Forgiveness is at the very heart of the gospel. God’s willingness to forgive is rooted in His mercy and demonstrated fully through Christ. 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jesus taught forgiveness as a command, not an option. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men… neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” This shows the serious spiritual consequences of an unforgiving heart.
Peter asked how often we should forgive, and Jesus answered in Matthew 18:22, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” This means forgiveness is to be continual, mirroring God’s grace toward us.
The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35) illustrates the severity of withholding forgiveness. The servant was forgiven an unpayable debt, yet refused to forgive a small one—leading to his judgment.
Forgiveness reflects God’s character. Ephesians 4:32 commands, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” It frees the soul from bitterness and allows for healing and reconciliation.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring sin or avoiding consequences, but it means releasing vengeance and trusting God for justice (Romans 12:19).