Everyone wants to be forgiven in this life. But what happens when we die and the certainty of an afterlife becomes a big question mark? Or maybe you believe in heaven and hell but don’t think forgiveness will happen there? In any case, where’s the hope? Christianity has been around for over 2000 years, yet we’re still discussing these questions. So what does the Bible say about forgiveness after death? what the bible says about forgiveness and letting go
These Bible verses about forgiveness after death will give you hope. No matter how many wrongdoings you are guilty of, God forgives you for them all. The day before He died on the cross, Jesus said to His disciples: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:12–14). In Luke 23:34, Jesus says to the thief on the cross next to Him: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” And in Exodus 34:6-7, God tells Moses His name is “the Lord Who Forgives Sin.” These verses about forgiveness after death offers hope for even your worst sins. Bible Verses About Forgiving A Friend
In the Western world forgiving someone who has wronged you is a very common thing. We like to be nice and polite, maybe even appear innocent of any anger or bitterness. We try to avoid offending others and we are very subtle about holding a grudge. If a person offends us privately we share our hurt with others and if it becomes public we try to be above reacting. This can make forgiveness seem like an easy task. But what if the person who caused your pain or hurt is no longer here? Should you still forgive them?
Bible Verses About Forgive And Forget
When someone dies, it is hard to forget the wrongs they have done. But forgiveness is an important part of the grieving process and if you can forgive them after death, it will help you through your grief.
Here are some Bible verses about forgiveness after death:
Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”
Romans 12:17 “Repay no one evil for evil.”
Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Forgiveness is the key to the future. – John Wooden
Bible Verses About Forgiveness After Death
Forgiveness is a virtue that many of us struggle with, but it’s also one of the most important characteristics that we can exhibit as Christians. It’s easy to forgive someone who has wronged us when they are alive, but what about when they’ve passed away? How do you find forgiveness in your heart for someone after their death?
Does this mean that we should never forgive those who have wronged us? Absolutely not! As Christians, we are called to forgive everyone who has hurt us, including those who have died before us. Regardless of whether or not they seek forgiveness from you, you still need to forgive them because God wants you to.
The Bible tells us that God is love and that He forgives all our sins no matter how big or small they are (1 John 4:8). We are also told over and over again that if we want to experience His love then we must be willing to forgive those who hurt us (Matthew 6:14-15). The truth is that many people don’t know how to forgive others because they haven’t asked for forgiveness themselves for their own sins (Romans 3
Forgiveness is not easy, but it is possible. The Bible gives us many examples of people who are forgiven and how they responded.
The story of Joseph in Genesis 50:15-21 is one of them:
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die; but God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely remember you and bring you up from this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Then Joseph died, having made the Israelites swear an oath. And Judah mourned for him with all Jerusalem for a long time.
But it’s also important to note that forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting what happened or pretending it never happened. Abram’s response in Genesis 15:1-6 (NLT) demonstrates this perfectly:
After these things had taken place, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram! I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord , what can You give me since I remain childless and my heir
Matthew 18:21 – Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have aught against anyone; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Romans 12:19 – Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” saith the Lord.
- “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:6
- “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12
- “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” – Alexander Pope
- “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:16-18
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Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 191 helpful votes
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.
Hebrews 8:12 ESV / 184 helpful votes
For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their
sins no more.”
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 168 helpful votes
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
Colossians 3:13 ESV / 133 helpful votes
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Mark 11:25 ESV / 117 helpful votes
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against
anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.”
Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 117 helpful votes
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will
not remember your sins.
Luke 6:37 ESV / 110 helpful votes
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be
condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
1 John 1:9 ESV / 83 helpful votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 77 helpful votes
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I
do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 68 helpful votes
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 6:12 ESV / 67 helpful votes
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Hebrews 10:17 ESV / 64 helpful votes
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Romans 8:1 ESV / 64 helpful votes
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 12:19 ESV / 62 helpful votes
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it
is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 62 helpful votes
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he
repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and
turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Psalm 25:7 ESV / 58 helpful votes
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your
steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Ephesians 1:7 ESV / 55 helpful votes
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 52 helpful votes
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and
go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Romans 3:23 ESV / 48 helpful votes
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Jeremiah 31:34 ESV / 48 helpful votes
And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother,
saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of
them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their
iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Luke 23:34 ESV / 46 helpful votes
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And
they cast lots to divide his garments.
