Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving People?
12 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Forgiving People in the Bible
Discover 14 powerful Bible verses about forgiving people. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential character & virtues topic.
Top 10 Verses About Forgiving People
- 1Matthew 5:44
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
KJV - 2Matthew 6:14
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
KJV - 3Matthew 18:21
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
KJV - 4Mark 11:25
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
KJV - 5
- 6Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
KJV - 7Luke 17:3
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
KJV - 8Luke 23:34
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
KJV - 9Ephesians 1:7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
KJV - 10
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving People? (12 Verses)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,”
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. quarrel: or, complaint”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Forgiving People
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about forgiving people. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about forgiving people and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about forgiving people is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on forgiving people needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about forgiving people with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about forgiving people, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Forgiving People?
You have studied 12 verses about forgiving people. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.