Bible Verses About Forgiveness When It Is Hard
What to do when forgiveness feels impossible — repeated offenses, deep wounds, forgiving the unrepentant.
When forgiveness feels impossible due to deep wounds or repeated offenses, we must lean on a power beyond our own. God provides the supernatural strength to forgive the unrepentant and to love those who have hurt us. Find your anchor in the Savior’s example of choosing love even when it cost Him everything.
Key Passages
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
"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."
"For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
Showing 1–25 of 38 verses
"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?"
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
"Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
"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."
"¶ 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."
"¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants."
"And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents."
"But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made."
"The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all."
"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt."
"But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest."
"And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all."
"And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt."
"So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done."
"Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:"
"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?"
"And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."
"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
"¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,"
"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."
"¶ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."
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