11 “‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ 14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

By starting prayer with focusing on God, our perceived needs align better with His purposes. We bring our concerns to God in the right context of His glory and desires—otherwise our requests are purely selfish, to make life more comfortable and enjoyable. Our ultimate purpose is to enhance God’s reputation and to live with His purposes in mind. Therefore our perceived need for daily food rations (or any other physical need) should be so that we can serve the Lord better. And when we pray like that, the Lord is inclined to give us what we ask for.

Turning from material needs, we need vigilance in dealing with our offenses against others and the temptations that so easily trap us. The reality is that following Christ heightens our awareness of failings in both areas. But, we realize that having any measure of success in these things requires nothing less than God’s help—therefore we talk to Him about them.

The last phrase of the prayer as rendered in our translation (NASB) is not found in the earliest ancient manuscripts, though it is found in the majority of later ones from the 9th to 11th centuries. This is one of a very few places in Scripture where biblical scholars are unsure of its genuineness, so the translators indicate this with the brackets. Clearly the sentiment is biblically true and is reflected elsewhere in the NT, so the issue is somewhat moot.

Jesus’ concluding commentary seems to make God’s forgiveness of us contingent upon our forgiveness of others (see also Matt 18:23-35). Strictly speaking, forgiveness for salvation depends only upon our repentance and faith, as Jesus has been preaching all along. But for those who are part of the kingdom of heaven, we need the daily forgiveness of God for our “debts” and “sins.” This doesn’t affect our eternal salvation, but it does affect our fellowship with the Lord. God’s purposes and glory are not furthered if we enjoy His daily forgiveness yet at the same time do not forgive the offenses of others against ourselves. That is not following in the steps of the Master who calls people to “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Father, Open my eyes to people that I need to forgive. I want to show You in this way I am truly repentant of my sin, by freeing them from their offense.