Matthew 6:15

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his immediate followers, placing this statement directly between the promise of divine forgiveness in 6:14 and the instruction on fasting in 6:16.

The words — ἀφῆτε (aphēte) translates literally to "you shall forgive," and παραπτώματα (paraptōmata) means "trespasses" or specific slips.

The thread — The identical conditional structure appears in Matthew 18:35, which ties the Father’s treatment of each person to the refusal to forgive a brother from the heart.

Why it lands — The text states that the Father withholds forgiveness from those who withhold it from others, requiring a direct, observable change in how one treats other people.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἐὰνeanonly δὲdehowever μὴmēunless ἀφῆτεaphēteyou shall forgive τοῖςtois<the>ἀνθρώποιςanthrōpoismen τὰtathe παραπτώματαparaptōmatatrespasses αὐτῶν,autōnof them οὐδὲoudeneither ὁhothe πατὴρpatērFather ὑμῶνhumōnof you ἀφήσειaphēseiwill forgive τὰtathe παραπτώματαparaptōmatatrespasses ὑμῶν.¶humōnof you.

King James Version

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Cross-references

Matthew 18:35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”