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Read Introduction to Matthew

 

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”  

 

6:12

And forgive us our debts,

Prayer for spiritual needs is also important. This is a prayer that Jesus could not pray.

A “debt” is something we owe. The word “debts” is a commercial term for financial debt. Matthew uses it here figuratively for sin.

As we forgive our debtors.

The word “as” introduces an analogy. Acceptance of forgiveness from God implies that we extend forgiveness to others.

PRINCIPLE:

A forgiving person understands and executes the principle of grace towards others.

APPLICATION:

If people wrong us, they do not have to come crawling to us for forgiveness. A grace-oriented person forgives and forgets. He does not hold a wrong against the other person. Why? Because he is the subject of grace himself.

The Father forgives us on the basis of Christ’s death for our sins. Because we have been judicially forgiven by God, we are able to functionally forgive others.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Eph 4:32

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