Devine Scripture

Matthew 6:14

What does Matthew 6:14 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 6:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 6:14 means

Jesus here expands on the condition for forgiveness mentioned in the Lord's Prayer. He states a clear principle: if believers choose to forgive others who have sinned against them, then their heavenly Father will also extend forgiveness to them. This isn't about earning forgiveness, but about demonstrating a heart that reflects God's own merciful character. Our willingness to pardon others becomes an indicator of genuine repentance and a receptive heart for God's grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For if you let men have forgiveness for their sins, you will have forgiveness from your Father in heaven.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`For, if ye may forgive men their trespasses He also will forgive you--your Father who <FI>is<Fi> in the heavens;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For if ye forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father also will forgive you [yours],

Context

This verse directly elucidates and emphasizes the conditional aspect of the forgiveness petition found in the Lord's Prayer (verse 12). It immediately follows the conclusion of the model prayer, highlighting a point Jesus deemed crucial enough to reiterate and explain further. This explanation then sets up the inverse warning in the subsequent verse, creating a strong emphasis on the necessity of forgiving others.

v.13And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

v.14This passage

v.15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • James 2:13

    For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

  • Mark 11:25

    And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

  • Colossians 3:13

    forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

  • Matthew 18:21

    Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?

  • Matthew 7:2

    For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.

  • Matthew 6:12

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

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