“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.” — Matthew 6:14–15 (BSB)
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” — Luke 6:37 (BSB)
“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (BSB)
“Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13 (BSB)
But this prayer also places a holy demand upon me: as I seek God’s forgiveness, I must also forgive others. I cannot hold on to resentment while asking God to release me from my own debt. Forgiveness is not optional for the Christian—it is essential. Jesus warns that if I refuse to forgive others, I am rejecting the very grace I claim to receive.
To pray these words is to surrender pride and bitterness, to imitate the mercy of Christ, and to seek reconciliation in my relationships. It does not mean ignoring sin or injustice, but offering the grace that God has given me, trusting Him for justice and healing.
Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “In this petition, the Gospel is enacted. We receive forgiveness as gift, and we pass it on as command. To be forgiven and unforgiving is a contradiction in terms.”
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “God’s mercy must shape the heart of the believer. You cannot hold the cross in one hand and a grudge in the other.”
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer embeds this truth in the Confession and Absolution, in the exchange of the Peace before Communion, and in the Lord’s Prayer at the heart of every liturgy. It prepares us to receive grace by calling us to extend it.
J.C. Ryle wrote, “Let us never forget that a forgiving spirit is the mark of a forgiven man. If we do not forgive, we have no right to expect forgiveness.” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, 1865)
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “This prayer breaks pride and heals wounds. Forgiveness is the path to freedom—for the one who receives it, and for the one who gives it.”
To pray “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive” glorifies Christ because it magnifies His mercy, humbles our hearts, and makes visible the power of the Gospel in our relationships.
St. Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258 AD): “We ask that our debt be remitted, but only as we remit. There is no room in the Church for those who seek mercy but refuse to show it.” — On the Lord’s Prayer, 19
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD): “Nothing makes us so like God as a spirit of forgiveness. If we pray this petition with a hard heart, we condemn ourselves.” — Homily on Matthew, 19
St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395 AD): “Forgiveness is not weakness but likeness to Christ. When we pray this prayer sincerely, we renounce vengeance and take up the cross.” — On the Lord’s Prayer, 5
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
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