Questions about Prayer

120. Q. What is the fifth petition?
         A. “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.”

121. Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
          A. That God will pardon our sins, and help us to forgive those who have sinned against us. 

(Click through to read scriptural proofs.)

• Matthew 6:12

   … and forgive us our debts,

  as we also have forgiven our debtors. …

• Luke 11:4

    … and forgive us our sins,

  for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

• Psalm 51

   Have mercy on me, O God,

  according to your steadfast love;

  according to your abundant mercy

  blot out my transgressions.

  [2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

  and cleanse me from my sin!

  [3] For I know my transgressions,

  and my sin is ever before me.

  [4] Against you, you only, have I sinned

  and done what is evil in your sight,

  so that you may be justified in your words

  and blameless in your judgment.

  [5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

  and in sin did my mother conceive me.

  [6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,

  and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

  [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

  wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

  [8] Let me hear joy and gladness;

  let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

  [9] Hide your face from my sins,

  and blot out all my iniquities.

  [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God,

  and renew a right spirit within me.

  [11] Cast me not away from your presence,

  and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

  [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

  and uphold me with a willing spirit.

  [13] Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

  and sinners will return to you.

  [14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

  O God of my salvation,

  and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

  [15] O Lord, open my lips,

  and my mouth will declare your praise.

  [16] For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

  you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

  [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

  a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

  [18] Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

  build up the walls of Jerusalem;

  [19] then will you delight in right sacrifices,

  in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

  then bulls will be offered on your altar. 

• Matthew 5:23-24

  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

• Matthew 18:21-25

  Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

  [23] “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

• 1 John 1:9

  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

•  1 John 4:20-21

  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version.

Taken from A Catechism for Girls and Boys found here.

Previously posted questions and answers.