Why does God not forgive us our trespasses unless we also forgive our brethren their trespasses?

In practice, we witness our own wickedness in that we do not generally pardon others for the things they do against us; and in that we are strangers to the goodness of God. We ought to approach prayer in a spirit of love, without any malice or hatred towards anyone, regardless of his stance against us or against the Church. Our forgiveness towards him in our hearts is manifest to God Himself. Thus do we fulfil the apostolic command: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom.12:18).

219 Origen, On Prayer 27.2 (ACW 19:93).

220 Origen, On Prayer 27.6 (ACW 19:96).

221 Origen, On Prayer 27.8 (ACW 19:97–98).

222 Origen, On Prayer 27.13 (ACW 19:102).

223 Strong’s Concordance , Greek entries 1967, 1966, 1909, 1910

224 St. Jerome, The Homilies of Saint Jerome, Volume 1 (1–59 on the Psalms) 47 (FOTC 48:355–356).

Abba Isaac says, “Whoever then does not from his heart forgive his brother who has offended him, by this prayer calls down upon himself not forgiveness but condemnation.”[225 ]

St. Augustine says, “‘forgive us our debts’ … For debtors are we, not in money, but sins. You are saying perchance at this moment, and you too. We answer, Yes, we too. What, you Holy Bishops, are you debtors? Yes, we are debtors too. What you! My Lord. Be it far from you, do not yourself this wrong. I do myself no wrong, but I say the truth; we are debtors: ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us’ (1 John 1:8). We have been baptized, and yet are we debtors. Not that anything then remained, which was not remitted to us in Baptism, but because in our lives we are contracting ever what needs daily forgiveness.”²²⁶

“What man is there that lives so, that this prayer is not necessary for him? He may puff himself up, justify himself he cannot. It were well for him to imitate the Publican, and not swell as the Pharisee, ‘who went up into the temple’ (Luke 18:10–11), and boasted of his deserts, and covered up his wounds. Whereas he who said, ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner’ (Luke 18:13), knew wherefore he went up. Consider, my brethren, this prayer the Lord Jesus taught His disciples to offer, those great first Apostles of His, the leaders of our flock. If the leaders of the flock then pray for the remission of their sins, what ought the lambs to do?”²²⁷

“Alms and prayers purge away sins; only let not such sins be committed, for which we must necessarily be separated from our daily Bread [the Eucharist]; we avoid all such debts to which a severe and certain condemnation is due.”²²⁸

“It is an engagement, a covenant, an agreement that we make with God. The Lord your God says to you, ‘Forgive, and I will forgive.’ You have not forgiven; you retain your sins against yourself, not I.”²²⁹

“… wholly and from your hearts forgive whatsoever you have against any. Forgive it there where God sees. For sometimes a man remits with the mouth, and in the heart retains; he remits with the mouth for men’s sake, and retains in the heart, as not fearing the eyes of God.”²³⁰

St. Cyprian says, “After the supply of food, pardon of sin is also asked for, that he who is fed by God may live in God, and that not only the present and temporal life may be provided for, but the eternal also, to which we may come if our sins are forgiven; and these

225 St. John Cassian, The Conferences 9.22 (NPNF II/11:395).

226 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 6.11 (NPNF I/6:277) amended.

227 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 8.6 (NPNF I/6:286).

228 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 6.12 (NPNF I/6:277) amended.

229 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 6.13 (NPNF I/6:278) amended.

230 St. Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament 8.7 (NPNF I/6:286) amended.

the Lord calls debts, as He says in His Gospel, ‘I forgave you all that debt because you begged me’ (Matt. 18:32). And how necessarily, how providently and beneficial, are we admonished that we are sinners, since we are compelled to entreat for our sins, and while pardon is asked for from God, the soul recalls its consciousness of sin! Lest anyone should flatter himself that he is innocent, and by exalting himself should more deeply perish, he is instructed and taught that he sins daily, in that he is bidden to entreat daily for his sins. Thus, moreover, John also in his epistle warns us, and says, ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us our sins’ (1 John. 1:8).”[231 ]