“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15

If we’re not careful, Jesus’ instruction at the end of the Lord’s Prayer could sound like a transaction—forgive others to guarantee your own forgiveness. But rather than demanding a quid pro quo, Jesus is offering us a much-needed heart examination.

An unforgiving heart reveals that we don’t think our own sin is all that bad. We believe that in the ledger of outstanding balances, the entry under our name is comparatively short and just needs a little explanation. And so, in our pride, we slide out of the defendant’s box, step into the judge’s seat, take the gavel, and start doling out verdicts and pronouncing sentences.

When we see those who have wronged us as neighboring cellmates in a debtor’s prison, we approach forgiveness differently. We stop glaring down from a high throne of judgement and start looking at one another side by side, as fellow sinners. We remember that the same nail-scarred hands unlocked all our prison doors and ushered each of us into wholly unmerited freedom.

We do not forgive in order to be forgiven; we forgive because we have been forgiven.

Pray:

> Have you made light of any sin in your life? Spend time in confession today.

> From whom are you withholding forgiveness? Bring this to God and ask Him to help you release it.

> That we would be a church marked by mercy, quick to forgive our brothers and sisters in Christ.