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MATTHEW 6:12 “AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.” (KJV, NKJV)
(Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins, for we forgive every one that is indebted to us.”)
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (ASV, NASB, RSV, NIV)
“And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.” (TLB)
The word “debts” here implies money. I found it interesting as I researched this topic that I could not find verse 12 of the Lord’s prayer quoted anywhere as “trespasses.” But I distinctly remember several times in my life where I prayed/quoted this verse as, “…forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” I grew up thinking that debts and trespasses meant the same thing.
In the verses that immediately follow these, the Lord tells the disciples, “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (verse 14) Also, “if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (verse 15) So, the term trespasses is used in this context, just not in verse 12 of the Lord’s Prayer.
It is also significant that Jesus spoke of forgiveness not only in terms of trespasses but also in terms of actual financial debt. In the best known parable on the subject, the Lord tells us that our forgiveness should be magnanimous. Peter, for whatever reason, asked the Lord if forgiving a brother who sinned against him seven times was enough. He was surprised by Jesus’ answer.
In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus told Peter a story of one who owed so much that the king had every right to demand that he, his wife, his children and all that he owned be sold into slavery until the debt was repaid. As the servant begged forgiveness, that master was so “moved with compassion for him” that he actually forgave all of the debt.
Unfortunately, the servant did the opposite with one who owed him far less. Verse 28 says he took the other debtor by the throat and demanded that he “Pay me what you owe!” He even threw this debtor into the prison he himself had been threatened with! When the master found out about this man’s calloused treachery, he delivered him to the “torturers until he would pay all that he owed.” Jesus shockingly said that the heavenly Father would do the same to us if, from our heart, we would not forgive our brother his trespasses.
Notice the key to this parable is in the words “from our heart.” Jesus taught Peter here that the act of forgiveness is far greater an act of our heart than it is of any amount of money. We can all identify with great debt…just ask any father who has a house mortgage. Yet, as overwhelming as that financial debt may seem, we are so quick to demand our rights anytime someone infringes upon ours.
The debt of our sins is so great, only God who came in the flesh and lived among us could pay the price for our forgiveness. Only by recognition of the vastness of our own sin can we ask the Father, who has every right to throw us into a prison of hell for them, to forgive us and make us clean before Him. But, how quickly after experiencing such great love and compassion, are we prone to point out the smallest infraction upon us by others?
We really shouldn’t have any hangups over our understanding of forgiving debts or trespasses. The real issue is how we forgive. “I love you and care for your soul. Just don’t think about cutting me off in traffic dude!” “I have every right to hate this person for saying bad things about me. But yes, I have probably done the same thing and certainly need the Lord’s forgiveness for when I did that.” “How in the world could that guy cheat on his wife and leave her and the kids? But, yes, I’m kind of guilty of looking lustfully at images of other women myself. But no harm, right?”
Sometimes, I think we don’t even see how great are the sins we need to be forgiven of. Honestly, no one paints a better picture of what a great guy I am than me! Yet, let the wife or kids push me a little too hard in the wrong direction and my justified anger can take me out of control.
I don’t agree that Christians need to look upon themselves as “practicing sinners” who always need forgiveness for whatever overtakes us that day. But I think it would certainly be wise to look in the mirror of honesty once in a while and remember that we aren’t always as good as we think we are either. A humble appraisal of one’s self should always lead us to the Master who can quickly remind us of how much we owe.
“Our sins, they are great. But God’s grace is greater!” How great a debt Jesus paid for our salvation. It is worth more than millions. Compared to that, the little offenses that our fellow humans afflict us with are far, far less significant. Practice forgiving them.
We need to be quick to forgive. We need to learn to be slower to condemn others. Instead of demanding what others owe us, we probably need to remember how much the Lord paid for us, look at their offenses in light of that and be quickly ready to forgive.
Lord forgive us our debts, our sins and trespasses, our failures and unforgiveness of others by showing us how to forgive others their debts, trespasses and sins against us that we think are so great…yet in comparison to ours, are so little. Help me forgive others like you forgive me. Help me to remember that I will be asking you to forgive me of my debts and trespasses. Help me to remember that you taught us that you would forgive our sins and trespasses just like we forgive the trespasses of others toward us. Amen.
Questions to consider: How great is the debt of your sins? Can it be measured? Can you forgive someone their trespasses against you who never asks for forgiveness? Are there conditions of granting forgiveness? Is it right to avoid debts to one another? What is the difference between giving and being in debt?
Other Scriptures to study: Romans 5:15-21 “the gift followed many trespasses.” Mark 11:25 “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…” Luke 6:37 “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” John 20:23 What if I don’t forgive? Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other, forgive grievances…forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
 
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