For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also forgive you. Mat 6:14
These are the very words of Jesus to the Jews in continuation of the LORD’s prayer, emphasizing “Forgiveness”, and that the forgiveness of their sins was dependent on, their forgiving the sins of others. This was before the death of Jesus on the cross.
However, the death of Jesus Christ has raised the bar of forgiveness. Though undeserved, forgiveness is granted to everyone who truly believes in the LORD Jesus Christ. They were given the opportunity to live in the freedom of forgiveness, mercy, and love, to be reconciled with God, and to have communion with the heavenly Father. Hence, we ought to forgive as God has forgiven us in Christ.
If we have experienced this great forgiveness personally, as Christians we are called to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. It is the response to the forgiveness that we receive from God. If we fail to forgive others, it means that the forgiveness that was received at the cost of the blood of Jesus Christ, was ineffective in our lives and truly the concept of forgiveness of God was misunderstood.
May the LORD help us to put aside every kind of anger, bitterness, and resentment against others for the sin that was committed against us, and extend the forgiveness that they deserve from us, for this is God’s desire.