Jesus taught his disciples what to pray, including asking God for the forgiveness of sins against him (4a). Then he taught them to tell God, “…for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” The original Greek reads, “…for we forgive everyone who is indebted to us,” which is like Matthew 6:12, “…as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Sin is a debt, to be either paid back or as Jesus teaches to be pardoned. If someone sincerely apologizes and asks me to forgive them, then I am to forgive.
We are not making a request for a debt against me can only be forgiven by me. Rather, Jesus intends me to declare a statement of truth, a confession that am doing to others what was done unto me. Jesus used several parables to get this message to sink into thick skulls and hard hearts. Many messages have been given on love; God’s love, and how I am to love. Well, one way I am to love is to forgive others.
Jesus makes it clear, the two go hand in hand. I should not ask for forgiveness and then not forgive others. If I am expecting God to forgive me, then I better forgive those who owe me. Not only is forgiving others good for others but forgiving others is good for me. For one thing, it teaches me just how hard forgiving me is for God. And in some cases forgiving a debt someone owes me could be similar to sacrificing that which I love. Can I so carelessly ignore God’s sacrifice to forgive me?
