What Does the Bible Say About Unforgiveness?

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

What the Bible says about unforgiveness is clear in Matthew 6:14-15, if we forgive others, then our Heavenly Father forgives us when we fall short and sin. BUT if we hold bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts, then our Father does not forgive our sins. I do not know about you, but I need my Heavenly Father to forgive me when I fail, so I need to do the same for others.

Does the scripture say we only have to forgive Christians? The answer is no; we must forgive all people. Let's be clear, forgiveness does not mean you have to continue to surround yourself with the person that hurt you or justify in your mind what they did to you is okay. Forgiveness is that you no longer hold bitterness in your heart towards that person, and you can walk in Freedom.

In Mark 11:25, we are given clear directions on praying and forgiving anyone.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Mark 11:25

It is clear in scripture we need to Forgive others because unforgiveness is a sin and our sins will not be forgiven. If we expect God to forgive us when we fall short, we need to forgive others when they fall short.

Pastor Kendra Scott