Article By Melanie Tyler // EEW Magazine // Spiritual

There has been so much talk about forgiveness lately. Who deserves it? Who doesn’t? When is it appropriate? When isn’t it?

According to the world, some folks are worthy of your forgiveness, and others aren’t. But the word of God says we are to love and forgive everyone—no matter who they are or what they have done.

In case you need a reminder of the Bible’s perspective on forgiveness, here are 7 must-read verses.

Proverbs 10:12: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

Romans 12:19-20: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’”

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Luke 17:3-4: “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Luke 6:37: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;”

John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

As you see, the Bible does not discriminate against anyone or instruct believers to withhold forgiveness either.

When it comes to loving people and not holding onto offenses, you have to make a decision to either conform to the world or the word of God.

Romans 12:2 helps you make that decision. It says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”