Matthew 6:12-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:9-15

When Christ had condemned what was amiss, he directs to do better; for his are reproofs of instruction. Because we know not what to pray for as we ought, he here helps our infirmities, by putting words into our mouths; after this manner therefore pray ye, Matt. 6:9. So many were the corruptions that had crept into this duty of prayer among the Jews, that Christ saw it needful to give a new directory for prayer, to show his disciples what must ordinarily be the matter and method of their... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

When we study the opening verses of Matthew 6:1-34 , we are immediately confronted with one most important question-- What is the place of the reward motive in the Christian life? Three times in this section Jesus speaks of God rewarding those who have given to him the kind of service which he desires ( Matthew 6:4 ,; Matthew 6:18 ). This question is so important that we will do well to pause to examine it before we go on to study the chapter in detail. It is very often stated that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts ,.... Nothing is more frequent in the Jewish writings than to call sins חובי , "debts"; and the phrase, of forgiving, is used both of God and men. Thus the prayer of Solomon is paraphrased F25 Targum in 2 Chron. vi. 21. by the Targumist: "and hear thou the petition of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make before this place; and do thou receive it from the place of the house of thy Shekinah, from heaven; and do thou accept their prayer... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation ,.... Such a petition as this is often to be observed in the prayers of the Jews F1 Seder Tephillot, fol. 3. 1. Ed. Basil. fol. 4. 2. Ed. Amstelod. Shaare Zion, fol. 73. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 60. 2. , אל תביאני , "do not lead me" neither into sin, nor into transgression and iniquity, ולא לידי נסיון , "nor into temptation", or "into the hands of temptation";' that is, into the power of it, so as to be overcome by it, and sink under it; in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:14

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:15

But if you forgive not men their trespasses ,.... On the other hand, where men are not of a forgiving temper to their fellow creatures and fellow Christians, how can they expect forgiveness at the hands of God? or what sense of pardoning grace can there be upon their minds? Had they any right apprehensions of the grace and goodness of God, in the forgiveness of their sins, this would influence their minds, and engage their hearts to forgive such who have offended them: wherefore, where this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts - Sin is represented here under the notion of a debt, and as our sins are many, they are called here debts. God made man that he might live to his glory, and gave him a law to walk by; and if, when he does any thing that tends not to glorify God, he contracts a debt with Divine Justice, how much more is he debtor when he breaks the law by actual transgression! It has been justly observed, "All the attributes of God are reasons of obedience to man; those attributes... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation - That is, bring us not in to sore trial. Πειρασμον , which may be here rendered sore trial, comes from πειρω , to pierce through, as with a spear, or spit, used so by some of the best Greek writers. Several of the primitive fathers understood it something in this way; and have therefore added quam ferre non possimus , "which we cannot bear." The word not only implies violent assaults from Satan, but also sorely afflictive circumstances, none of which we... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:14

If ye forgive men - He who shows mercy to men receives mercy from God. For a king to forgive his subjects a hundred millions of treasons against his person and authority, on this one condition, that they wilt henceforth live peaceably with him and with each other, is what we shall never see; and yet this is but the shadow of that which Christ promises on his Father's part to all true penitents. A man can have little regard for his salvation, who refuses to have it on such advantageous terms.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:15

But if ye forgive not - He who does not awake at the sound of so loud a voice, is not asleep but dead. A vindictive man excludes himself from all hope of eternal life, and himself seals his own damnation. Trespasses - Παραπτωματα , from παρα and πιπτω , to fall off. What a remarkable difference there is between this word and οφειληματα , debts, in Matthew 6:12 ;! Men's sins against us are only their stumblings, or fallings off from the duties they owe us; but our's are debts to... read more

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