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When you read Matthew 6:12 and 14-15, you find that forgiveness is a very important thing. To be human is to need forgiveness. We need it and others need it. We need to receive it and we need to give it.

According to Jesus, we must incorporate forgiveness into our daily prayers (Matthew 6:12). We cannot put a limit on who we will and will not forgive. We cannot put a limit on how often we forgive. The forgiveness we give to others is connected to the forgiveness we expect from the Lord (Matthew 6:14-15).

Lest we think it is unfair for Jesus to tell us all these things about forgiveness, let us remember how much Jesus has forgiven. And I’m not even talking about the sins of the world yet! I’m talking about my specific sin and your specific sin! I am forgiven, therefore I must forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).

We all need to be forgiven, so Jesus has made it available to us. We all need to give forgiveness, so Jesus gives us the strength to do so when we cannot (Ephesians 3:16-20; Philippians 4:13).