I normally won’t plan on posting conversations with ChatGPT on here. Nominally, it feels like cheating, and I don’t want to get too comfortable with relying on it for putting together information. For two reasons, really: 1.) right now ChatGPT is good because Donald Trump and the Trump-type of conservatives are in power, and if the Democrats ever get back in power (and I know it's not “if”; it's “when,” I just hope and pray that that “when” is very far in the distant future), they will corrupt AI beyond what is currently imaginable. And I expect that whenever that happens, it will play a major role in the final descent of humanity before Jesus’s return (also bearing yesterday’s post in mind on His commentary on His return and what to watch out for). 2.) Personally, I do take pride in my creative work, relying on God’s inspiration and the gifts He has given me to take His inspiration and put it to use, whether for music-writing or for literature-writing. I need to guard against complacency of over-relying on ChatGPT especially in terms of generating content for me related to faith or other topics that I care about and have knowledge.
That said, I do wish to share below a brief conversation I had with ChatGPT on the topic of forgiveness, because I believe that God has placed this front-and-center in my life right now. And so I need to obey to the best of my ability.
Conversation with ChatGPT on Biblical Forgiveness. “March Forth” 2026
I said: Hi, I need to ask for some Bible references on forgiveness. Before I ask you to share these references, I have a prompt I'd like to include in order to refine this search: “God requires that we forgive all around us. It doesn't mean we are required to remain “buddy-buddy” with anyone we don't choose to, and it doesn't mean we pretend that the things that happened didn't happen. But forgiveness entails releasing all aspects of the event(s) that still linger(s): the memory, the pain, the desire for getting even, and so on. And the truth is, we all need forgiveness from something.” With this prompt in mind, which bible verses on forgiveness are most apropos?
ChatGPT said: That’s a thoughtful and well-balanced prompt. You’re distinguishing between forgiveness and continued relational closeness, and also emphasizing release rather than denial. With that framing, here are passages that are especially apropos:
1. Forgiveness Is Required of Us
Matthew 6:14–15
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
This directly affirms your point: we all need forgiveness, and we are expected to extend it.
Mark 11:25
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone…”
Notice the breadth: anything against anyone. It supports the “forgive all around us” concept.
2. Forgiveness Is Ongoing, Not Limited
Matthew 18:21–22
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
This passage emphasizes that forgiveness is not a one-time release but a posture of heart.
You might also include the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23–35), which reinforces how deeply we ourselves depend on mercy.
3. Forgiveness Means Releasing Bitterness and Vengeance
Romans 12:17–19
“Repay no one evil for evil… never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God…”
This supports your wording about releasing the desire to “get even.”
Ephesians 4:31–32
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger… be put away from you… forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
This speaks directly to releasing lingering emotional residue — bitterness, anger, malice.
Hebrews 12:15
“…that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble…”
Again, forgiveness is about uprooting what lingers internally.
4. Forgiveness Does Not Equal Denial of Wrong
Colossians 3:13
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Notice: if one has a complaint. Scripture assumes real wrongdoing occurred. Forgiveness doesn’t pretend it didn’t happen.
Also relevant:
Luke 17:3–4
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him…”
There is acknowledgment of sin. Forgiveness is not pretending — it is responding rightly to something real.
5. We All Need Forgiveness
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
1 John 1:8–9
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us…”
This anchors your closing statement: none of us stand above the need for mercy.
6. Forgiveness Reflects God’s Own Character
Psalm 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Micah 7:18–19
“He does not retain his anger forever… He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
These beautifully illustrate what “release” looks like.
Putting It All Together
If I distilled your prompt into a biblical synthesis, it would look like this:
- Forgiveness is commanded (Matthew 6, Mark 11).
- It must be ongoing and without limit (Matthew 18).
- It involves releasing vengeance and bitterness (Romans 12, Ephesians 4).
- It acknowledges real wrongdoing (Luke 17, Colossians 3).
- It flows from remembering our own need for mercy (Romans 3, 1 John 1).
- It reflects God’s heart toward us (Psalm 103, Micah 7).