In the Lord’s Prayer, there is a sentence that is often spoken lightly, yet in reality carries a very heavy meaning: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we also forgive those who trespass against us” (Matt. 6:12). This sentence is not merely a prayerful request, but a declaration of life that bears unavoidable spiritual consequences. The prayer not only directs human beings to God but also tests the depth of their relationships with others.
Too often, God’s forgiveness is understood superficially, as if forgiveness were cheap simply because God is love. But Scripture reveals a far deeper reality. God is indeed loving, but He is also holy and just. Forgiveness does not arise from momentary emotion, but from a perfect divine order. Every sin demands a penalty; every transgression has consequences. If God were to forgive without justice, then His holiness would be meaningless. Precisely through forgiveness, God shows how seriously He regards sin and how highly He upholds holiness.
That is why forgiveness always requires a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the blood of animals was poured out as a sign that sin had a price that had to be paid. Yet the blood of animals could never truly remove human sin, because sin is committed by human beings themselves. Here, the Gospel reveals how costly forgiveness is: God the Father gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to bear the penalty for human sin. The cross is not merely a symbol of love, but the perfect fulfillment of God’s justice.
For God, forgiving humanity was no small matter. He was willing to give up His beloved Son for the salvation of humankind. When this truth is truly contemplated, the human heart should be shaken. Forgiveness cannot be received with indifference, as though no price had been paid. The cross of Christ stands as a witness that forgiveness is costly, painful, and full of sacrifice—both for the Son of God who was crucified and for the Father who gave Him up.
Therefore, Jesus firmly links God’s forgiveness with human forgiveness toward others. One cannot enjoy God’s forgiveness while continuing to harbor resentment, hatred, and bitterness. In the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:32–35), Jesus shows that forgiveness once received can end in judgment when a person refuses to forgive others. This is not merely a symbolic warning, but a severe rebuke to the spiritual life of believers.
True forgiveness almost always involves pain. If someone forgives without losing anything, perhaps that forgiveness has not truly taken place. It is precisely in pain that human beings begin to understand the heart of God. God forgave humanity at a high cost; therefore, forgiving others is never cheap or free from inner struggle.
When a person begins to grasp the sacrifice of Christ—His blood poured out, His body torn on the cross, and His total love for humanity—inner wounds gradually lose their power. Resentment subsides, bitterness weakens, and anger slowly fades. Not because the scars are unreal, but because the cross of Christ is far greater than any wound.
This writing invites honest reflection: have we forgiven as the Father has forgiven? Or is there still a desire to cling to the right to hate, to remember wrongs, and to demand revenge? The Lord’s Prayer leaves no room for compromise. This prayer calls every believer to have a heart like the Father’s.
Forgiveness, in the end, is not merely a moral teaching, but a call to a way of life. Believers no longer live for themselves, but for Him who paid the highest price. And every time someone forgives, they are walking in the footsteps of the cross—the footsteps of a costly love, yet liberating.