Matthew 6:15

(KJV) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(1611 KJV) But, if yee forgiue not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgiue your trespasses.
(1587 Geneva Bible) But if ye do not forgiue men their trespasses, no more will your father forgiue you your trespaces.
(1526 Tyndale) But and ye wyll not forgeve men their trespases nomore shall youre father forgeve youre treaspases.

Counterfeit Versions
(AMP) But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
(CEB) But if you don’t forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.
(CEV) But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

(CSB) But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

(JB PHILLIPS) But if you will not forgive other people, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive you your failures.”
(LB) but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.
(THE MESSAGE) You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
(NAB-Revised Edition- Roman Catholic) But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
(NASV) But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
(NCV) But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.
(NET) But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.
(NIRV) But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
(NIV) But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
(NLV) If you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
(NLT) But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
(VOICE) But if you do not forgive your neighbors’ sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
εαν δε μη αφητε τοις ανθρωποις τα παραπτωματα αυτων ουδε ο πατηρ υμων αφησει τα παραπτωματα υμων

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
εαν δε μη αφητε τοις ανθρωποις [τα παραπτωματα αυτων] ουδε ο πατηρ υμων αφησει τα παραπτωματα υμων

Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following Manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century
892 - (Minuscule) - Ninth century

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
L 019 - Seventh century
W 032 - Fourth/fifth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
28 (Minuscule) - Eleventh century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
565 - (Minuscule) - Ninth century
700 - (Minuscule) Eleventh century

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “their trespasses” after “forgive not men"
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

Affected Teaching
The word “trespasses” in the Greek is the word “paraptoma” which carries with it the meaning of “misdeeds, trespasses, or offences.” It does not carry a meaning of “sins.” That is because we cannot forgive sins, only the Lord Jesus Christ can forgive sins. That concept would play right into the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church where they believe the priests can absolve a person from their sins. The right teachings is that those who commit trespasses against us or misdeeds is what we forgive. If they are children of God, then their sins are already forgiven. One of the characteristics of the unsaved is an unforgiving spirit. If they are hurt in some manner, the world’s way is to exact revenge upon the other person and get even. That type of spirit shows that a person has not become saved and in essence, God has not forgiven their sins. If they never become saved, then the Father has not forgiven their trespasses and they will die unsaved. A true believer always exhibits a spirit of forgiveness. We have been forgiven much and therefore we forgive others who trespass against us, whether they are saved or unsaved. Even the 1828 Webster Dictionary does not equate trespasses with sins. Another blunder by the modern versions.

Back