It’s not so much about a condition, but more about character. Not a quid pro quo — I’ll do so that You’ll do — but more of a “because You have done, how can I not?” It’s the only “we do” in a passage of petitions dominated by “do for us.” It’s the only ask with an explanation. It’s forgiveness.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

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.” ~ Jesus

(Matthew 6:9-15 ESV)

Pretty familiar passage, I’m guessing. There’s praise, hallowed be Your name. There’s aligning ourselves to the promise, Your kingdom come. Then, comes the petitions; give us . . . forgive us . . . lead us not . . . deliver us. Thus, says Jesus, so should you pray. But to quote from that great teacher, Sesame Street, “One of these things is not like the others.”

Forgive us comes with a condition. It’s the only part of the prayer which Jesus deems needful of a following commentary.

“. . . forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. . . For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you . . . “

We know Jesus isn’t talking here about the forgiveness which saves. That forgiveness is a gift. It is independent of any work on our behalf. God’s forgiveness of the penalty owed for our sin is by grace alone through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9). So, what is Jesus talking about? If it’s not “salvational” forgiveness, then what is it? I’m thinking it’s “relational” forgiveness.

Is the degree to which God is able to be in fellowship with those who have sinned against Him impacted by the degree to which they are willing to forgive and be in fellowship with those who have sinned against them? I’m thinkin’. After all, isn’t reconciliation the purpose of forgiveness? Forgiveness is not, first and foremost, about us “letting go” or about us un-shouldering a burden of bitterness. Sure, it has that therapeutic value, forgiveness is necessary in order to move on. But at its core, the purpose of forgiveness is restoration of relationship.

So, Jesus says we need to pray for God’s on-going grace and forgiveness of our debts so that our fellowship with Him might remain strong. But Jesus also says that to expect fellowship with the Father when we are unwilling to forgive and re-establish fellowship with our brother, or our sister, is not how it works. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven (Eph. 5:32, Col. 3:13). Not forgiving others is going to impact our fellowship with the Father.

” . . . but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Forgiving our debtors is going to impact the blessing of being forgiven our debts. Sure, we’ll still be children, but children in a measure of “timeout” in the corner. We’re still his servants, but servants at a distance.

Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also My heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” ~ Jesus

(Matthew 18:32-35 ESV)

Hear again Jesus’s model of prayer . . .

. . . and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

It’s the only “we” in a prayer full of petitions for “us”. The only condition in a model of how to show appropriate contrition. The only commentary expanding on the dynamics of divine relationship.

Worth chewing on, I think.

By His grace. For His glory.