What does this mean - "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"?

Question

Seems to me that the teaching in this prayer is encouraging us to forgive others in the same manner that we experience forgiveness from God.

How would this change the world (hell, how would it change Y!A?

Answer 1

I think Nickelback wrote a song " I'm ALive"
Good lyrics that would answer your question.
"If everyone cared and swallowed their pride we'd see the day that nobody died."

Answer 2

Christ goes on to teach in a few verses later in Matthew that unless we forgive others, we will not be forgiven. It is absolutely essential that Christ's followers follow this teaching. We must forgive those who have sinned against us. When we do we offer them peace and reconciliation with us in the same way that God offers us peace and reconciliation through the forgiveness of sin. This business of asking for and offering forgiveness is for our good. It is a healing thing. It does not act as a good work that makes us righteous before God. Nothing we can do will accomplish that. Jesus did it all on the Cross. It is by our faith in him alone that we may have eternal life [Jn 3.16], but once we have come to accept him in faith, we then become disciples and strive to do what he has taught us and one of the things he has taught us is to continue to ask for forgiveness and to continue to offer forgiveness. If we don't forgive others, we are not really disciples of the Lord.

Answer 3

Whenever we miss the mark by disobeying one of God's commands, we sin against Him. Whenever we wrong another person, we not only sin against them, but also against God. When we take a look at the enormity of God's mercy to forgive us of ALL of our transgressions, we realize that we do not have the right to withhold this grace from others. We have sinned against God infinitely more than any person can sin against us. If God forgives us of so much, how can we refuse to forgive others for so little?
If we all forgave, their would be no bitterness and hate.

Answer 4

A principal that ALL Christians are supposed to keep.

Strange thing is that by following this and all of God's laws, we are not really giving up anything. This verse means that we are not to hang on to hate or anger. We now know that hate and anger hurts you more than the person that wronged you. Once again, Gods rules are to bring us true happiness.

Peace!

Answer 5

We gotta remember that we're all imperfect humans and are from birth condemned to death. God provided Jesus as a sacrifice, and therefore a means for forgiveness. By comparison, nothing that any human can do to another human is unforgivable, and we should keep that in mind. If we freely forgive our brothers, God will continue to forgive us.

Answer 6

You're right! We're to use that type of thinking in everything we do as Christians (not pass judgment, love one another, not stand for sin and etc.) Well said about how much such an attitude would change the world!

Answer 7

Trespass is sin. We must forgive those that sin against us if we are to be forgiven of God.
If we all had this attitude it would be a better world.

Answer 8

If you or anyone else is willing to seek forgiveness from GOD than you are close to the kingdom of GOD, Rom 10:9-10.
~GOD BLESS YOU AND LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH~

Answer 9

Forgive our sin as we forgive those who sin against us. Resentment is the breeder of hatred so therefore we must forgive others who sin against us or God will not forgive us of our sins against Him. STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR PROBLEMS IS THE BEST PLACE TO BEGIN THIS PROCESS!

Answer 10

1 Matthew 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Forgiving one another, helping one another..

Answer 11

Your understanding of this passage is correct. We are to forgive if we are to expect forgiveness. The world would be a much better place if we could all do this, but sadly, forgiveness is rare nowadays.

Actually, Paul prophesied that society would withhold forgiveness in the latter days; so we shouldn't be surprised that we see so little of it.