Luke 11:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The prayer asks forgiveness of sins, joined to our forgiving of others, and pleads for protection from temptation and deliverance from evil.
What Does Luke 11:4 Mean?
The prayer's final petitions touch sin, past and future. We ask forgiveness while affirming that we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us; then we ask to be kept from trial and delivered from evil.
Jesus binds the two mercies together: the hand open to receive forgiveness cannot stay clenched against a brother. And knowing our weakness, he teaches us to ask in advance for protection -- not to be led into testing beyond us, but rescued from evil. The whole prayer can be said by a child, and it carries everything a soul needs.
Luke 11:4 in the Original Language
aphiemi (ἀφίημι), 'forgive' -- to release, to let a debt go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 11:4
What does Luke 11:4 mean?
The prayer asks forgiveness of sins, joined to our forgiving of others, and pleads for protection from temptation and deliverance from evil.