Matthew 6:12 ASV and Matthew 6:15 ASV

I've prayed the Lord's Prayer my whole life, but somehow I've missed it. God forgives our debts, and we forgive our debtors. Two separate transactions.

But that's not what Jesus says. He makes it clear that whether or not we are forgiven is dependent on whether or not we forgive others. Look at Matt. 6:15: "If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." And it shows up in other places, too — Mark 11:24, for example.

Perhaps a better way to understand the Lord's Prayer would be: "forgive us our debts to the degree that we forgive our debtors," or "forgive us our debts in the same manner which we have forgiven our debtors." Because the truth of Jesus is that if we don't forgive those who have wronged us, God will not forgive us. And that's a scary thought.

Does my forgiveness hinge on my willingness to forgive? In short: Yes. Looks like I've got some work to do.