The Way Bible Studies with Branden

Forgive and Let Go/The Process

Matthew 6:14 (KJV)

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”

This verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and follows His teaching on the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus emphasizes that forgiveness from God is directly linked to our willingness to forgive others. It teaches that divine mercy is conditional upon human mercy.

Supporting Scriptures:

  1. Matthew 6:15 (KJV)
    “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
    • This verse immediately follows Matthew 6:14 and reinforces the principle that unforgiveness blocks us from receiving God’s forgiveness.
  2. Mark 11:25-26 (KJV)
    “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
    • Jesus again connects the act of forgiving others to receiving forgiveness from God, especially in the context of prayer.
  3. Ephesians 4:31-32 (KJV)
    “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
    • Paul urges believers to let go of bitterness and anger, replacing them with kindness and forgiveness, just as God forgives us through Christ.
  4. Colossians 3:13 (KJV)
    “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
    • This verse teaches that our standard of forgiveness should be modeled after Christ’s forgiveness towards us.
  5. Luke 6:37 (KJV)
    “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”
    • Jesus expands on the principle of mercy, showing that the way we treat others determines how we are treated by God.
  6. Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)
    “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
    • Jesus teaches that forgiveness should be unlimited, reflecting the boundless mercy of God.
  7. Matthew 18:32-35 (KJV) (Parable of the Unforgiving Servant)
    • This parable illustrates the consequences of unforgiveness. A servant who was forgiven a great debt refused to forgive another servant’s small debt, leading to his punishment. Jesus concludes:
      “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (v. 35)
    • This directly supports Matthew 6:14 by warning against withholding forgiveness.

Conclusion:

Matthew 6:14 teaches that God’s forgiveness is conditional upon our willingness to forgive others. If we want to receive mercy from God, we must extend mercy to others. The supporting scriptures confirm this principle, emphasizing that forgiveness is not optional but essential for a right relationship with God.

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