After completing the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus added: “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15. He who is unforgiving cuts off the very channel through which alone he can receive mercy from God. We should not think that unless those who have injured us confess the wrong we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness. It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults. {FLB 131.3}

Efter at have fuldendt Herrens bøn, tilføjede Jesus: For tilgiver I mennesker deres overtrædelser, vil jeres himmelske fader også tilgive jer. Men tilgiver I ikke mennesker, vil jeres fader heller ikke tilgive jeres overtrædelser. Matt. 6,14.15. Han som ikke tilgiver, afskærer den kanal, som han alene kan modtage barmhjertigheden fra Gud. Medmindre vi har bekendt fejlen, må vi ikke tro at vi er blevet er retfærdiggjort samtidig med at vi tilbageholder dem vor tilgivelse. For deres del er der ingen tvivl om at de skal ydmyge deres hjerter ved anger og bekendelse; men vi skal også have medfølelse mod dem som har overtrådt os, uanset om de bekender deres fejl eller ikke.