Matthew 6 12

Matthew 6:12 kjv

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 nkjv

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 niv

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 esv

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 nlt

and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 12 Meaning

This verse, part of the Lord's Prayer, is a humble plea to God for the forgiveness of sins, here conceptualized as "debts." It fundamentally links God's absolution of our offenses to our willingness to extend the same forgiveness to others who have wronged us. It implies a reciprocal relationship, highlighting that a truly transformed heart, receiving God's boundless grace, will naturally manifest a forgiving spirit towards fellow human beings.

Matthew 6 12 Context

Matthew 6:12 is situated within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7), a foundational teaching on righteous living for the Kingdom of Heaven. Specifically, it forms a core petition within the model prayer, commonly known as "The Lord's Prayer" (Matt 6:9-13). Preceding this, Jesus warns against hypocritical displays of religiosity in giving alms, prayer, and fasting. The prayer itself instructs believers on how to approach God sincerely. This verse follows requests for God's holy name to be hallowed, His kingdom to come, His will to be done, and daily provisions. Immediately after this prayer, Jesus reinforces the point of forgiveness, explicitly stating in Matthew 6:14-15 that the Father will or will not forgive believers based on their forgiveness of others. Historically, Jewish prayers often included petitions for forgiveness. However, Jesus' formulation uniquely connects God's forgiveness with the individual's readiness to forgive, which would have challenged common assumptions about securing divine favor solely through ritual or external piety. The concept of "debt" in a moral sense was understood in both Hebrew and Aramaic thought, referring to trespasses or failures against God or one's neighbor.

Matthew 6 12 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): Simple conjunction; connects to the preceding request for daily sustenance, indicating a continuing list of essential petitions.
• forgive (ἄφες - aphes): Imperative verb from aphiēmi (ἀφίημι), meaning "to send away," "release," "remit," or "pardon." It denotes a decisive act of canceling a debt or sin, a plea for divine liberation from culpability.
• us (ἡμῖν - hēmin): Dative plural pronoun, first person. Emphasizes the personal and communal nature of the request, highlighting a shared need for pardon among God's people.
• our (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Possessive pronoun; clarifies that these are our specific failings and responsibilities.
• debts (ὀφειλήματα - opheilēmata): Noun from opheilēma (ὀφείλημα). Literally "that which is owed" or a "liability." In this context, it unequivocally signifies "sins" or "moral failings" against God's law or His perfect standard, as confirmed by Luke's parallel which uses hamartias (sins). The Aramaic root hōbā, likely spoken by Jesus, carries both meanings of financial and moral debt.
• as (ὡς - hōs): Comparative adverb. It introduces the crucial standard or criterion. It does not suggest earning God's forgiveness, but rather demonstrating the evidence of a heart aligned with His character.
• we (καὶ ἡμεῖς - kai hēmeis): Emphatic pronoun; emphasizes the person praying and their action.
• forgive (ἀφήκαμεν - aphēkamen): Aorist active indicative verb from aphiēmi. Translates to "we have forgiven" or "we have released." This perfect tense suggests a completed action in the past, implying a settled characteristic or consistent posture of forgiveness already existing within the person praying, rather than a future promise or condition. It speaks to a heart already cultivating a forgiving spirit.
• our (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Possessive pronoun.
• debtors (ὀφειλέταις - opheiletais): Noun from opheiletēs (ὀφειλέτης). "One who owes a debt" or "one against whom a claim is held." In the moral context, it means "those who have wronged us" or "those who have sinned against us."

Words-group analysis

• "And forgive us our debts": This petition reveals human dependency on God for cleansing. It is an acknowledgement of inherent sinfulness and transgressions against divine standards, presenting a plea for divine grace and absolution for all moral failings.
• "as we forgive our debtors": This clause establishes a profound reciprocal relationship. It indicates that genuine receipt of God's forgiveness is intrinsically tied to a transformative experience that enables one to extend forgiveness to others. The "as" (ὡς) points not to a basis for meriting God's forgiveness but to an essential evidence of a renewed heart. It signifies a parallel process: just as we desire God to fully remit our great "debt" of sin, so too must we, out of an obedient and Spirit-empowered heart, be willing to remit the lesser "debts" owed to us by others.

Matthew 6 12 Bonus section

• The Aramaic term hōbā, likely used by Jesus, seamlessly conveys both financial and moral indebtedness, linking the tangible concept of owing money to the spiritual reality of owing God obedience or love.
• The emphasis on "we have forgiven" (perfect tense) indicates a present state of readiness and a practiced habit, not a future intention or mere promise. It’s an assertion of one’s current posture.
• This petition ensures the Lord's Prayer is not just a plea for individual blessings but a profound relational exercise, compelling a consideration of our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with humanity.

Matthew 6 12 Commentary

Matthew 6:12 serves as a pivotal ethical and theological statement within the Lord's Prayer, uniting our need for divine mercy with our call to manifest that same mercy. The concept of "debt" in this context refers to sin, underscoring that every moral failure is an offense against God and a burden we carry. The plea "forgive us our debts" acknowledges our inherent fallenness and absolute reliance on God's grace for reconciliation.

The critical clause, "as we forgive our debtors," is not a legalistic condition upon which God's forgiveness is earned. Rather, it describes a spiritual truth and an expected characteristic of a life transformed by Christ. If one truly comprehends and experiences the magnitude of God's forgiveness for their immeasurable "debt" of sin, a Spirit-filled heart cannot genuinely withhold forgiveness from those who have wronged them. The capacity and willingness to forgive others are outward expressions of a heart that has truly received and grasped the divine pardon.

Unforgiveness acts as a spiritual barrier, demonstrating a failure to fully appreciate or participate in God's redemptive work. It hinders our relationship with God and others. This verse thus functions as a daily self-examination, calling believers to actively release bitterness and embrace a posture of forgiveness, mirroring God’s own compassionate nature. It highlights that living a life reconciled with God inherently involves seeking reconciliation with one's fellow human beings.