John Calvin Commentary Matthew 6:14

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." — Matthew 6:14 (ASV)

Here Christ only explains the reason why that condition was added: Forgive us, as we forgive. The reason is that God will not be ready to hear us unless we also show ourselves ready to grant forgiveness to those who have offended us. If we are not harder than iron, this exhortation ought to soften us and make us willing to forgive offenses.⁴⁴⁵

Unless God pardons us for many sins every day, we know that we are ruined in innumerable ways; and he admits us to pardon on no other condition than that we pardon our brothers and sisters for whatever offenses they have committed against us. Those who refuse to forget the injuries that have been done to them willingly and deliberately devote themselves to destruction and knowingly prevent God from forgiving them.⁴⁴⁶

⁴⁴⁵ “Pour nous rendre faciles a oublier les injures qu'on nous a faites.” — “To make us ready to forget the injuries which have been done to us.”.” — “To make us ready to forget the injuries which have been done to us.”

⁴⁴⁶ “Et de propos delibere veulent que Dieu procede contre eux en toute rigueur;” — “and deliberately resolve that God may proceed against them to the utmost rigor.”;” — “and deliberately resolve that God may proceed against them to the utmost rigor.”