The only person who pays for our lack of forgiveness of ourselves and others, is us! Give it up. Let go. Let God. And move forward if you’ve been standing still, or move forward and upward much much faster if you’ve been slowed down all the stuff that has been dragging behind you. It is that simple. But, as with many simple things, it might take prayer, work, courage, toughness. The good news is you have that power in you and every free Christian at your side. In fact that’s not good news. The moment you forgive, windows open where there once were walls. Rockets propel you that replace beat up old trucks with bald tires. It’s time, right now to go forgive even, especially when they were wrong! This is practical; useful, and powerful right here right now and all the way into eternity. Choose grace. It will make you sharper, wealthier, happier, and hey, even better looking! Smile. You own this freedom.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 3,919 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Mark 11:25 ESV / 3,530 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.”

1 John 1:9 ESV / 3,332 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 6:15 ESV / 2,784 helpful votes 

But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 2,653 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-seven times.

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 2,411 helpful votes Thank you for your vote.

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.

Luke 6:37 ESV / 2,222 helpful votes 

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 2,034 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.

James 5:16 ESV / 1,534 helpful votes 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Luke 6:27 ESV / 1,363 helpful votes 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Psalm 103:10-14 ESV / 1,152 helpful votes 

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 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. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Proverbs 10:12 ESV / 1,139 helpful votes 

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Ephesians 1:7 ESV / 1,079 helpful votes 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Matthew 6:14 ESV / 991 helpful votes 

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 983 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.”

Matthew 6:12 ESV / 971 helpful votes 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Acts 2:38 ESV / 948 helpful votes 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 889 helpful votes 

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 856 helpful votes 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 760 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.

Psalm 32:5 ESV / 755 helpful votes 

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Luke 23:34 ESV / 745 helpful votes 

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Proverbs 28:13 ESV / 720 helpful votes 

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Romans 3:23 ESV / 703 helpful votes 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Daniel 9:9 ESV / 648 helpful votes 

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

Acts 3:19 ESV / 640 helpful votes 

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 638 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.

Isaiah 55:7 ESV / 615 helpful votes 

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.

Matthew 26:28 ESV / 582 helpful votes 

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 103:12 ESV / 580 helpful votes 

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 493 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.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 492 helpful votes 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 John 1:9-10 ESV / 490 helpful votes 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Colossians 1:13-14 ESV / 489 helpful votes 

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 86:5 ESV / 481 helpful votes 

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

John 3:16 ESV / 468 helpful votes 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV / 460 helpful votes 

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Acts 10:43 ESV / 438 helpful votes 

To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Luke 7:44-50 ESV / 436 helpful votes 

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” …

Hebrews 10:17 ESV / 434 helpful votes 

Then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Romans 12:20 ESV / 432 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.”

Jeremiah 31:34 ESV / 422 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.”

Isaiah 43:25 ESV / 421 helpful votes 

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 410 helpful votes 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:1 ESV / 407 helpful votes 

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 401 helpful votes 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 8:1 ESV / 397 helpful votes 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:8 ESV / 394 helpful votes 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Micah 7:18-19 ESV / 376 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. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:18 ESV / 350 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.

Proverbs 25:21 ESV / 334 helpful votes 

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

Hebrews 8:12 ESV / 332 helpful votes 

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

James 5:14-15 ESV / 323 helpful votes 

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Matthew 5:44 ESV / 323 helpful votes 

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

1 John 2:2 ESV / 317 helpful votes 

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John 13:34 ESV / 315 helpful votes 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Matthew 5:7 ESV / 307 helpful votes 

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Isaiah 43:25-26 ESV / 304 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.

Acts 17:30 ESV / 292 helpful votes 

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Luke 23:33-34 ESV / 291 helpful votes 

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Acts 7:59-60 ESV / 284 helpful votes 

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 13:38-39 ESV / 272 helpful votes 

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Joel 2:13 ESV / 269 helpful votes 

And rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

John 8:7 ESV / 264 helpful votes 

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Matthew 18:21-35 ESV / 264 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-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. …

Isaiah 53:5 ESV / 263 helpful votes 

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 130:4 ESV / 255 helpful votes 

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

1 John 2:12 ESV / 253 helpful votes 

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

Matthew 6:9-15 ESV / 248 helpful votes 

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. …

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 245 helpful votes 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Jeremiah 3:12 ESV / 239 helpful votes 

Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.

2 Chronicles 30:9 ESV / 238 helpful votes 

For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 218 helpful votes 

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 216 helpful votes 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Luke 17:3 ESV / 215 helpful votes 

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

John 3:16-17 ESV / 214 helpful votes 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Colossians 1:14 ESV / 208 helpful votes 

In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 22:16 ESV / 207 helpful votes 

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Matthew 18:23-35 ESV / 207 helpful votes 

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. …

Psalm 51:2-5 ESV / 206 helpful votes 

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Colossians 3:12-13 ESV / 191 helpful votes 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 ESV / 191 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. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. …

Romans 12:17 ESV / 188 helpful votes 

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

Micah 7:18-20 ESV / 187 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. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

2 Corinthians 2:5-8 ESV / 183 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.

Matthew 6:12-15 ESV / 183 helpful votes 

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 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.

1 Kings 8:46-48 ESV / 181 helpful votes 

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 178 helpful votes 

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 175 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.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV / 173 helpful votes 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 171 helpful votes 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Matthew 18:33-35 ESV / 171 helpful votes 

And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Galatians 6:1 ESV / 170 helpful votes 

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

James 2:8 ESV / 166 helpful votes 

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 155 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.

1 Kings 8:46-50 ESV / 143 helpful votes 

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them

Genesis 50:15-21 ESV / 141 helpful votes 

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? …

Psalm 38:3-4 ESV / 138 helpful votes 

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

Proverbs 28:9 ESV / 137 helpful votes 

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

Nehemiah 9:31 ESV / 135 helpful votes 

Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.