Note 11 at Mk. 11:25: There are qualifications on believing and receiving mentioned elsewhere in scripture (see note 49 at Mt. 7:7, p. 83). Verses 25 and 26, which follow the often quoted verses 23 and 24, also give restrictions on receiving answers to prayer. Unforgiveness in our hearts will keep our prayers from being answered.

We should forgive others as quickly as it takes to make the decision to pray. The Greek word for "when" in Mark 11:25 is "hotan" and means "whenever, as soon as, or while." When we stand praying, we must forgive if we have ought (the Greek word here is "tis" - "anything at all, the least little part; whatsoever") against anyone.

When we are offended or hurt, we often feel justified in holding a grudge. The Old Testament law expressed this when it stated, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Ex. 21:23-25). Until the offense was paid, we did not feel free to forgive. However, God dealt with all men's offenses by placing sin upon the perfect Savior who was judged in place of every sinner of all time. To demand that others now earn our forgiveness is not Christlike. Jesus died for every man's sins (1 Jn. 2:2), extending forgiveness to us while we were yet sinners (Rom. 5:8), and we should do the same (Eph. 4:32).

It is doubtful that a person who refuses to forgive has ever experienced forgiveness himself. That would be comparable to the servant that Jesus talked about in Matthew 18:23-35 who was forgiven over $3,000,000,000 and yet refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him $3,000. The forgiveness that we have received from the Lord is infinitely greater than any forgiveness we could ever be asked to extend towards others.