As followers of Christ, believers are called to extend forgiveness to those who have wronged them, just as God has forgiven them. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus teaches that forgiveness is a condition of receiving God's forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of letting go of grudges. The parable in Matthew 18:21-35 illustrates the consequences of refusing to forgive others, while Ephesians 4:32 encourages believers to forgive one another as God has forgiven them. Even in the midst of great suffering, Jesus exemplified this principle, praying for those who crucified Him, as recorded in Luke 23:34.
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For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master. Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.