20 Biblical Scriptures on Forgiving Others

In my previous post on Forgiveness, I discussed how difficult it is to forgive someone and let the hurt go. In fact, give it to God. I wanted to share some biblical scriptures on forgiving others to help those on their journey to forgiveness. It is indeed a journey but is doable when you realize how crucial it is as believers.

Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is a profound act of grace and mercy that reflects God's love for us and His desire for reconciliation. Let's take a look at 20 powerful scriptures from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible that illuminate the importance and transformative power of forgiving others.

Understanding the Call to Forgiveness

1. Matthew 6:14-15
   “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.”
   

   These verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount underscore the reciprocal nature of forgiveness—our forgiveness from God hinges on our willingness to forgive others.

2. Ephesians 4:32
   “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
   

   Paul emphasizes that our forgiveness of others should mirror God’s forgiveness of us through Christ, rooted in kindness and compassion.

3. Colossians 3:13
   “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
   

   This verse instructs believers to forgive others as Christ forgave us, setting aside grievances and disputes.

4. Luke 17:3-4
   “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
   

   Jesus teaches the necessity of forgiving others, even repeatedly, if they sincerely repent.

5. Mark 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.”
   

   Forgiveness is crucial in maintaining a clear relationship with God, as Jesus explains in this passage.

The Power and Benefits of Forgiveness

6. Matthew 18:21-22
   “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
   

   Jesus challenges us to forgive others limitlessly, reflecting the boundless forgiveness we receive from God.

7. 1 John 1:9
   “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
   

   Confession and repentance lead to God’s forgiveness and cleansing, setting an example for how we should forgive others.

8. Psalm 103:12
   “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
   

   God’s forgiveness removes our sins completely, illustrating the depth of forgiveness we are called to extend to others.

9. Isaiah 43:25
   “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
   

   God forgives us for His own sake, not holding our sins against us—a model for how we should forgive others.

10. Proverbs 19:11
    “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”
    

    Choosing to overlook offenses and forgive demonstrates wisdom and brings honor.

Practicing Forgiveness in Daily Life

11. Luke 6:37
    “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
    

    Jesus connects forgiveness with avoiding judgment and condemnation, emphasizing its importance in our relationships.

12. James 5:16
    “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
    

    Confession, prayer, and forgiveness are intertwined processes that lead to healing and restoration.

13. Matthew 5:23-24
    “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
    

    Jesus prioritizes reconciliation and forgiveness in our worship and relationships with others.

14. 2 Corinthians 2:7
    “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.”
    

    Paul urges forgiveness and comfort for those who have repented, preventing excessive sorrow.

15. Matthew 18:35
    “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
    

    Genuine forgiveness from the heart is essential for receiving forgiveness from God.

The Example of Christ and His Followers

16. Acts 3:19
    “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
    

    Repentance and forgiveness lead to spiritual renewal and refreshment in God’s presence.

17. Hebrews 8:12
    “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
    

    God’s forgiveness includes forgetting our sins, demonstrating His mercy and grace.

18. Romans 12:14
    “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”
    

    Responding to persecution with blessings and forgiveness reflects Christ’s teachings and example.

19. Luke 23:34
    “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
    

    Even in His suffering, Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, exemplifying radical forgiveness.

20. Matthew 9:2
    “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
    

    Jesus demonstrated that forgiveness of sins is a profound act of mercy and healing.

These 20 scriptures illuminate the profound importance and transformative power of forgiveness in the Christian faith. As we reflect on these verses, may we be inspired to embody God’s love and grace through forgiveness in our relationships and daily lives. Let us strive to forgive as we have been forgiven, reflecting the heart of Christ and fostering reconciliation and healing in our communities.

May these scriptures guide and enrich your journey of faith and forgiveness.

Forgive, So God Can Forgive You

It weighed heavily on my heart. It made me cry. It hurt so badly that I got choked up just talking about it. I would cry myself to sleep so many nights just thinking about how this person hurt me. I don’t think if it were a stranger, I would feel this type of pain. What made it worse was that the person that I thought would support me and understand why I felt this hurt, did not believe me. They took the other person’s side. I guess knowing someone longer trumped the truth, every time. I held this pain in for years and I felt justified in doing so because this person hurt me for no reason. What they did was unforgivable.

After years of holding in all the injustices this person had done to me, I finally decided it was time to let it go. Letting go was only part of it, the other major and most important part was forgiving them. I talked myself into believing that I had forgiven them because I wanted God to forgive me of my sins. Matthew 6:14-15 says:

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

However, the true marker of my unforgiveness was the hurt and pain I still carried around. One day, I was listening to a preacher and although his sermon was not on forgiveness, he started to discuss forgiveness. He stated that one must remember Ephesians 6:12 which states,

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Although someone may have hurt us, remember that our real adversary is the devil. The devil has a way of influencing people to do things to hurt us in turn to cause us to sin. We must keep this in mind. It does not absolve the person of their part but remember that our fight is not with a physical person but the forces of darkness that we cannot see.

It reminded me of the story of Job. The devil (with God’s permission) killed his children, stripped him of his livelihood, and afflicted him with illness. Job, of course, was depressed, and rightly so. His wife told him to curse God and die. This was his wife’s solution to the problem. This also showed that those closest to us can be influenced by the devil and not give the best advice or be the voice of reason. But Job refused. God is showing us that although Job lost everything, he did not sin against God.

