Scripture:
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 – and forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Observation:
Jesus is giving us a model of how to pray to our Father in the Lord’s Prayer. In verse 12 Jesus teaches us to ask for forgiveness as it is implied that we have forgiven others. Verses 14 and 15 Jesus provides clarification that those who are repentant and forgive will be forgiven. However those that do not forgive will not receive forgiveness from the Father. Jesus teaches about forgiveness in the parable of the unforgiving debtor in in Matthew 18:21-35. In that parable, the servant owed the king (God) a great debt that he could never repay, but he went to the king asked for pity and was forgiven of his debt. Then the servant left and found someone who owed him a small sum and choked him out for the money. The king, then punished and tortured the servant permanently (Hell) as Jesus explains this is what the Father will do to those unwilling to forgive.
Application:
God has forgiven me of a debt that I am unable to pay and met my greatest need. When I am truly repentant and realize this I need to not be caught in the flesh and have the ability to forgive others. This can be extremely hard especially when you feel that someone has hurt or wronged you. Whatever our situation, we may not like or condone what happened but we can be forgiving.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank you for your love, grace and forgiving me of a debt I could never repay. Let me remember the gospel, be repentant and be willing to forgive others.