Melville Divinity Hall
Q. 126 · Lord’s Day 51

What does the fifth petition mean?

Text: CRC/RCA 2011 · Read it at the source

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” means: Because of Christ’s blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.

Scripture proofs
1
Ps. 51:1-7; 143:2; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 2:1-2
2
Matt. 6:14-15; 18:21-35