Forgiveness
Forgiveness is central to the gospel. God forgives us sinners completely in Christ and calls us to forgive others as he has forgiven us. Forgiveness breaks the chains of sin and sets free both the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven.
God's forgiveness
God forgives all our sins and casts them away forever.
10He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our guilt.
לֹ֣א כַ֭חֲטָאֵינוּ עָ֣שָׂה לָ֑נוּ וְלֹ֥א כַ֝עֲוֺנֹתֵ֗ינוּ גָּמַ֥ל עָלֵֽינוּ׃
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.
כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃
12As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
כִּרְחֹ֣ק מִ֭זְרָח מִֽמַּֽעֲרָ֑ב הִֽרְחִ֥יק מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ אֶת־פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ׃
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and he will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, πιστός ἐστιν καὶ δίκαιος ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας.
25I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
אָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא מֹחֶ֥ה פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ לְמַעֲנִ֑י וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶזְכֹּֽר׃
Forgiveness through Christ
It is through Jesus' blood that we have forgiveness for our sins.
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν διὰ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν παραπτωμάτων, κατὰ ⸂τὸ πλοῦτος⸃ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ
13He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
ὃς ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ σκότους καὶ μετέστησεν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ υἱοῦ τῆς ἀγάπης αὐτοῦ,
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, τὴν ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν·
22Indeed, under the law nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
καὶ σχεδὸν ἐν αἵματι πάντα καθαρίζεται κατὰ τὸν νόμον, καὶ χωρὶς αἱματεκχυσίας οὐ γίνεται ἄφεσις.
Called to forgive
As forgiven sinners, we are called to forgive others.
31Let all bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with every form of malice.
πᾶσα πικρία καὶ θυμὸς καὶ ὀργὴ καὶ κραυγὴ καὶ βλασφημία ἀρθήτω ἀφʼ ὑμῶν σὺν πάσῃ κακίᾳ.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you.
⸀γίνεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους χρηστοί, εὔσπλαγχνοι, χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς καθὼς καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐν Χριστῷ ἐχαρίσατο ⸀ὑμῖν.
13Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. As the Lord forgave you, so also must you forgive.
ἀνεχόμενοι ἀλλήλων καὶ χαριζόμενοι ἑαυτοῖς ἐάν τις πρός τινα ἔχῃ μομφήν· καθὼς καὶ ὁ ⸀κύριος ἐχαρίσατο ὑμῖν οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς·
14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
ἐὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος·
15But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ⸀ἀνθρώποις, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.
Forgive - again and again
Jesus calls us to unlimited forgiveness.
21Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?"
Τότε προσελθὼν ⸂αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν⸃· Κύριε, ποσάκις ἁμαρτήσει εἰς ἐμὲ ὁ ἀδελφός μου καὶ ἀφήσω αὐτῷ; ἕως ἑπτάκις;
22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Οὐ λέγω σοι ἕως ἑπτάκις ἀλλὰ ἕως ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά.
3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς. ἐὰν ⸀ἁμάρτῃ ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἐπιτίμησον αὐτῷ, καὶ ἐὰν μετανοήσῃ ἄφες αὐτῷ·
4Even if he sins against you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you saying, 'I repent,' you are to forgive him."
καὶ ἐὰν ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας ⸀ἁμαρτήσῃ εἰς σὲ καὶ ⸀ἑπτάκις ἐπιστρέψῃ ⸂πρὸς σὲ⸃ λέγων· Μετανοῶ, ἀφήσεις αὐτῷ.
The Prodigal Son
The parable of the prodigal son shows God's heart for forgiveness.
20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran to him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.
καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ⸀ἑαυτοῦ. ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν.
21The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
εἶπεν δὲ ⸂ὁ υἱὸς αὐτῷ⸃· Πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου, ⸀οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός ⸀σου.
22But the father said to his servants, 'Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
εἶπεν δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ· ⸀Ταχὺ ⸀ἐξενέγκατε στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν, καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας,
23Bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and celebrate,
καὶ ⸀φέρετε τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν, θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν,
24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.
ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησεν, ⸂ἦν ἀπολωλὼς⸃ καὶ εὑρέθη. καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι.