For if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
This saying emphasizes the importance of mutual forgiveness. Jesus teaches that God’s forgiveness is connected to our willingness to forgive the people around us. If we want God to deal mercifully with us, it is necessary that we also forgive others when they do wrong against us. Thus, this passage urges that forgiveness and patience are important values in the Christian life, and that our personal forgiveness is important for God’s forgiveness.