Relevant Bible account(s):

• Ps 78:40, 41; 106:36-46​—Jehovah repeatedly forgives his wayward people, though their sinfulness causes him pain of heart

• Lu 15:11-32​—Jesus illustrates Jehovah’s forgiveness by describing a merciful father and his treatment of a wayward but repentant son

Relevant Bible account(s):

• Heb 9:22-28​—The apostle Paul explains how Christ’s blood is the only provision for the forgiveness of sins

• Re 7:9, 10, 14, 15​—The apostle John sees in vision “a great crowd” who have a clean standing before God because of Christ’s shed blood

Relevant Bible account(s):

• Job 42:7-10​—Before Jehovah removes Job’s tribulation and restores him to health and prosperity, He requires that Job pray in behalf of his three misguided companions

• Mt 18:21-35​—Jesus vividly illustrates the importance of forgiving others if we ourselves want to be forgiven

Relevant Bible account(s):

• Ps 32:1-5; 51:1, 2, 16, 17​—Because of his serious sins, King David feels crushed and brokenhearted, and he sincerely repents

• Jas 5:14-16​—James explains that if we commit a serious sin, we should go to the elders

Relevant Bible account(s):

• 1Ki 21:27-29; 2Ch 18:18-22, 33, 34; 19:1, 2​—When King Ahab is judged, he humbles himself and Jehovah extends a measure of mercy to him; yet, he shows no evidence of real repentance, so Jehovah still sees him as wicked and has him put to death

• 2Ch 33:1-16​—King Manasseh is extremely wicked; yet, Jehovah forgives him when he repents. Manasseh shows that he is truly a changed man by fighting idolatry and promoting pure worship

Relevant Bible account(s):

• 2Sa 12:13; 24:1; 1Ki 9:4, 5​—Though David has committed very serious sins, Jehovah forgives the repentant king and later refers to him as a man of integrity

Relevant Bible account(s):

• Mt 26:36, 40, 41​—Jesus’ closest followers fall asleep when he needs their support the most; nonetheless, Jesus kindly acknowledges their limitations

• Mt 26:69-75; Lu 24:33, 34; Ac 2:37-41​—Peter three times denies knowing Jesus, but Christ forgives his repentant apostle; Jesus appears to him personally after being resurrected and later gives him special privileges in the congregation

Relevant Bible account(s):

• Mt 23:29-33​—Jesus warns the scribes and Pharisees that as a group they will face the judgment of Gehenna, or permanent destruction

• Joh 17:12; Mr 14:21​—Jesus calls Judas Iscariot “the son of destruction” and says that this traitor would have been better off if he had not been born