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” - Job 1:22

This further shows us that although someone has wronged you, that does not give you the right to sin. It can feel justified but it does not make it right. Carrying that unforgiveness was a sin because it came in the way of my relationship with God. I was not allowing my savior, Jesus Christ to take the pain away to ease the heaviness in my heart.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

Also, I had to remember that I am human. I have hurt others, whether knowingly or unknowingly. When I go before my heavenly father in prayer, and confess my sins, I want Him to forgive me (Matthew 6:14-15).

After that sermon, I asked God to remove my unforgiveness and free my heart of all the hurt I was holding in. I also asked Him to forgive me because I know I have hurt others and I am not even worthy of His forgiveness but because of Jesus, He will forgive me.

I felt lighter. I realized that it was the devil’s plan all along to keep me in bondage with all that hurt in my heart. After praying, I knew God had set me free. I knew that talking about the situation would not bring me to tears anymore. I prayed for the person who had hurt me and asked God to heal them of the hurt that they may be harboring and to set them free.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

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;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. - Matthew 5:43-45

Ultimately, our goal is to be children of our Father in heaven and how can we do that if we do not show that he lives in us. I learned that each day we are blessed with is another day to strive to become better in our God-like characteristics. God forgives, therefore, we must forgive.

I hope this message has blessed you as it has been a blessing for me.

I love you.

10 Popular Scriptures on Love

 As we continue with this month's theme on Love, we will look at 10 scriptures on Love. In the last post, we reflected on scriptures that spoke of God's love. This post looks at scriptures that generally speak about Love. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

John 15:12-13 - "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

1 John 4:8 - "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Romans 12:9-10 - "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us."

Ephesians 5:1-2 - "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."

Colossians 3:14 - "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

1 John 3:16 - "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly
since love covers a multitude of sins."

10 Scriptures on God's Love

The month of February brings a lot of anticipation about Valentine's Day. There are Christians that choose to celebrate it and then there are others that do not. Whatever your decision or stance may be, I encourage you to think about the origins of Love, the originator of Love with is our Heavenly Father. There is no greater love than the love He has shown us and continues to show us. 

Here are 10 scriptures on God's love:

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Ephesians 2:4-5 - "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

1 John 4:9-10 - "In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Isaiah 43:4 - "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life."

Romans 5:8 - "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Psalm 136:1 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

Zephaniah 3:17 - "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Jeremiah 31:3 - "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

1 John 3:1 - "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."

Valentine's Day is one day, God's love is every day. You get to experience it every day. Focus on God's love that does not fade nor end. 

Seasons Change

Summer happens to be one of my favorite seasons. Aside from the smothering heat and mosquitoes, I enjoy the summertime. There are many reasons why I prefer summer over the other seasons and most of these reasons stem from childhood memories. As a child, I enjoyed playing outdoors with family and friends. I enjoyed being able to go for a walk and feeling the sun on my face. I enjoyed going to the beach and spending all my time building sandcastles with my friends. As simple as these reasons may seem, they bring me joy every time I reflect on those memories. Those simple memories have the ability to make me feel calm and help to put things in perspective. 

In the book Songs of Solomon, chapter 2, verses 11-12, these scripture references the seasons and the renewed awareness that they bring. The previous verse, v.10, begins with, " Rise up..." This was a call for action because, in order to fully appreciate what is going on around you, you have to rise up or wake up from your slumber. The next verses detail what to take note of. One of those things is, in v.12, "The rain is over and gone, the time for singing has come."

In our lives there are different seasons, there are times that bring sunshine, like summer, and then there are times that bring dark clouds, rain, and a depressed state. I encourage each one of you to know that, that season is not going to always be the state of your life. It is for only a time, it too shall pass because it is just a season.

When that season is over, acknowledge that it is over by rising up, taking note of what was and what is to come. I want to go a step further and encourage you to speak God's words of hope even in the midst of a bad season. Sometimes you have to go through it to get to the place God wants you to be.

"To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." - Ecc 3:1

God bless you!

The Lord Is My Shepherd ...

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. - Psalms 23:1 

       Psalms 23 is one of the more popular Psalms and each verse gives us a picture of God as the good shepherd. Today, I just want to focus on the first verse.
       I have been praying for months for God to help me receive a scholarship to go off to school. However, these past couple weeks, I've found myself in deeper communion with the Lord. I prayed more, read my bible more and acknowledged God more throughout the day. I had moments when I doubted if God would allow this to happen. I cried, I prayed, I talked about it with my mom who prayed with me and encouraged me daily. Every time I had a moment of doubt, she reassured me. Every time I felt helpless and frustrated,

Taste and see that the Lord is good... Psalms 34:8

     Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalms 34:18

       One of my favorite fruits to eat in the summer time is watermelon. I love the taste, the texture and how refreshing it is. I think it's the best fruit to eat on a hot summer day.
       Since I know the taste of watermelon, I've become knowledgeable about what it does to me and how it's good for me and how it makes me feel. All this knowledge I've acquired not only through experience but through looking up the benefits of the fruit as well.
       Similarly, can we give the Lord God, our creator, the creator of heaven and earth, the same