What Does "Forgive Us Our Trespasses" Mean? A Deep Dive

Did Jesus demand that we forgive others? Buried within the most famous Christian prayer lies a challenging petition: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."

​We often recite these words by rote, but what do they truly mean?

​We frequently talk about faith, yet we often forget the necessity of forgiveness. You might say, “But my faith is about forgiveness.” Of course, it is. Yet, I have listened to people of profound faith pray and speak troubling things about those who have offended them.

​I understand that people differ in their opinions, even regarding faith. Some find comfort in treating others with love regardless of how they are treated, while others prefer the logic of "an eye for an eye." There is a cynical saying: “Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make it even.” It seems many prefer being even to being right.

​But let us pause and dive deeper. Let us examine this specific prayer portion from the teaching of Jesus and uncover why this condition, “as we forgive,” is so vital.

​The Meaning of “Forgive Us Our Trespasses”

​The phrase “Forgive us our trespasses” is derived from the Lord’s Prayer (or the Pater Noster), a teaching foundational to Christian scripture. Interestingly, while this prayer is central to the faith, its presentation differs between the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke.

​Two Contexts, One Prayer

​In the Gospel of Luke (11:1-4), the narrative is intimate. The disciples watch Jesus return from praying and, inspired by His example, one of them asks, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

​In the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13), the context is public. Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount, addressing the crowds. He critiques the hypocritical prayers of the religious elite and offers this model prayer as the antidote to performative spirituality.

​It is an intriguing historical puzzle: If these teachings were given at different times, why did the disciples request to be taught in Luke if they had already heard the sermon in Matthew? Perhaps the shorter version (Luke) was a private instruction that predated the public sermon, or perhaps the authors chose to highlight different theological themes. Regardless of the timeline, the core message remains consistent.

​Trespasses, Debts, or Sins?

​In English liturgy, we famously say "trespasses," yet if you open your Bible, you might find a different word.

• ​Matthew 6:12: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
• ​Luke 11:4: "And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us..."

​Are these contradictions? No, they are nuances.

A debt implies something is owed, a moral obligation left unpaid.

A trespass implies crossing a line, stepping beyond the boundaries of God’s law.

A sin is missing the mark entirely.

​Whether you call it a debt, a trespass, or a sin, the meaning is synonymous: it is a wrongdoing. It is an offense against God or neighbor. So, do not be offended if your translation uses "debts" while you pray "trespasses." We are all asking for the same thing: for God to release us from the guilt of our actions.

Therefore, Forgive us our trespasses, is a request for God to release us from the guilt of our wrongdoings.

​The Difficult Clause: “As We Forgive”

​This is the hinge upon which the prayer turns. We are not just asking for forgiveness; we are setting a standard for how we wish to be treated.

​"Forgive us... AS we forgive."

​This is a simile, a comparison. The request for divine pardon is linked to the requester's own display of a forgiving attitude.

​We must divide the verse into two parts:

1. ​The Request: "Forgive us our trespasses" (God’s action toward us).
2. ​The Condition: "As we forgive those who trespass against us" (Our action toward others).

​The second part suggests that our receipt of forgiveness is, in some way, relational to our willingness to forgive. This is a hard pill to swallow. Many modern believers object to this. They argue, “God doesn't need me to forgive in order to be forgiven; I only need to believe in the finished work of Christ.”

​While the concept of Grace is fundamental, we cannot ignore the red letters in the text. Immediately following the Lord's Prayer, Jesus doubles down on this specific point:

​"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

(Matthew 6:14-15)

​This suggests that an unforgiving heart blocks the flow of God's forgiveness. It isn't that God is unwilling to forgive; it is that a heart unclenched enough to receive grace must also be unclenched enough to release it.

​The Freedom in Forgiving

​Why does God mandate this? Is it to burden us?

​If you have followed discussions on atonement theories, you know that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are the ultimate picture of forgiveness. As 1 John 3:16 reminds us, we know love because He laid down His life for us; therefore, we ought to lay down our lives for others.

​Forgiveness is an essential part of "laying down your life." It is a death to the ego, a death to the need for revenge.

​I encourage you to take an introspective approach. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater because the theology feels difficult. Practically speaking, forgiveness is for you.

​When people wrong you, holding onto that offense is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. When you forgive, when you truly let go of the debt from the depth of your heart, you free yourself from the burden of bitterness.

​Conclusion

​Regardless of theological debates, what matters is our peace of mind and our spiritual health. Forgiving others and forgiving ourselves is crucial on this path.

​If God exists as the scripture describes, as Love, then He is deeply concerned with our peaceful existence and our empathy toward one another. The prayer "Forgive us our trespasses" is not just a plea for a clean slate; it is an invitation to enter a cycle of grace where we receive mercy and immediately pass it on.

Frequently Asked Questions ​What is the true meaning of "Forgive us our trespasses"? This petition is a request for God’s pardon, but it comes with a condition. It acknowledges that receiving God's grace is relationally linked to our willingness to release others from the offenses they have committed against us.  Why does the Bible say "debts" instead of "trespasses"?  The word varies by translation and Gospel account. Matthew 6:12 uses "debts" (moral obligations owed), while Luke 11:4 uses "sins." "Trespasses" (crossing a boundary) became common in English liturgy to encompass the full meaning of wrongdoing against God and neighbor. ​How can I forgive someone who isn't sorry? Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. In the context of the Lord's Prayer, forgiveness is about releasing the "debt" so you are no longer bound by bitterness. You can forgive to free yourself and obey God, even if the other person never apologizes or admits fault. ​Did Jesus say we must forgive to be forgiven? Yes. In Matthew 6:15, immediately after the Lord's Prayer, Jesus states, "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." This teaches that a heart closed to others cannot fully receive God's forgiveness. ​Is the Lord's Prayer meant to be recited word-for-word? Not necessarily. In Matthew 6, Jesus introduces it by saying, "Pray then in this way," suggesting it is a model or template for prayer. While reciting it is powerful, the goal is to align your heart with its themes, such as praise, provision, forgiveness, and protection, rather than just chanting the words.