What does Matthew 6:14 mean?
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Quick answer
‘If you forgive others… your heavenly Father will also forgive you’—those who have received God’s mercy are to extend it.
What it means
Following the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus stresses forgiveness. Refusing to forgive others is inconsistent with having received God’s forgiveness.
It is not that we earn forgiveness by forgiving, but that a forgiven heart forgives; an unforgiving heart reveals one that has not truly grasped grace.
Common questions
Do I earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others?
No. Forgiving others is the fruit and evidence of having received God’s forgiveness; an unforgiving heart shows grace hasn’t taken hold.
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Original BibleDawn explanation · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.