40 Powerful Bible Verses About Forgiveness In Marriage

Forgiveness is one important characteristic of Christianity. It started with God who sent his dear and only begotten son to come and die for us, just to save us from sin and condemnation, and when he died, God forgave us all of our atrocities. Forgiveness is one message Christ and Paul the Apostle emphasized on tirelessly. It is a core virtue in our Christian life, one cannot completely be a follower of Christ without possessing the spirit of forgiveness. More so, forgiveness in marriage is very paramount because a marriage without forgiveness is as good a dead. As followers of Christ we have to learn and cultivate the habit of forgiving our spouses. Although, forgiveness doesn’t come easy, there are offences that we will need to ask the Holy Spirit for grace to be able to pardon that hurt. Sometime forgiving our partners might seem impossible, because of the depth of the offence, in situations like this, we need to take out sometime, seek God’s face and ask for grace to carry one like the offence never happened. If you have difficulties in forgiving people, especially your partner, then this article is just right for you! Join us as we study some Bible verses that speaks on forgiveness.

Marriage is a sacred institution founded by God, it is one blessing that God gave to us to cherish and nurture. Although, our marriage sometimes might be struggling in the area of offences, hurts and disappointments. But as Christian couples, we ought to always forgive. It is important we note that forgiving our partners does not only keep us at peace with them, it also keeps us at peace with God even more. As a matter of fact, forgiving our offenders is just a way to set our hearts free, it does more good to us than our offenders.

When we have the knowledge that we have no grudge against anyone, not even our partners. It gives us this boldness to easily go to God without having anything hindering us. One practical way to easily let go of an offence is by seeking the face of God. Seeking the face of God will help us set our minds on things to come, and not focus on the past. Another we can easily forgive our partners is by communicating our hurts and disappointments with our partners in an amicable way.

SEE ALSO: 40 Powerful Bible Verses About Surrendering To God

What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness In Marriage?

The Bible emphasizes on the essence of forgiveness, making us understand that forgiveness and mercy is God’s nature. Jesus Christ being our role model, we saw how he forgave all those who wronged him. In the same way, we ought to be as forgiving as he is.

Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”. This passage of the Bible urges us to forgive those who offend us just as God forgave us our sins. God cares for us to be forgiving because unforgiveness is a burden that has the capacity to weaken our spirits and make us bitter.

Matthew 6:14-165 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sin”. This scripture focuses on the importance of forgiving one other, clearly stating that if we do not forgive our offenders, our heavenly Father will not forgive our own trespasses.

1 John 1:19 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”. John The Beloved assures us in this verse that once we confess our sins to God, he will forgive us and purify us from all dirtiness. This is a wake up call to us, to always forgive our offenders when they approach us and ask for forgiveness.

Bible Verses About Forgiveness In Marriage

1. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13
2. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32
3. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. – Matthew 6:14
4. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. – Mark 11:25
5. So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them. – Luke 17:3-4
6. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. – Isaiah 43:25
7. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
8. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. – Proverbs 10:12
9. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 5:16
10. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. – Matthew 18:21-22
11. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. – Romans 12:19
12. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. – 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
13. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. – Galatians 6:1
14. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4
15. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8
16. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:23-24
17. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
18. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:12
19. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. – Matthew 7:1-2
20. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14
21. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. – Luke 6:37
22. You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. – Matthew 5:38-39
23. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. – Romans 15:7
24. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
25. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. – Matthew 6:12
26. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9
27. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. – 1 Peter 3:7
28. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. – 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
29.  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. – John 20:23
30. He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. – Matthew 19:8
31. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. – Luke 6:36
32. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. – Ephesians 1:7 
33.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:31-32
34. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. – Luke 23:34
35. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him. – Daniel 9:9 
36. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. – Proverbs 17:9
37. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
38. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. – Hebrews 8:12 
39. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. – Colossians 1:13-14
40. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. – Colossians 3:14