“And Forgive Us Our Debts,
As We Forgive Our Debtors”
Forgiveness
– The Outrageous Act That Advances God’s Global Will
This petition for forgiveness
brings us to the heart of the whole gospel. Lewis Smedes said, “Forgiving
is the key to the entire Christian agenda.” (p. 67)
This petition moves us deeper into a search
for reconciliation. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, they were probably
not prepared to for the intensity of this prayer. They didn’t expect Him
to be hung on a cross and die to bring forgiveness to those who executed Him. To
the world, forgiveness is outrageous.
The intent in the Greek is a double
petition – that we request that God do something for us, and in return, we agree to do something for God. By its length in words and complexity, this petition is of particular importance in the overall prayer. The word “and” ties this petition closely to the petition for bread. The petition for forgiveness is tied closely to the next petition about temptation
also by the word “and.”
Principle 13: “Spiritual Formation Is Capturing the Patterns of the Intangibles in
Our Lives.”
The petition for bread (grace) is
related to the petition for forgiveness in that just as we cannot fulfill the work of God without being sustained daily with
nourishment, we cannot relate to each other and to God without His forgiveness in our lives.
Rom. 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.” “Forgiveness – vertical and horizontal
– is actually the difference between spiritual life and death.” (p.70)
Both bread and forgiveness are provided by God and both petitions acknowledge our dependence on God. Humanity is constantly at odds with grace – we battle between the rule of self and the rule of grace. Only the uncontaminated gift of God’s grace in forgiveness can end that
conflict (p.70).
Jesus’ Teachings on Forgiveness: Matt. 18:21-35 The Unforgiving
Servant
“Should you not have had
mercy on your fellow slave as I have had mercy on you” (v.33)
When the mercy of forgiveness
received becomes the measure of forgiveness extended, we are at the heart of our Lord’s gospel (p. 70). Jesus was strong in his admonishment to us (his disciples) regarding the way we are
to forgive from the heart. He was about to die to provide that forgiveness. Forgiveness is available for the asking – ask Him.
“Trespasses” or “Debts”
or “Sins”?:
Author preference has caused many to stumble. Luke chose “sins” because of the audience he was writing to. He wanted them to understand the separation caused by sin and the great provision to remedy that separation
through the cross of Christ. Matthew chose “debts” to point beyond
trespasses against each other, so his audience would understand the debt we owe to God for trespassing against Him as well
as each other. A misinterpretation of “debts” as “trespasses”
by William Tyndale was then accepted and proliferated in subsequent writings and the Book of Common Prayer, etc. Whatever word we use, the debt we owe God is unmistakable. The
parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew and the unprofitable servant and the story of the woman who was a great sinner,
both in Luke, show how we can never cancel the debt through our own efforts. Where
there is sin, there is a need for forgiveness, and forgiveness is fully available because of grace and has become the hallmark
of the Body of Christ.
Principle 14: “Spiritual Formation is a Journey Toward Wholeness.”
Forgiveness – Responding To The Injustices
Of Life
One of the most rapid routes to spiritual
growth is to give God the greatest messes in your life (p. 75)
Forgiveness is essential to community (again
the use of “us” and “our” in the prayer).
Lewis Smedes – “Forgiveness
is the quintessential Christian act … the hardest chord to play in the human repertoire.”
Like the petition for “daily bread”
this petition is set in community. There are personal issues but never
private issues.
Principle 15: “Spiritual Formation Is Both Corporate and Personal – Never Private.”
Everything we have and are can be
thought of in terms of part of the community. We pray for forgiveness in community
and “acknowledge that the miracle of forgiveness can flow only from the equally magnificent miracle of Gods grace
at Calvary. We are never more like our Lord than when we are receiving or extending
forgiveness.” (p. 77)
There is also a connection between asking
for forgiveness and the complementary petition of ask that God’s will be accomplished in the earth. As we pray for God’s saving and transforming will to occur, we also submit through forgiveness to
be a participant in it. (2 Cor. 5:18).
Sinners are reconciled to God through the grace of forgiving love and God’s will is dramatically accomplished. We then take that message of reconciliation through forgiveness to others and God’s
will is further carried out. (2 Cor. 4:15).
God’s forgiveness always precedes
our forgiveness. Then we can forgive others as we ourselves are truly forgiven,
and we can be ambassadors to spread His forgiveness. Once forgiven we are forever
indebted to God, and this also obligates us to extend forgiveness to others. To
pray this petition is a pledge to forgive others – to participate in redeeming relationships in our broken world. (God’s Will).
Rom. 3:23 tells us that “all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The sin problem
can only be remedied through the atonement purchased for us at the Cross. Sin
causes many of the injustices of life. We need forgiveness to overcome them and
grow in spiritual formation.
1-
The End of Denial – acknowledge that we are damaged by injustices – don’t disguise
the damage, but asses it and accept the healing grace provided for us.
2-
Ownership of Response – stop blaming others for the pain – other are themselves caught
in the web of sin – surrender the right to get even – God has graciously provided healing. Bring your own pain to the only source of healing – God Himself.
3-
Forgiveness – It’s never too early to forgive – don’t delay forgiveness
though tempted to do so – two people are required to achieve reconciliation – scars remain even where there’s
forgiveness – forgiveness does not condone the act done against us.
4-
Release the Mess to God – Once forgiveness has entered the picture, release the mess to God
and let Him work it out – rest in His grace.
5-
Future Strategy – we can only step into God’s new day for us after we have released
the whole mess into His care.
6-
Learn to Trust Again – a result of sin’s sabotage is difficulty trusting others –
understand the completeness of forgiveness and begin trusting again – this is critical to a healthy relationship with
God and with others.
7-
Forgive Yourself – a tendency to blame ourselves inappropriately – if God can forgive
us, we should forgive ourselves – accept ourselves for who we are – forgiving ourselves may be more difficult
that trusting others again.
8-
Forgive God – we often blame God for failing to solve the issue directly – there is
freedom from forgiving God.
Forgiveness lets us be released from
the chains of the past and walk into the future under grace.
All Scripture taken from – The Holy Bible – NIV – Zondervan Publishing
Co.
Matt
18:21-35
21
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven
times?"
22
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement,
a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and
his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26
"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's
master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28
"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began
to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29
"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30
"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants
saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32
"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged
me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34 In anger his master turned him over
to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
2
Cor 5:18
18
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2
Cor 4:15
15
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to
the glory of God.
