Q.105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors[l]) we pray, That God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins;[m] which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.[n]

[l] Matt. 6:12.

[m] Ps. 51:1,2,7,9. Dan. 9:17-19.

[n] Luke 11:4. Matt. 18:35.

We are here taught,

1. That the fifth petition in the Lord’s Prayer is, “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

2. That we should pray for the pardon of sin.

3. That pardon of sin is to be expected only through Jesus Christ.

4. That we must forgive others.

5. That God alone can enable us from the heart to forgive others.

6. That our being enabled to forgive others, encourages us to ask forgiveness for ourselves.

7. That unless we forgive others, we ourselves shall not be forgiven.