But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
The Father's forgiveness of a person's trespasses is conditional on that person forgiving others, and if forgiveness is refused to others the Father will not forgive. Refusing to forgive others prevents receiving forgiveness from the Father, so forgiveness is a necessary part of praying to God. This requirement belongs to prayer: when standing praying a person must forgive if he has anything against anyone, believing in faith that the request is received, so that the Father may forgive. Believing prayer for whatever is desired and a forgiving spirit belong together.
Cherishing resentment and an unforgiving spirit prevents prayer from being answered, and the Lord cannot answer the prayers of one who harbors such a spirit. Those who seek pardon must pray with a forgiving spirit and forgive others as fully as they hope to be forgiven by God, since refusing to forgive cuts off the channel through which God's mercy is received. Forgiveness must not be withheld until the offender admits fault, for though wrongdoers should repent and confess, the injured person must show compassion whether or not they do, rather than cherishing grievances or dwelling on personal injuries.
Receiving pardon through Christ's sacrifice transforms the receiver toward gratitude and sympathy for fellow sinners who need pardon, leaving no place for pride and revenge. God's goodness and mercy lead to repentance and a desire to show others the same tender, forgiving spirit, recognizing the good in others, loving those who need forgiveness, and hoping associates will also receive pardon. Cherishing resentful feelings and feeding on them destroys appetite for reading the Scriptures, because God's Word condemns letting the enemy control the feelings so that resentment is harbored.
When bringing troubles, perplexities, and questions of duty to God, each person is to bring burdens directly to Christ the Burden-bearer who understands every circumstance of life, rather than asking a human counselor to inquire of God for him. Parents must forgive their children just as freely as they hope to be forgiven by the Father in heaven. When children yield to temptation and afterward see and repent of their error, parents must not meet them with a clouded brow but forgive them, kindly instruct them, and bind them to their hearts.
The Father's forgiveness of a person's trespasses is conditional on that person forgiving others, and if forgiveness is refused to others the Father will not forgive. Refusing to forgive others prevents receiving forgiveness from the Father, so forgiveness is a necessary part of praying to God. This requirement belongs to prayer: when standing praying a person must forgive if he has anything against anyone, believing in faith that the request is received, so that the Father may forgive. Believing prayer for whatever is desired and a forgiving spirit belong together.
Cherishing resentment and an unforgiving spirit prevents prayer from being answered, and the Lord cannot answer the prayers of one who harbors such a spirit. Those who seek pardon must pray with a forgiving spirit and forgive others as fully as they hope to be forgiven by God, since refusing to forgive cuts off the channel through which God's mercy is received. Forgiveness must not be withheld until the offender admits fault, for though wrongdoers should repent and confess, the injured person must show compassion whether or not they do, rather than cherishing grievances or dwelling on personal injuries.
Receiving pardon through Christ's sacrifice transforms the receiver toward gratitude and sympathy for fellow sinners who need pardon, leaving no place for pride and revenge. God's goodness and mercy lead to repentance and a desire to show others the same tender, forgiving spirit, recognizing the good in others, loving those who need forgiveness, and hoping associates will also receive pardon. Cherishing resentful feelings and feeding on them destroys appetite for reading the Scriptures, because God's Word condemns letting the enemy control the feelings so that resentment is harbored.
When bringing troubles, perplexities, and questions of duty to God, each person is to bring burdens directly to Christ the Burden-bearer who understands every circumstance of life, rather than asking a human counselor to inquire of God for him. Parents must forgive their children just as freely as they hope to be forgiven by the Father in heaven. When children yield to temptation and afterward see and repent of their error, parents must not meet them with a clouded brow but forgive them, kindly instruct them, and bind them to their hearts.