Sunday Devotional: Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as also we ourselves have forgiven those who owe us.

The Greek of this petition uses the words opheilêma and opheiletês in reference to “debts” and “debtors.” The similarity between the words tells us that a similar root idea is behind the words: obligation. Some translations, however, prefer “sins” or “transgressions,” and there is good reason for this. In verses 14 and 15, Jesus talks about the necessity of forgiveness among his followers, and this appears to be a continuation of the thought of this petition. In those verses, the Greek word used is paraptôma, denoting a sin or a offense that must be forgiven. Further, in Luke’s Gospel, where we find an abbreviated version of the prayer (11:2-4), the Greek word hamartia, “sin,” is used in the first part (“Forgive us our sins”) but opheilôn, “debtor, one who owes,” in the second part (“For also we ourselves forgive all who owe us.”). What do we make of this? Is this petition about forgiving debt, or forgiving sin?

It’s not a stretch, and indeed, not inconsistent with Christian theology, to see sin as debt. Our sin is a serious strike against our account with God. In fact, the amount we owe God as a result of our sin is insurmountable. There is nothing we can do to balance our account with Him. But God has seen fit to forgive us by sending His only Son to be the all-sufficient payment for our debt. In Christ, our debt is forgiven. So when Jesus here refers to our “debts,” I believe he is speaking primarily of sins, transgressions, things we have done that dishonor God, disregard His commands, and show our rebellion. He then speaks of things that have been said or done by others against us.

But if God has already forgiven us, why ask for His forgiveness? As Christians, our sin–past, present, and future–has been settled on the cross. We don’t stop falling into sin, but that sin is covered and we aren’t held accountable for it. This might lead someone to think, “Great, I can continue to sin and it won’t matter!” But that’s not the way someone whose heart has been changed by the Holy Spirit thinks. Those who are Christ’s hate sin, and want to be rid of it. They don’t delight in their sin. And when they do sin, they feel remorse, knowing that for all God has done to them, their sin is like spitting in His eye. So the Christian will turn to God and ask forgiveness, and display real repentance over sin. This is why it is not unreasonable for Jesus to model for us a prayer of repentance that we should use.

And because God has so graciously lavished forgiveness upon us, forgiveness we don’t deserve, it’s only natural that we should in turn show forgiveness to those who have offended us and seek our forgiveness. Jesus picks up this theme later in Matthew’s Gospel with the story of the man who, having been forgiven a huge debt by a king, turns and punishes a servant for not paying back a small debt (Matthew 18:21-35). What happens to the man? The king punishes him until he has paid back every last penny. Jesus warns that God will do the same to us if we don’t practice forgiveness.

This story, and Jesus’s words in 6:14-15, appear to be linking God’s forgiveness of us with our forgiveness of others, as if to say that God will only forgive us inasmuch as we forgive others. I don’t think that’s what’s intended. Rather, I think Jesus is saying in both places that God’s forgiveness is real and permanent on all those who have turned to Him in repentance and who are, as a result, true followers of Christ. Because of the renewing work of the Spirit in the life of the believer, forgiveness of sin will become a part of the Christian’s lifestyle. Grace and mercy, attributes of God, will begin to flow through those who are God’s in Christ, and this will be seen in the way the Christian treats those around him or her. It follows, therefore, that anyone who claims the name of Christ, but is unwilling to forgive those who come to them in sincere repentance, truly does not have the Spirit of God in them. Such a person, rather than being a follower of Christ, needs to seek God’s face for forgiveness of sin, and turn themselves wholly over to Christ.

I pray that we all search our hearts and make sure we haven’t become hardened toward those who desire our forgiveness. Let us be reminded of the great love God has shown us, sacrificing His only Son that He might forgive our hideous transgressions and the huge debt that we owed Him. And may we show our gratitude by, in turn, forgiving others, just as we have been forgiven.

Have a great week!