Matthew 6:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Saviour previously illustrated this truth by stating that the heavenly Father allows His sun to shine on both the righteous and the wicked. This is why He instructs us to engage in communal prayer, saying: Our Father! Thy will be done, both in heaven and on earth; give us this day our daily bread; forgive us our debts; lead us not into temptation; deliver us. In urging us to voice our requests on behalf of all, He thereby teaches us to harbor no shred of anger towards our neighbors.

A true supplicant who wishes to pray earnestly to God in the Holy Spirit with a clean heart examines his own heart before praying to see if he harbors ill will against anyone. If he does, he misleads himself with his prayers, for no one hears him. Thus, the mind does not genuinely pray, though the schedule of prayers is maintained.

To engage in prayer genuinely, first examine your thoughts: determine what lies within you. When you plead, “Have mercy on me,” ensure you are extending mercy to those who seek it from you. When you implore, “Forgive me,” remember to forgive those who have wronged you. When you request that your transgressions not be remembered, ensure you hold no grudges against your neighbor’s sins. When you pray to overlook the evils, both deliberate and inadvertent, that you have committed, make sure you too forget the wrongs of others. If this is the case, you will harbor no negative thoughts against anyone. Otherwise, if you have not reached this point of forgiveness, your prayer is fruitless; according to all Scriptures, God will not hear you—grant me mercy.

The Lord also said in the Gospel of Matthew, in relation to prayer, “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). In the Gospel of Luke, He stated, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Mt. 6:14, Mk. 11:25). St. Luke emphasizes, “Release them, and they will be released” (Lk. 6:37). Essentially, I have shown you boundless love; whatever you desire from God for yourself, you must first enact towards your neighbor. Only then will you find yourself liberated from sin, according to the extent you have practiced forgiveness towards others. If you have purified your heart regarding every creation of God, ensuring there are no grudges in your heart, heed this: for God embodies truth, and is not merely the sounds of spoken words. Thus, each person binds themselves to Gehenna and frees themselves from it. Nothing is more ruthless than the human will, whether it seeks death or seeks life.

There are several compelling reasons to pardon our neighbor’s wrongs. First, God commands us to forgive those who offend us, placing an obligation on us to adhere to His directive. Failing to do so constitutes a sin against God Himself, as it reflects disobedience and resistance to His will, which is a serious matter. Second, the essence of Christian love calls for us to show mercy towards our brother who, succumbing to human frailty and the devil's influence, has wronged us. Rather than seeking revenge, we should offer forgiveness, ensuring that he does not fall victim to the vengeful spirit and helping us avoid the regret of having caused him suffering. It is common for both the one who offends and the one who seeks retribution to feel remorse; however, what has been done cannot be undone. Therefore, it is crucial to anticipate these feelings and prevent anger from escalating into hatred and spite, extinguishing any sparks of evil promptly with a spirit of gentleness and compassion.

Third, let us be inspired by the abundant mercy of God, which is perpetually extended to us sinners. This divine grace is so vast that, regardless of how frequently our neighbor may err against us, we are called to forgive in light of the immense mercy God shows us. The wrongs others commit against us are but a minuscule fraction when compared to our own offenses before God, for daily we find ourselves guilty. We all share a common humanity and a sinful nature, being merely "earth and ashes" (Sir. 10:9); in relation to God, who views all light as insignificant, we are as nothing. Thus, how significant is it when a person sins against another, and that individual offers forgiveness? The true enormity lies in a human, being a weak and sinful creature, sinning against the Great, Infinite, Holy, and Righteous God, and yet receiving His forgiveness through repentance, along with the experience of unspeakable mercy! This divine compassion is beyond both words and understanding.

Consequently, let the pride and malice within us be humbled and silenced, particularly when considering the pettiness of holding grievances against a brother, especially when the Great and Holy God shows such tenderness, patience, and mercy to those who err!

Finally, let us recognize the tremendous blessing that comes to those who forgive the offenses of their neighbors. For those who extend forgiveness find a welcoming path to the grace of God, allowing them to seek forgiveness for their own transgressions in the name of Christ: “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

If we find remorse, we should eliminate it by the aforementioned approach, which involves praying for our enemies and offering them blessings (Mk. 11:25). When thoughts of our adversaries arise, we should permit no other contemplation about them beyond that of prayer and blessing.

In light of such a compassionate and just expectation from the Lord, what thoughts should arise in the hearts of those who, while not renouncing the sins of others, pursue them to the point of death, all the while seeking forgiveness and spiritual redemption? Our Savior, having imparted this wisdom as preparation for a blessed fast, subsequently instructs on fasting itself, saying, “When ye fast, be not as the hypocrites who frown, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to be fasting. Amen, I say unto you, they shall receive their reward.”

By pardoning your neighbor, you will also receive grace from Me, although My grace will far surpass your own. You extend forgiveness because you too are in need of pardon, while God forgives without requirement; you forgive your brother, yet God forgives his servant; you are burdened by countless transgressions, but God remains sinless. “Our debts are unrepayable,” notes St. Philaret of Moscow, “but the terms set before us regarding them are remarkably simple! If you forgive people their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

As previously mentioned, overindulgence in food and drink can weigh down the stomach, cloud the mind, and diminish the will. Many of us have likely experienced these consequences of excess. Therefore, at times, it is essential to refrain from food and drink in order to bring the body into subjection to the spirit, especially during the battles against temptation and for a heightened awareness of one’s sins, self-examination, and repentance. Fasting can be complete or partial, and its duration can vary based on the individual's strength and the intensity of the temptation faced. Ultimately, fasting should be for the individual’s own spiritual triumph over a desire-driven body, rather than for the purpose of appearing pious.

In that era, the Pharisees were particularly conscious of their outward display of fasting. The Jewish customs often included regular washing and anointing with oil; such practices were necessary due to the heat of Palestine. Nonetheless, the Pharisees chose not to wash, unkempt their hair, avoided anointing themselves, donned tattered garments, and threw ashes on their heads to attract attention and mislead others with their peculiar appearances. Their fast was less about true fasting and more about the illusion of piety; the crowds they deceived would commend them for this facade, which satisfied the hypocrites, as this was their sole motivation.

However, Christ calls for a different approach to fasting from His disciples. He admonishes them not to appear sorrowful or gloomy while fasting, to maintain their usual appearance, and, in general, to avoid drawing attention to themselves. This fast is not for others to see, but for oneself, and ultimately directed toward the heavenly Father, who observes all actions in secret and knows one’s innermost thoughts. As He recognizes the sincere good deeds, prayers, and fasting performed privately, He will reward them openly.

It is important to clarify that Christ’s teachings do not prohibit the visible practice of good deeds and prayers, provided they are not done for the sake of human recognition. Likewise, fasting is not discouraged if it serves to bring the body into submission to the spirit for the purpose of enhancing prayer and repentance, rather than to gain the admiration of others.

The aim of human existence on this earth is to attain eternal joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, individuals should focus on what guides them toward this divine objective: selfless love for both neighbors and adversaries, performing acts of kindness, self-reflection, repentance, fasting, and prayer. These are the true treasures necessary for entering the Kingdom, treasures that cannot be taken by thieves or destroyed by decay, unlike the temporal riches of this life that are susceptible to loss.