Matthew 6:14
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just saying that God will forgive us if we forgive others, but that our ability and willingness to forgive others reflects whether we've truly embraced God's own forgiveness for our deeper, more willful sins. The word Jesus uses for "trespasses" points to a conscious falling away from what is right, highlighting that our own unforgiving spirit reveals a fundamental disconnect from the grace we've been shown.
This verse directly follows Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray, specifically the model prayer itself. He has just instructed them to say, "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors," and now clarifies that this reciprocal relationship with God hinges on their willingness to forgive others who have wronged them.
Think about the Lord's Prayer. Jesus gives us a model prayer, but one line has a clear condition attached. Why is forgiveness so critical that it comes with a divine echo?
Jesus isn't just suggesting a nice idea; He's stating a profound truth about God's kingdom and our relationship with Him. When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we're essentially saying, 'God, deal with me the way I deal with others.'
The Divine Equation
Jesus uses a specific word for offenses here. It's not just a minor slip-up; it carries a deeper meaning that underscores why forgiveness is so vital.
The Greek word used here, 'paraptōmata,' isn't just about missing the mark. It speaks to falling or stumbling, often in a way that's willful and reckless. It implies a conscious violation of what is right and good.
Understanding the Offense
Understand the original words
paraptōma · Greek Noun
Literally a 'stepping aside' or a falling away. It denotes a violation of divine law or a lapse into sin, signifying a breach of the relationship between God and man.
patēr · Greek Noun
Refers to God as the Creator and Sustainer who maintains a personal, paternal relationship with the believer. It denotes authority, intimacy, and the promise of His providential care.
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching, emphasizing that when you stand praying, you must forgive those who have wronged you, or your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins either.
Colossians 3:13This letter to the Colossians highlights the core of our spiritual life: just as Christ forgave us, we are called to forgive one another, demonstrating that our ability to receive forgiveness is tied to our willingness to extend it.
1 John 4:7-8This passage connects love and God, stating that God is love and that anyone who does not love cannot know God, which underlies why a forgiving heart is essential for knowing and being known by Him.
Luke 17:3-4Here, Jesus instructs his disciples on the necessity of forgiving someone repeatedly, even if they sin against you seven times in a day, showing that forgiveness is not a one-time act but a fundamental attitude.
Matthew 18:21-22Peter's question about forgiving seven times leads Jesus to declare we must forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times, illustrating the boundless nature of God's forgiveness and what He expects from us in return.
barnesMatthew 6:14: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
For if ye forgive men their trespasses - If ye forgive others when they offend or injure you. Your heavenly Father will also forgive you - This is constantly required in the Bible. See the notes at Matthew 6:12. Our Saviour says we should forgive even if the offence be committed seventy times seven times, Matthew 18:22. By this is meant, that when a man asks forgiveness, we are cordially and fore…
vincentMatthew 6:14: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
Trespasses (παραπτώματα)The Lord here uses another word for sins, and still another (ἁμαρτιας) appears in Luke's version of the prayer, though he also says, "every one that is indebted to us." There is no difficulty in supposing that Christ, contemplating sins in general, should represent them by different terms expressive of different aspects of wrong-doing (see on Matthew 1:21). This word is…
This verse isn't just saying that God will forgive us if we forgive others, but that our ability and willingness to forgive others reflects whether we've truly embraced God's own forgiveness for our deeper, more willful sins. The word Jesus uses for "trespasses" points to a conscious falling away from what is right, highlighting that our own unforgiving spirit reveals a fundamental disconnect from the grace we've been shown.
This verse directly follows Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray, specifically the model prayer itself. He has just instructed them to say, "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors," and now clarifies that this reciprocal relationship with God hinges on their willingness to forgive others who have wronged them.
This verse directly follows Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray, specifically the model prayer itself. He has just instructed them to say, "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors," and now clarifies that this reciprocal relationship with God hinges on their willingness to forgive others who have wronged them.
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," — This verse isn't just saying that God will forgive us if we forgive others, but that our ability and willingness to forgive others reflects whether we've truly embraced God's own forgiveness for ou…
