And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
In this passage, the one praying asks God to forgive his sins or debts, just as he forgives others. In the phrase “Forgive us our debts,” “debts” symbolize sins, faults, or anything that separates a person from God. With these words, the one praying asks God to forgive his wrongs, understanding that he is a sinner and needs God’s mercy. The words “as we also forgive our debtors” emphasize that the expectation of forgiveness is connected to how willing we are to forgive others. The one praying commits to forgive those who have harmed him, because forgiveness is an important part of God’s will. This teaches that when we ask God for forgiveness, we must also be ready to forgive others. Thus, this passage shows that in our relationships with people, our expectation of forgiveness from God is directly connected to the measure of our own forgiveness.