Scripture Library · Forgiveness and reconciliation · KJV
Bible Verses About Forgiveness (KJV) + A Prayer to Forgive and Be Reconciled
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Forgiving is hard, and making things right can be harder. These 15 passages from the King James Bible show how deeply God has forgiven us, and how that changes the way we forgive.
15 Bible verses about forgiveness and reconciliation
How do I forgive, and how do I make things right?
Matthew 18:21-35KJV
21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But 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. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But 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. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then 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: Keep reading →
The unforgiving servant: forgiven an enormous debt, he refuses to forgive a small one.Read in context →
Ephesians 4:31-32KJV
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Put away bitterness and forgive one another as God forgave you in Christ.Read in context →
Colossians 3:12-14KJV
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave you.Read in context →
Matthew 6:12-15KJV
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.Read in context →
Luke 15:11-32KJV
11And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: Keep reading →
The father runs to welcome his prodigal son home.Read in context →
Luke 23:34KJV
34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus prays from the cross: Father, forgive them.Read in context →
Matthew 5:23-24KJV
23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Leave your gift at the altar and first be reconciled to your brother.Read in context →
Romans 12:18KJV
18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.Read in context →
1 John 1:9KJV
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.Read in context →
Psalm 103:8-12KJV
8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
As far as east is from west, so far has He removed our sins.Read in context →
Psalm 51KJV
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Keep reading →
David's prayer of repentance after his sin.Read in context →
2 Corinthians 5:17-21KJV
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
God reconciled us to Himself in Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.Read in context →
Luke 17:3-4KJV
3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
If your brother repents, forgive him, even seven times in a day.Read in context →
Genesis 33:1-11KJV
1And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
Esau runs to embrace Jacob after years of estrangement.Read in context →
Micah 7:18-19KJV
18Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
God delights in mercy and casts our sins into the depths of the sea.Read in context →
A prayer for forgiveness
Pray it slowly, in your own words if you like.
Father, You have removed my sins as far as the east is from the west. I could never repay that debt, and You forgave it all. Let that mercy soften my heart toward the people who have wronged me.
I choose to forgive, even where my feelings have not caught up. Take the bitterness, the replaying, the wish to see them pay. Jesus, You prayed for those who crucified You. Help me pray for those who hurt me.
Where I have wronged others, give me humility to go and make it right. As much as lies in me, help me to live peaceably with all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What the Bible says about forgiveness
What does the Bible say about forgiveness?
Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. God forgives us freely through Christ (Psalm 103:8-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21), and He calls us to forgive others the same way (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Jesus ties the two together in the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
How many times should I forgive?
When Peter asked if seven times was enough, Jesus answered, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). He was not setting a number to count to. He was saying forgiveness has no limit.
Does forgiving mean I have to reconcile?
Forgiveness is something you can give on your own. Reconciliation takes two people and usually requires repentance and rebuilt trust. Romans 12:18 says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men,” which recognizes that it is not always possible.
What does the story of the prodigal son teach about forgiveness?
In Luke 15:11-32 the father runs to his returning son before he can finish his apology. It is a picture of how God welcomes repentant sinners, and the older brother’s resentment is a warning for those who struggle to celebrate grace given to others.
More Bible verses by topic
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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain).

