But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
But if ye forgive not, &c.--See on Mat 6:12. Fasting (Mat 6:16-18). Having concluded His supplementary directions on the subject of prayer with this Divine Pattern, our Lord now returns to the subject of Unostentatiousness in our deeds of righteousness, in order to give one more illustration of it, in the matter of fasting.
Because we are ignorant of what to pray as we ought, Christ puts words into our mouths. The form can be used as a prayer itself, though it also serves as a summary of what our prayers should contain. Use it with understanding, not vain repetition.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 6:9-15
But if you forgive not men their trespasses,.... On the other hand, where men are not of a forgiving temper to their fellow creatures and fellow Christians, how can they expect forgiveness at the hands of God? or what sense of pardoning grace can there be upon their minds?