, — Matthew 5:23 · WEB
The first of six: the commandment against murder reaches the contempt behind it, and reconciliation interrupts worship.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. — Matthew 6:14 · WEB
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32 · WEB