There are times when Jesus was clearly using figures of speech, and others when I expect it's wisest to take him very literally. One situation where I take him entirely literally is in his cautions against dealing harshly with each other:
By your words you shall be acquitted, and by your words you shall be condemned. - Jesus (Matthew 12:37)
I want my conversations to have words that I might be glad to hear said back to me on the Last Day. With that in mind, here are some Bible verses that speak to the topic of forgiveness. The first 3 are verses that are suitable for quoting either as as-is or with slight modifications for the situation. The fourth verse records accusers leaving in silence, where below I give voice to some words that might be fitting instead of an accusation.
- "Forgive them. They didn't know what they were doing." (Luke 23:34)
- "Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me, but God meant it for good." (Genesis 50:19-20)
- "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34)
- My own conscience isn't clear. How can I condemn you? (suitable words based on John 8:9)
Related: a prior post on the topic. Even after 2 posts, my thoughts are not as well-developed as I'd like. I'd rather be fluent in forgiveness. Here I struggle, yet I hope for God to forgive me.
