Ephesians 4:26 instructs not to let anger persist — a prerequisite to the forgiveness commanded just a few verses later.

Ephesians 5:1 immediately follows with 'be imitators of God' – clarifying that the forgiveness command is an act of imitating God's character.

Matthew 6:14 promises that forgiving others brings God's forgiveness – reinforcing the principle that our forgiveness mirrors God's.

In Luke 17:4, Jesus commands repeated forgiveness even for the same sin, expanding the call to forgive without limit.

In the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:4), asking forgiveness is tied to forgiving others, echoing the reciprocal nature of forgiveness in Ephesians 4:32.

In Luke 6:37, Jesus directly commands forgiveness as the way to receive forgiveness, mirroring the same call to forgive as God forgave us.

Luke 6:35 reveals God's kindness to the ungrateful—the same divine model for our kindness and forgiveness in Ephesians 4:32.

Romans 12:10 commands brotherly affection and honoring others—directly echoing the kindness and tenderheartedness in Ephesians 4:32.

In Mark 11:26, the warning that unforgiveness blocks God's forgiveness contrasts with the command to forgive, highlighting the consequence of failing to do so.

In Mark 11:25, Jesus links forgiveness during prayer to receiving the Father's forgiveness, showing the same connection between forgiving others and being forgiven.

1 Corinthians 13:4 defines love as patient and kind—the same virtue of kindness that Ephesians 4:32 calls believers to show.

In 2 Corinthians 2:7, Paul urges forgiveness and comfort for a repentant sinner, directly applying the command to forgive and restore.

The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the necessity of forgiving others as we have been forgiven, reinforcing the same principle of divine forgiveness as the model.

2 Corinthians 2:10 shows Paul forgiving others for Christ's sake—mirroring the command to forgive as God forgave in Ephesians 4:32.

Matthew 6:15 warns that not forgiving others withholds God's forgiveness – the negative counterpart to the positive command here.

Matthew 6:12 in the Lord's Prayer asks forgiveness as we forgive others – the same reciprocal link between divine and human forgiveness.

Colossians 3:12 commands putting on compassionate hearts and kindness—almost identical to the 'kind, tenderhearted' instruction in Ephesians 4:32.

Colossians 3:13 directly parallels the forgiveness clause: forgive as the Lord forgave you—same basis as Ephesians 4:32's command.

James 5:11 explicitly calls the Lord compassionate and merciful – the very attribute that Paul points to as the model for forgiving others.

In 1 Peter 3:9, believers are called to bless rather than retaliate—echoing the same call to forgive as Christ forgave in Ephesians 4:32.

1 John 4:11 commands loving one another because God loved us — the same logic of imitating divine love that underlies the forgiveness command here.

2 Corinthians 12:20 lists quarreling, jealousy, anger — the very sins that the call to kindness and forgiveness here aims to prevent.

Colossians 1:14 states that we have forgiveness of sins in Christ — the divine forgiveness that believers are to imitate here.

Colossians 3:8 lists anger, wrath, malice — the negative behaviors to be put off, contrasting with the kindness and forgiveness commanded here.

In Genesis 45:24, Joseph, having forgiven his brothers, tells them not to quarrel—an OT example of the forgiving kindness called for in Ephesians 4:32.

Acts 13:38 proclaims forgiveness of sins through Christ — the very basis for the command to forgive others here.

In Matthew 18:33, the parable demands mercy toward others as God has shown mercy, directly paralleling the logic of forgiveness here.

In Matthew 18:22, unlimited forgiveness (seventy‑seven times) reinforces the call here to forgive one another generously.

In Matthew 9:6, Jesus demonstrates divine authority to forgive sins, grounding the command to forgive as God forgave us.

Exodus 34:7 reveals God as forgiving iniquity—the same divine character that Ephesians 4:32 calls believers to imitate in Christ.

In Matthew 5:22, anger against a brother is condemned, contrasting with the forgiveness and kindness commanded here.

In Matthew 5:7, mercy is blessed and leads to receiving mercy, mirroring the call to forgive as we have been forgiven.

In Micah 6:8, the call to love kindness directly echoes the emphasis on being kind and tenderhearted toward others.

Deuteronomy 15:15 uses redemption from Egypt as motivation to be generous—paralleling the logic of remembering God's forgiveness to forgive others in Ephesians 4:32.

Proverbs 19:11 praises overlooking an offense—a wisdom teaching that directly parallels the forgiving attitude commanded in Ephesians 4:32.

Luke 1:78 uses the same Greek root for 'tender mercy' (splagchna) that appears in 'tenderhearted' here – linking God's compassion to our conduct.

Psalm 145:9 reveals God's mercy to all creation – the same divine compassion that grounds the call to forgive as God forgave.

1 John 2:12 assures that sins are forgiven for Christ's sake—the foundational reality that motivates the command to forgive others in Ephesians 4:32.

Psalm 112:4 describes the righteous as gracious and merciful, virtues that align with being kind and tenderhearted in Ephesians.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 calls for patience with all — a specific expression of the kindness and tenderheartedness commanded here.

Psalm 32:5 describes forgiveness received through confession—the same divine forgiveness that Ephesians 4:32 calls us to extend to others.

In Proverbs 20:3, avoiding quarrels complements the command to be kind and forgiving, both promoting relational peace.

2 Corinthians 6:6 lists 'kindness' among Paul's apostolic virtues—the same trait emphasized in Ephesians 4:32's call to be kind.