Psalm 32:1-2 ESV / 46 helpful votes
A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose
sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no
iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Acts 3:19 ESV / 45 helpful votes
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
Matthew 6:15 ESV / 44 helpful votes
But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 42 helpful votes
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are
like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Matthew 5:44 ESV / 37 helpful votes
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV / 36 helpful votes
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.
Philippians 3:13 ESV / 35 helpful votes
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Matthew 5:7 ESV / 35 helpful votes
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 6:14 ESV / 32 helpful votes
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you,
Psalm 103:12 ESV / 32 helpful votes
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our
transgressions from us.
Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 30 helpful votes
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness”
springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Romans 6:23 ESV / 29 helpful votes
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
Acts 10:43 ESV / 29 helpful votes
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him
receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Hebrews 10:26 ESV / 27 helpful votes
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the
truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Philippians 3:13-14 ESV / 27 helpful votes
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press
on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV / 25 helpful votes
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have
tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and
then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are
crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to
contempt.
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give
no opportunity to the devil.
Luke 6:27-28 ESV / 25 helpful votes
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Micah 7:18 ESV / 25 helpful votes
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for
the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because
he delights in steadfast love.
1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 23 helpful votes
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude
of sins.
Mark 3:28-29 ESV / 23 helpful votes
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and
whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
Psalm 103:11-12 ESV / 23 helpful votes
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast
love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far
does he remove our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:10 ESV / 23 helpful votes
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to
our iniquities.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some
measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this
punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and
comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to
reaffirm your love for him.
1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV / 22 helpful votes
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.
Matthew 18:18 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Isaiah 55:6-7 ESV / 22 helpful votes
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is
near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let
him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our
God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 43:25-26 ESV / 22 helpful votes
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will
not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth
your case, that you may be proved right.
Isaiah 1:2 ESV / 22 helpful votes
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken:
“Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.
Hebrews 10:17-18 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers,
having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
Colossians 1:14 ESV / 21 helpful votes
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful;
Matthew 18:21 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his
disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed
are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for
they shall inherit the earth. …
Isaiah 38:17 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you
have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my
sins behind your back.
Deuteronomy 4:31 ESV / 21 helpful votes
For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or
destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.
Genesis 41:51 ESV / 21 helpful votes
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has
made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”
2 John 1:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may
win a full reward.
Acts 17:11 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the
word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things
were so.
Bible Verses About Forgiving A Friend
“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who has sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:12-13)
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25)
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and
“And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who has sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:12-13)
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:24-25)
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and
Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 131 helpful votes
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 ESV / 85 helpful votes
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 54 helpful votes
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away
from you, along with all malice.
Luke 6:37 ESV / 49 helpful votes
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be
condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Mark 11:25 ESV / 46 helpful votes
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against
anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 36 helpful votes
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give
no opportunity to the devil.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 33 helpful votes
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 30 helpful votes
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary,
bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Luke 6:27 ESV / 30 helpful votes
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you,
1 John 1:9 ESV / 21 helpful votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 20 helpful votes
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will
your Father forgive your trespasses.
Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 18 helpful votes
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets
contention.
Matthew 5:44 ESV / 14 helpful votes
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 14 helpful votes
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her
tongue.
Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 11 helpful votes
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I
do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 11 helpful votes
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He
makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He
restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows. …
Matthew 6:14 ESV / 9 helpful votes
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you,
Hebrews 10:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes
Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Romans 12:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his
head.”
Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are
like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 8 helpful votes
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to
discipline him.
Ephesians 1:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Exodus 34:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression
and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the
fourth generation.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 6 helpful votes
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away
from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.