Matthew 6:15 Meaning and Explanation
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The warning's other side: a refusal to forgive others closes the heart to the forgiveness God offers.
What Does Matthew 6:15 Mean?
This is the sober counterpart to the promise just made. Jesus states the matter plainly, leaving no room to imagine that an unforgiving heart can still rest easy in God's mercy.
The unwillingness to forgive is not a small fault; it reveals a heart that has not truly received grace, for one who knows the weight of his own forgiven debt cannot keep demanding payment from others. To withhold mercy is to step outside the very mercy we ourselves depend upon. This is not God growing stingy, but our own clenched hands unable to receive what they will not give. The remedy is to look again at how much we have been forgiven, and to let that vast pardon soften us toward those who have wronged us.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 6:15
What does Matthew 6:15 mean?
The warning's other side: a refusal to forgive others closes the heart to the forgiveness God offers.