Bible Verses on Betrayal

At some point and time in our lives, we’ve felt the hurtful sting of betrayal.  That pain is something that we have the choice of carrying with us for the rest of our lives or learning to let go of it and move on.  The Bible deals with the topic of betrayal quite a bit, telling us how it hurts, how to forgive, and even how to let ourselves heal. Here are some Bible verses on betrayal:

Leaving Consequences to God

The Bible reminds us that God doesn’t turn a blind eye to betrayal. There are spiritual consequences that those committing betrayal will face.

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape. (NLT)

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you. (NLT)

Romans 3:23
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (CEV)

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to win God’s approval as a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message. (CEV)

Romans 1:29
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips. ​(NIV)

Jeremiah 12:6
Your relatives, members of your own family -- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. (NIV)

Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[a] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. (NIV)

Forgiveness is Essential

When we’re looking at getting over a fresh betrayal, the idea of forgiveness can be foreign to us.  However, forgiving those who hurt you can be a cleansing process. These Bible verses on betrayal remind us that forgiveness is an important part of our spiritual growth and moving forward stronger than before.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (NASB)

Mark 11:25
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. (NASB)

Matthew 7:12
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Psalm 55:12-14
For it is not an enemy who taunts me -- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me -- then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house, we walked in the throng. (ESV)

Psalm 109:4
In return for my love, they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. (NKJV)

Look to Jesus as the Example of Strength

Jesus is a great example of how to handle betrayal. He faced betrayals by Judas and his people.  He suffered greatly and died for our sins. We may not seek out being a martyr, but when faced with difficulties, we can remind ourselves that Jesus forgave those who hurt him, so we can strive to forgive those who have harmed us. He reminds us of God’s strength and how God can get us through anything.

Luke 22:48
Jesus asked Judas, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (CEV)

John 13:21
After Jesus had said these things, he was deeply troubled and told his disciples, “I tell you for certain that one of you will betray me.” (CEV)

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ,[a] who gives me strength. (NLT)

Matthew 26:45-46
Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look -- the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” (NLT)

Matthew 26:50
Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”  Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. (NLT)

Mark 14:11
They were glad to hear this, and they promised to pay him. So Judas started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus. (CEV)

Luke 12:51-53
Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other. (CEV)

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)