Jesus wants the disciples to rely on God for victory over Sin. As Christians we have been forgiven, all our sins are washed away, and yet this victory does not mean we will not struggle to live our lives as God desires us to. The devil is still at large stealing killing and destroying. We must learn to turn to God and trust that he will give us victory over Satan and the evil inclinations of our own hearts.

Jesus told his disciples to be penitent and merciful because they are forgiven. This applies just as much to us today as it did to them.  We have been forgiven an unimaginably large debt and if God can forgive us we cannot hold others sins against them.