Learning to forgive is one of the hardest and most important lessons a child can learn. Here are four Bible verses about forgiveness, quoted from the World English Bible, to read and talk about together.
Forgiving someone doesn't mean saying that what they did was okay, or that it didn't hurt. It means choosing not to hold onto anger toward them — even while the hurt is still real.
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1. Forgive as God forgave you
"And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Talk about it: What does it mean to be "tender hearted" toward someone who hurt your feelings?
2. Forgive so you can be forgiven
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." (Matthew 6:14)
Talk about it: Why do you think forgiving others matters so much to God?
3. Bear with one another
"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do." (Colossians 3:13)
Talk about it: Has a friend ever forgiven you? How did that feel?
4. Forgive when you pray
"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions." (Mark 11:25)
Talk about it: Is there someone you could pray for and forgive today?
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