IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 6:15

 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Danger of an Unforgiving Heart: Understanding Matthew 6:15

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shares a sobering reality that challenges the very depths of our human nature. In Matthew 6:15, He states plainly: “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”.

This teaching reveals that Jesus tolerates no compromise in our readiness or willingness to forgive the offenses of others. When someone wrongs us, our natural defense mechanism is often to build walls, nurse grudges, and allow resentment to take root. However, Scripture warns us that holding on to unforgiveness is a sin. It breeds bitterness and destruction within our own spirit and fundamentally fails to reflect God’s compassionate character in our lives.

The Link Between Our Forgiveness and God’s Mercy

Many theologians note that this passage does not mean believers lose their eternal salvation. Rather, withholding forgiveness severely damages our daily relationship and fellowship with God. If we refuse to forgive others, Christ will not extend that relational forgiveness to us, nor will He answer our prayers, because we have chosen to hold onto sin.

We cannot sincerely ask God to cancel our debts while we aggressively demand payment from those who owe us. God uses our willingness to pardon others as a direct measure for forgiving us, a principle echoed throughout the Gospels in passages like Matthew 18:35 and Luke 11:4.

True forgiveness does not mean minimizing the pain or pretending the offense never happened. Instead, as seen at the cross, it means entrusting justice to God and refusing to let malice rule our hearts. When we release others, we free ourselves from the prison of bitterness and open the floodgates to receive God’s abundant grace.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the immense mercy You have poured into my life through Jesus Christ. Lord, You know the wounds I carry and the times I have been deeply hurt by others. Forgiving them feels impossible on my own, and I confess that I am tempted to hold onto resentment.

Please search my heart today. Root out any bitterness, anger, or hidden grudges that are breaking my fellowship with You. By Your Holy Spirit, grant me the strength and the willingness to release those who have offended me. Let Your love dominate my heart so that I can extend the same grace to others that You have so generously given to me. I choose to let go and trust Your justice.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
2. DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
3. FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
4. DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
5. YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
6. THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
7. PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
8. ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
9. DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
10. EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS / MATTHEW 5:32
11. HELL / MATTHEW 5:29
12. LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
13. ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
14. UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
15. GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
16. THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
17. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
18. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
19. PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
20. THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
21. THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
22. THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
23. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
24. THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
25. THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
26. BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
27. SERMON ON THE MOUNT / MATTHEW 5-7
28. THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
29. FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
30. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
31. ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD / MATTHEW 4:8
32. IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6-7
33. FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
34. JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
35. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
36. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
37. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
38. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
39. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
40. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
41. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
42. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
43. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
44. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
45. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
46. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1-2
47. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
48. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
49. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
50. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
51. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID /MATTHEW 1:1
52. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
53. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace