Text: Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25; Luke 17:1–4.
Forgiving people who hurt you is hard. Forgiving people who betrayed you is painful. But forgiving people who were intentional in their wickedness feels almost impossible. Many believers read Scriptures on forgiveness and ask the honest question:
“Does God really expect me to forgive everyone?”
Before we continue, let me answer your question immediately and directly from Scripture:
Read more about forgiveness and restoration.
Are you supposed to forgive everyone according to the Bible?
Yes. The Bible teaches clearly that you must forgive everyone who offends you because your forgiveness from God depends on it. Jesus said:
“If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” — Matthew 6:14
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.” — Mark 11:25
If you have “ought against any” — not some, not those who apologized, not those who changed — ANY — Jesus commands you to forgive.
Understanding what “everyone” really means
When Jesus says “forgive everyone,” He is not talking about emotions. He is talking about obedience. He is talking about your spiritual health. He is talking about the state of your heart before God.
The word “everyone” includes:
- those who hurt you unintentionally
- those who hurt you intentionally
- those who betrayed your trust
- those who abandoned you
- those who lied about you
- those who never apologized
- those who continue living as if nothing happened
Jesus did not say forgiveness depends on their repentance. He said it depends on your obedience.
This is why He told Peter:
“Forgive seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:22
Meaning: as long as someone offends you, you must release them.
Forgiving everyone does NOT mean trusting everyone
One major reason believers struggle with forgiveness is because they confuse it with trust.
Let me make it very clear:
You can forgive someone fully and still never trust them again.
Forgiveness is immediate. Trust is progressive.
Forgiveness is commanded. Trust is earned.
Forgiveness is releasing the wrong. Trust is rebuilding the relationship.
Jesus forgave Judas, but He never trusted Judas with His heart.
Paul and Barnabas disagreed over Mark. Paul forgave him, but he did not take him on the next journey.
Even God forgives sinners instantly, but He does not trust new believers with deep assignments until they grow.
What forgiveness actually does inside your spirit
Forgiveness removes the poison the enemy planted through offense. Jesus gave a warning that many Christians ignore:
“It is impossible but that offences will come.” — Luke 17:1
Offenses are satanic traps to enter the heart.
The moment someone hurts you, two things happen:
- a wound opens in your heart
- an invitation is sent to bitterness
If bitterness enters, it begins to spread, corrupt, weaken, and poison every area of your walk with God. That’s why Hebrews warns:
“Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” — Hebrews 12:15
Forgiveness uproots the seed before it becomes a root.
Jesus expects forgiveness because He forgave first
When Jesus commands us to forgive everyone, He’s not asking for something He has never done. Jesus forgave people who:
- lied about Him
- hated Him without cause
- beat Him
- stripped Him naked
- betrayed Him
- denied Him
- nailed Him to the cross
Yet He prayed:
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
Jesus forgave before any of them repented. None of them apologized. None of them promised to change. But He released them — because forgiveness is not about the offender. It is about the health of your spirit.
The story of Joseph: forgiving family wounds
Family wounds cut deeper than any other. Joseph experienced betrayal from the people who should have protected him — his brothers. They envied him, stripped him, threw him in a pit, and sold him. Yet when God elevated Joseph, he told them:
“God meant it for good.” — Genesis 50:20
Joseph forgave everyone — not because they deserved mercy, but because he valued the destiny God gave him.
Many believers today are stuck not because the devil is powerful, but because they are holding grudges against:
- a parent
- a sibling
- a spouse
- a former friend
- a spiritual leader
Forgiveness unlocks destiny. Unforgiveness delays destiny.
David: forgiving people who hated him without cause
David committed no offense against Saul, yet Saul pursued him day and night. Saul hated him, lied about him, and tried multiple times to kill him. When David had the opportunity to kill Saul, he refused. He said:
“I will not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.” — 1 Samuel 24:10
David forgave Saul because he understood that harboring hatred would corrupt his heart and disqualify him from the throne God promised.
Some believers want elevation but carry hatred. They want God to promote them while their hearts are polluted with bitterness.
God cannot elevate a heart that refuses to forgive.
Stephen: forgiving in the middle of death
Stephen gives us one of the strongest pictures of forgiveness in the Bible. As they stoned him, he cried out:
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” — Acts 7:60
He forgave while dying.
This is what Jesus meant when He said:
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” — Luke 6:36
Forgiving everyone keeps your relationship with God open
Jesus connected forgiveness with prayer. If you pray while holding a grudge, heaven shuts its doors. He said:
“And when ye stand praying, forgive.” — Mark 11:25
This means:
If your prayer is standing, forgiveness must be standing too.
Some believers pray long prayers, fast long fasts, and sow many seeds — yet heaven is silent. Not because God didn’t hear, but because unforgiveness shut the door.
Forgiving everyone closes the open door the enemy is using
Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 2:10–11 that unforgiveness gives Satan an advantage. The moment you refuse to forgive someone, you open a legal door the enemy can use to attack:
- your mind
- your peace
- your emotions
- your spiritual authority
Forgiveness closes that door instantly.
Forgiveness does not always equal restoration
The Bible never teaches that reconciliation is mandatory. God asks for forgiveness — not foolishness. Forgiveness is from your heart — restoration depends on the offender’s transformation.
Jesus forgave people who never followed Him.
Paul forgave Alexander the coppersmith but warned Timothy to avoid him (2 Timothy 4:14–15).
You can forgive everyone but still set boundaries around your life.
What about repeated offenders?
Jesus already answered this when Peter asked how many times he must forgive:
“Until seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:22
Meaning: as long as they offend you, you forgive them. But forgiving does not mean staying in a cycle of repeated abuse. You can forgive from a distance.
Internal links
Read the first message in this cluster:
The Shocking Truth About What The Bible Really Says About Forgiving Your Enemies
Revisit the main foundation message:
Forgiving Others Their Trespasses
Conclusion
Yes — God expects you to forgive everyone. Not because their actions were small. Not because their behavior was justified. Not because the pain was light. But because forgiveness is the only way to keep your heart clean, your spirit aligned, your prayers answered, and your destiny open.
Forgiving everyone does not make you weak — it makes you victorious. It proves that the Holy Spirit, not bitterness, controls your heart. It shows that Christ truly lives in you. And it guarantees that God Himself will handle the battles you surrender to Him.
This is the true meaning of forgiveness: releasing others so God can release you.