Forgiving people who've wronged us is one of the most difficult things God asks us to do. Minor insults and slights can be easier to forgive, but what if the offense against you is so painful that it seems unpardonable? How can you forgive someone who broke your heart or hurt someone you love?

Thankfully, we have the perfect example of forgiveness in Jesus, who, while in agony on the cross, said, "Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23.34 GNTD)

Jesus makes it clear that we must model our forgiveness of others on God's forgiveness of our sins.

Here are a few lines from Scripture in which Jesus talks about the grace of forgiveness and why it's essential:

1. "If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done." -- Matthew 6.14-15 GNTD
2. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in one day, and each time he comes to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." Luke 17.3-4 GNTD
3. "And when you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrongs you have done." --Mark 11.25 GNTD
4. "Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you." -- Luke 6.37 GNTD
5. "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?' 'No, not seven times,' answered Jesus, 'but seventy times seven…'" -- Matthew 18.21-22 GNTD
6. "Drink it, all of you; this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." -- Matthew 26.27-29 GNTD