Mar 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father...
Mar 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Alternative: But if you do not drop it now [now] then your Father in heaven will no drop your blunders [in the future].
Wordplay: The contrast here is between the present and future forms of the verb aphiêmi. Since the verse is simpler in the Greek, what dominates is the idea that what we do to others now is what will be done to us in the future.
Hidden meaning: As we explained in the previous verse, the key word here, aphiêmi, the words translated as "forgive" is very different in the original Greek. It means "to drop," "to leave," and "to let go."
Thematically and Linguistically Related Verse(s): This is a repetition of same vocabulary in the previous verse, Mark 11:25. Mat 6:14-15 uses much of the same vocabulary as that version. Mat 18:35 uses much of the same vocabulary but to express a threat if we don't let others alone.
Vocabulary:
"Forgive" is from aphiêmi (aphiemi), which means "to let fall," "to send away," "to let loose," "to get rid of," "to leave alone," "to pass by," "to permit," and "to send forth from oneself." This same word is usually translated as "leave," "forgive," "suffer," and "let" in the New Testament.
"Father" is from pater (pater), which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."
"Heaven" is from the Greek ouranos (ouranos), which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky," "heaven as the seat of the gods," "the sky," "the universe," and "the climate."
"Trespasses" is a paraptôma, which means "false step," "blunder," and "slip." Only in the NT is is defined as "trespass."
