As We Forgive Those Who...

... Trespass Against Us

The two phrases, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” are often linked together. But it isn’t the case that God will only forgive us as and when we forgive other people. There is not a cause and effect when it comes to forgiveness.

But we don’t naturally find it easy to forgive people. It is only when God, by His Holy Spirit comes to indwell the heart of a man that something different is inside – so that if someone does something to us we don’t rise up in anger inside. Similarly if someone says something hurtful, we don’t lash back and cut them with our tongue.

God gives us a forgiving nature, because He is a forgiving God. And when Jesus taught His disciples to pray this, I’m sure that someone like the disciple Peter would have taken a deep breath. But forgive us, God, as we forgive them that trespass against us.