Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Cross-references

In Matthew 6:14, Jesus immediately explains that forgiving others leads to the Father's forgiveness, making the prayer's condition explicit.

In Matthew 6:15, the inverse warning states that not forgiving others blocks the Father's forgiveness, contrasting with the prayer's plea.

In Matthew 18:21-27, the parable of the unmerciful servant illustrates that those forgiven a huge debt must also forgive small debts.

In Matthew 18:22, Jesus answers with seventy-seven times, demanding limitless forgiveness just as the prayer implies we should forgive others.

In Matthew 18:28-35, the parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the same principle: forgiven debt demands reciprocal forgiveness.

In Matthew 18:34, the king delivers the unforgiving servant to tormentors — a warning of consequences for refusing to forgive as prayed.

Matthew 18:29 shows a fellow servant begging for patience, mirroring the 'forgive us our debts' plea and setting up the parable's lesson.

Matthew 18:35 warns of divine judgment for unforgiveness, directly reinforcing the conditional 'as we forgive' in the Lord's Prayer.

In 1 John 1:7-9, forgiveness requires confession and is secured by Jesus' blood, adding the conditions for receiving what the prayer asks.

Colossians 3:13 echoes the same standard: forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 grounds forgiveness in Christ's forgiveness: forgive as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 17:3–5 Related theme

Luke 17:3-5 teaches unlimited forgiveness when a brother repents, expanding the forgiveness command beyond a single petition.

Luke 11:4 Parallel

In Luke 11:4, the parallel version reads 'forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us,' closely echoing the prayer.

In Luke 7:40-48, Jesus uses a debt parable to show that the one forgiven much loves much, linking forgiveness to gratitude.

Luke 6:37 Parallel

Luke 6:37 includes the same reciprocal principle: forgive and you will be forgiven.

Mark 11:26 Parallel

Mark 11:26 explicitly states the negative consequence: failure to forgive means God withholds forgiveness from you.

Mark 11:25 Parallel

Mark 11:25 directly parallels the condition: forgive before praying so your Father may forgive you.

Nehemiah 5:13 pronounces a curse on those who break the debt forgiveness oath, echoing the warning that unforgiveness brings judgment.

Luke 7:41 Parallel

Luke 7:41 introduces the parable of two debtors, using the same debt metaphor for sin as in the Lord's Prayer.

Luke 7:42 Parallel

Luke 7:42 depicts the moneylender forgiving both debts, directly paralleling God's forgiveness of our sins.

Luke 17:4 Parallel

Luke 17:4 commands forgiving repeated sins, echoing the call to forgive others as in the Lord's Prayer.

Genesis 50:15-21 is a narrative example: Joseph forgives his brothers fully, embodying the debt cancellation prayed for.

Deuteronomy 15:2 Historical context

Deuteronomy 15:2 prescribes literal debt release every seven years, providing the OT background for Jesus' metaphor of forgiving debts as sins.

Exodus 34:7 Parallel

Exodus 34:7 reveals God's character as forgiving sin, yet not leaving unpunished—the divine forgiveness Jesus teaches us to request.

Nehemiah 5:12 shows a communal debt cancellation, providing an OT example of forgiving debts as a social and spiritual act.