Luke 11:4
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’””
What does Luke 11:4 mean?
This is part of Jesus' model prayer, sometimes called the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus teaches us to ask God to forgive our sins, he immediately connects it to our own forgiveness of others, suggesting that these two things are bound together. It's not a transaction where God only forgives if we're perfect at forgiving, but rather a recognition that a heart open to God's grace naturally extends grace to those who've hurt us. The final lines about temptation and deliverance remind us that following God isn't just about asking forgiveness for what we've already done wrong, but also about asking for strength to resist what pulls us away from him. Whether that's harmful situations, bad choices, or the weight of suffering, Jesus teaches us to bring all of it to God and trust him to guide and protect us.