Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 6:12

"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." — Matthew 6:12 (ASV)

No prayer of mortal men could be complete without confession of sin. Prayer that does not seek pardon will fail, as the Pharisee’s prayer did. Let proud men boast as they please; those who are in Christ’s kingdom will always pray, “Forgive us our debts.” Our Lord knew that we would always have debts to acknowledge and therefore would always need to cry, “Forgive!”

This is the prayer of men whom the Judge has absolved because of their faith in the Great Sacrifice, for now they come to their Father for free forgiveness, as children. No man may pass a day without praying, “Forgive,” and in his supplication he should not forget his fellow sinners, but should pray, “Forgive us.” The writer ventures to pray, “Lord, forgive me and my brother over there, who says he is perfect.”

This pardon we can only obtain as we freely pass over the offenses of others against ourselves, “as we forgive our debtors.” This is a reasonable, indeed, a blessed requirement, which it is a delight to fulfill. It would not be safe for God to forgive a man who will not forgive others.

Lord, I most heartily forgive all who may have done me wrong. I am lenient with those who are indebted to me and now, with a hopeful heart, I pray You forgive me, even as I now forgive all who are in any sense my debtors.