Forgive Us

What did Jesus mean when He taught His disciples to pray “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”?

First of all, it is important to consider this phrase in the context of the entire Sermon on the Mount, and more particularly, in the context of the model prayer Jesus taught His disciples.

Jesus had already told them

"...If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG).


It is important to note here that Jesus did not specify whether the brother had a justifiable cause to have ought against you. That is, He did not say that they had to be right in their anger toward you. It does not necessarily mean that you had to do something wrong before you seek reconciliation.

The underlying motive behind this command is love. We are to love our brother so much that whether he is right or wrong, we should make every possible effort to be reconciled to him.

Jesus then talked about turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and giving more than is demanded (5:40-42). Then He says, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).


Again, the underlying principle, as Jesus states in this passage, is love. The perfect example of love is seen in the work of the Trinity—God so loved the world that He gave His Son. The Son so loved the world that He was willing to give His life that we may live. The Holy Ghost so loves the world that He still works to reconcile fallen man to Holy God through Jesus Christ! In other words, God’s love for mankind is seen in His willingness to forgive us and reconcile us to Himself.

If we are to be in proper fellowship with the Father, Jesus says, we must not only love God but our fellow man, too. In fact, John said it this way: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).

The evidence of God’s love toward us is in His forgiving us of our sin and bringing us back into fellowship with Him. The evidence of our love toward God is our obedience to His Word. The evidence of our love for our fellow man is our willingness to forgive them when they sin against us!