17 Bible Verses about Forgiveness, In Ministry of Christ

But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins."

The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, "Look, that is the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world!

When they reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they nailed Him to the cross, and the criminals also, one at His right hand and one at His left. Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." And they divided His garments among them, drawing lots for them;

and was teaching them when the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been found committing adultery. They made her stand in the centre of the court, and they put the case to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "this woman has been found in the very act of committing adultery. Now, in the Law, Moses has ordered us to stone such women to death. But what do you say?"read more.
They asked this in order to put Him to the test, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. But Jesus leant forward and began to write with His finger on the ground. When however they persisted with their question, He raised His head and said to them, "Let the sinless man among you be the first to throw a stone at her." Then He leant forward again, and again began to write on the ground. They listened to Him, and then, beginning with the eldest, took their departure, one by one, till all were gone. And Jesus was left behind alone--and the woman in the centre of the court. Then, raising His head, Jesus said to her, "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, Sir," she replied. "And *I* do not condemn you either," said Jesus; "go, and from this time do not sin any more."

Accordingly He went on board, and crossing over came to His own town. Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned." "Such language is impious," said some of the Scribes among themselves.read more.
Knowing their thoughts Jesus said, "Why are you cherishing evil thoughts in your hearts? Why, which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say 'Rise up and walk'? But, to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He then says to the paralytic, "Rise, and take up your bed and go home." And he got up, and went off home. And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.

After some days He entered Capernaum again, and it soon became known that He was at home; and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them, when there came a party of people bringing a paralytic--four men carrying him.read more.
Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an opening they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are pardoned." Now there were some of the Scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts. "Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?" At once perceiving by His spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, Jesus asked them, "Why do you thus argue in your minds? Which is easier?--to say to this paralytic, 'Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your mat, and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He turned to the paralytic, and said, "To you I say, 'Rise, take up your mat and go home.'" The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people. And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus. But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling--bed and all--into the midst, in front of Jesus.read more.
He saw their faith and said to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts? Which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home." Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God. Amazement seized them all. "Glory to God!" was the abiding feeling. Yet fear flashed through their minds and they said, "We have seen strange things to-day."

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are pardoned." Now there were some of the Scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts. "Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?"

Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned." "Such language is impious," said some of the Scribes among themselves.

He saw their faith and said to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants. But as soon as he began the settlement, one was brought before him who owed 10,000 talents, and was unable to pay. So his master ordered that he and his wife and children and everything that he had should be sold, and payment be made.read more.
The servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you the whole.' "Whereupon his master, touched with compassion, set him free and forgave him the debt. But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, "'Pay me all you owe.' "His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you.' "He would not, however, but went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was due. His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened. At once his master called him and said, "'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me: ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' "So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him. "In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts."

Now one of the Pharisees repeatedly invited Him to a meal at his house; so He entered the house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the town who was a notorious sinner. Having learnt that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house she brought a flask of perfume, and, standing behind close to His feet, weeping, began to wet His feet with her tears; and with her hair she wiped the tears away again, while she lovingly kissed His feet and poured the perfume over them.read more.
Noticing this, the Pharisee, His host, said to himself, "This man, if he were really a Prophet, would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him--and would know that she is an immoral woman." In answer to his thoughts Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have a word to say to you." "Rabbi, say on," he replied. "There were once two men in debt to one money-lender," said Jesus; "one owed him five hundred shillings and the other fifty. But neither of them could pay anything; so he freely forgave them both. Tell me, then, which of them will love him most?" "I suppose," replied Simon, "the one to whom he forgave most." "You have judged rightly," Jesus rejoined. Then turning towards the woman He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you gave me no water for my feet; but she has made my feet wet with her tears, and then wiped the tears away with her hair. No kiss did you give me; but she from the moment I came in has not left off tenderly kissing my feet. No oil did you pour even on my head; but she has poured perfume upon my feet. This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then the other guests began to say to themselves, "Who can this man be who even forgives sins?" But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them. No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.read more.
At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want. So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine; and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any. "But on coming to himself he said, "'How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger! I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you: I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.' "So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly. "'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.' "But the father said to his servants, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet. Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves; for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry. "Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing. Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant. "'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.' "Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him. "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends; but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.' "'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours. We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"

A second time, therefore, He said to them, "Peace be to you! As the Father sent me, I also now send you." Having said this He breathed upon them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound."

"Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"Understand therefore, brethren, that through this Jesus forgiveness of sins is announced to you;

"'Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. But rise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you My servant and My witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which I will appear to you. I will save you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes,read more.
that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'