Matthew 6 14

Matthew 6:14 kjv

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:14 nkjv

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:14 niv

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:14 esv

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

Matthew 6:14 nlt

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 14 Meaning

This verse clarifies and elaborates on the petition in the Lord's Prayer: "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Mt 6:12). It states a clear principle: God's forgiveness towards us is conditioned upon our willingness to forgive others who have trespassed against us. It reveals a foundational aspect of the believer's relationship with the Father, emphasizing the inseparable link between divine mercy received and human mercy extended.

Matthew 6 14 Context

Matthew 6:14 is an immediate follow-up to the Lord's Prayer (Mt 6:9-13), acting as an explanatory gloss specifically on the petition concerning forgiveness (Mt 6:12). After teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus offers a crucial commentary on this particular request, highlighting its absolute importance. The entire section (Mt 6:1-18) deals with pious acts like giving, praying, and fasting, cautioning against performing them for outward show. The emphasis here shifts from mere recitation to the inward transformation and practical living that validates such prayer. Historically, in the First Century Jewish context, there was a strong emphasis on legal purity and adherence to the Law. While mercy was valued, a tit-for-tat justice was often culturally ingrained, making Jesus' teaching on radical, proactive forgiveness particularly challenging and distinct from prevailing interpretations of "an eye for an eye" (Ex 21:24) which was often taken to mean literal retribution, not a principle for limited, balanced justice.

Matthew 6 14 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ, gar): This conjunction serves as an explanatory link. It signals that what follows is a reason or an explanation for the preceding statement, specifically elaborating on the petition, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Mt 6:12).

• if (ἐὰν, ean): A conditional particle, introducing a dependent clause. It establishes a necessary prerequisite. God's action (forgiving you) is contingent upon human action (you forgiving others).

• you forgive (ἀφῆτε, aphēte): Second person plural, aorist subjunctive from aphiēmi. Meaning "to send away, let go, release, remit, pardon, forgive." It denotes a decisive and complete act of releasing the grudge or resentment against another. It signifies cancelling a debt or granting a full pardon.

• others (τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, tous anthrōpous): Literally, "the men" or "the people." It signifies a broad, universal application, encompassing anyone, not limited to family, friends, or fellow believers.

• their trespasses (τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ta paraptōmata autōn): From paraptōma, meaning "a false step, a deviation from the right path, a transgression, a falling aside, an offense, a sin." It refers to specific actions or wrongs committed against you.

• your Heavenly Father (ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος, ho Patēr hymōn ho ouranios): This specific designation for God emphasizes His benevolent, caring nature while also highlighting His divine authority and perfect holiness. He is the ultimate source of all forgiveness, existing in perfect communion with humanity. The epithet "heavenly" differentiates Him from earthly fathers and signifies His transcendence.

• will also forgive (ἀφήσει, aphēsei): Future active indicative from aphiēmi. This verb signifies a promise that God's forgiveness will be extended after the human condition of forgiving is met. It reiterates the reciprocal nature of divine grace.

• you (ὑμῖν, hymin): Second person plural dative pronoun. Direct object of God's forgiveness, mirroring the subject of "you forgive."

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For if you forgive others their trespasses": This phrase sets the clear human action and its object. It establishes the "if" clause—the necessary precondition that relies on a human act of intentional, proactive release of offenses.
  • "your Heavenly Father will also forgive you": This is the divine consequence, the "then" clause. It guarantees that God's forgiveness, flowing from His perfect nature as Heavenly Father, will mirror our own actions. This highlights the father-child relationship—God expects His children to reflect His character.

Matthew 6 14 Bonus section

The reciprocity principle highlighted in this verse (and amplified in Mt 6:15) is not merely a legalistic exchange but rather a profound spiritual reality that touches the very core of one's spiritual walk. The capacity to forgive others is often seen as evidence that one has genuinely received God's forgiveness and possesses a heart changed by divine grace. The very act of extending forgiveness can, in turn, become a conduit for one to truly apprehend and internalize God's immense mercy towards them. A persistent refusal to forgive others indicates a hardened heart that resists the transformative power of God's Spirit. While salvation is not earned through our actions of forgiveness, the quality and state of our spiritual life and communion with God are directly affected by our willingness to extend mercy to others, for it demonstrates the depth of our own understanding and appropriation of the boundless forgiveness we have received from Him.

Matthew 6 14 Commentary

Matthew 6:14, along with the subsequent verse (Mt 6:15), serves as a crucial addendum to the Lord's Prayer, emphasizing that the petition for forgiveness is not merely a formality but a reflection of a transformed heart. The meaning is profound and direct: the flow of God's mercy into our lives is directly linked to the outflow of mercy from us to others. It is not about earning salvation, as forgiveness of sins ultimately comes through faith in Christ's atoning work (Rom 5:8, Eph 2:8-9). Rather, it's about the manifestation of a truly regenerated spirit.

A person unwilling to forgive a debt owed by another indicates a heart that has not fully grasped or embraced the enormity of the debt God has forgiven them. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Mt 18:21-35) vividly illustrates this: the servant who was forgiven a massive debt, yet refused to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him, faced severe consequences. Unforgiveness essentially chokes off the channel through which divine grace can flow, creating a barrier in one's relationship with God. It isn't that God arbitrarily withholds forgiveness, but that an unforgiving heart lacks the spiritual receptivity to experience God's forgiveness, mirroring the truth of "as we also have forgiven." This principle encourages believers to cultivate a heart that is quick to pardon, mirroring God's own character and reflecting true repentance. It teaches that being forgiven by God means being like God.

Examples:

• A spouse choosing to let go of bitterness over a past transgression, opening the door for healing in their marriage and personal peace.
• A church member actively forgiving someone who slandered them, demonstrating Christ's love rather than holding a grudge.
• An individual making a conscious decision to forgive an offense from childhood, freeing themselves from resentment's burden.