Matthew 6:9-15 (5)

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

A debt is of course something owed to someone else.  It is an ought or a duty (the Greek term is sometimes translated that way in the New Testament).  We owe God obedience (Lk. 17:10), service (Jn. 13:14), and sanctification (Rom. 8:12).  We owe to those around us obligations of the gospel (Rom. 1:14), love (Rom. 13:8; 1 John 4:11), mercy (Rom. 15:1) and sacrifice (1 John 3:16).  When these are not fulfilled we are then indebted, either to God or to others.  This prayer asks God to forgive us as we forgive others in the failure to carry out one’s duties.

Jesus uses here the common term for forgive.  It has the idea of letting go or sending something away.  Thus it means to cancel, remit or pardon. Some have pointed out that believers are not commanded to pray for forgiveness after the cross.  Christ paid the price for our sin and having received Christ and His forgiveness the matter is settled.  God has forgiven and will not change His mind.  Having said that, however, we realize that we continue to sin even after we are saved.  Thus we hold to 1 John 1:9 that we are to confess our sins (agree with God concerning them).  He will be faithful and will forgive (or better, keep on forgiving) our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.  Thus we are satisfying what Jesus calls for here: a recognition of our own sins and realization of God’s forgiveness.

Believer’s are commanded to forgive those who sin against us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).  This is in fact the difficult matter for many people.  Time and again I have heard people say that they cannot forgive this person or that.  They are usually saying these things in the midst of personal turmoil.  Their lives are not enjoyable; they are discouraged or bitter.  They are, I believe, bearing out the truth of vs.14-15.  

There are two primary ways these verses are explained.  Some would say that God withdraws His forgiveness provided by Christ’s death on the cross when we fail to forgive others.  But this would seem to make God’s offer to be of temporary life rather than eternal life.  It seems to question God’s faithfulness.  A better way is to understand Jesus is speaking of our daily experience.  When we do not forgive others we lose the assurance and thus the blessing of God’s forgiveness in Christ.  It is also possible and quite logical to think that someone who cannot forgive others is giving evidence that he does not in fact know the forgiveness of God.  Our forgiving of others is always tied to God’s forgiveness of us.

In the matter of our prayer life here is what we see.  Jesus teaches us to be upfront with God concerning our sins, confessing them quickly.  He teaches us to seek God’s help in maintaining relationships of forgiveness with those around us.  Is your prayer life honest with God?