For if ye forgive men their trespasses
Christ here refers to the petition in ( Matthew 6:12
) which is enforced with this reason and argument, "as", or
"for", so ( Luke 11:4 ) "we forgive
our debtors"; which he repeats and explains: and the reason why
he singles out this particularly is, because he knew the Jews
were a people very subject to revenge; and were very hardly
brought to forgive any injuries done them: wherefore Christ
presses it upon them closely to "forgive men their trespasses";
all sorts of injuries done them, or offences given them, whether
by word or deed; and that fully, freely, from the heart;
forgetting, as well as forgiving; not upbraiding them with former
offences; and even without asking pardon, and though there might
be no appearance of repentance. Now to this he encourages by
saying,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
will hear your prayers, and manifest his forgiving love to you:
not that the forgiveness of others is the procuring cause of
forgiveness with God, which is the blood of Christ; or of the
manifestation and application of it, that is, the advocacy of
Christ; nor the moving cause of it, that is, the free grace of
God: but this enters into the character, and is descriptive of
the persons, to whom God is pleased to make a comfortable
discovery, and give a delightful sense of his pardoning grace;
such persons, so disposed and assisted by his grace, may expect
it of him.
