Why Should Christians Forgive Others — In Biblical Context
Jesus commands forgiveness because God has forgiven believers an unpayable debt — refusing to forgive contradicts the gospel and imprisons the unforgiving heart.
Jesus commands forgiveness because God has forgiven believers an unpayable debt — refusing to forgive contradicts the gospel and imprisons the unforgiving heart.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." — Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Forgiveness is not optional for Christians — it is a direct command from Jesus. In the Lord's Prayer, He taught, 'forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' (Matthew 6:12), then added, 'if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses' (Matthew 6:15). When Peter asked if forgiving seven times was sufficient, Jesus said, 'seventy times seven' (Matthew 18:22) — meaning without limit. He then told the parable of a servant forgiven a massive debt who refused to forgive a fellow servant's small debt. The master was furious: 'shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?' (Matthew 18:33). Forgiveness does not mean condoning wrong, forgetting the offense, or avoiding boundaries. It means releasing the desire for revenge and trusting God with justice. Ephesians 4:32 summarizes: 'forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' Unforgiveness is a prison; forgiveness sets the prisoner free.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Ephesians 4:32, sits inside Ephesians 4. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Supporting Passages
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."
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