What Does the Bible Say About Forgiving Others?

Forgiving those who have wronged us is one of the hardest things the Bible asks — and one of the most freeing. Because we've been so freely forgiven by God, we're called to extend that same forgiveness to others. Here's what Scripture teaches about forgiving others.

Forgive as you've been forgiven

The foundation of forgiving others is remembering how much we've been forgiven: 'be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' A heart that grasps God's forgiveness learns to extend it.

Forgiveness is tied to being forgiven

Jesus tied our forgiving others closely to our own: 'if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.' This doesn't mean we earn forgiveness by forgiving, but that a truly forgiven heart naturally forgives — and a refusal to forgive reveals we haven't grasped grace.

What forgiveness is (and isn't)

Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending the wrong didn't happen, excusing it, or necessarily restoring a harmful relationship. It means releasing the offence and the right to revenge — handing the debt to God rather than carrying it yourself. It's letting go of bitterness, not denying the hurt.

Forgiveness frees you

Refusing to forgive mostly harms the one holding the grudge. Forgiveness releases us from the poison of bitterness that would otherwise weigh us down. It's a gift we give ourselves as much as the other person — and often a decision made before the feeling follows.

The Bible teaches us to forgive others as God has forgiven us, ties our forgiving to our own forgiveness, and defines forgiveness as releasing the offence rather than excusing or forgetting it. Hard as it is, forgiveness frees us from bitterness and reflects the heart of the God who forgave us. Whatever you're holding on to, let it go into God's hands — and be freed by the forgiveness you extend.