But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- KJV But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- BSB But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
- NKJV But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- NLT But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If you refuse to forgive others, you show you have not received God's forgiveness, and the Father will not forgive you. An unforgiving heart is incompatible with grace.
Overview
The stark negative counterpart to the previous verse warns that a settled, unforgiving spirit reveals a heart that has not been touched by God's mercy. Jesus is not making forgiveness a meritorious work but exposing that those unwilling to forgive show they do not truly know God's pardon. The verse calls professing believers to examine whether the grace they claim has actually transformed them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Matt 18:35So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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