Double Debt

READ: MATTHEW 6:9-13

Forgiveness is a concept that is easy to remain abstract until it is necessary. Living life in a fallen world means that there will be an abundance of opportunities to forgive and seek forgiveness. In this section of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus speaks powerfully to the reality that we will need divine assistance both in seeking God’s forgiveness as well as in forgiving others.

Forgiveness is one of the most fundamental needs that all humans have as they stand before a perfect holy and just God. Because of his perfection and his just nature, no transgression can go unpunished. For God to “overlook” even the smallest offense is impossible as he is all knowing and all seeing. As God’s children, we have received a special blessing of being able to seek forgiveness in Christ. God remains just and the justifier (Romans 3:21-26) of the ungodly because Jesus has paid the penalty for all of God’s people.

Knowing that we have been forgiven in Christ, causes radical transformation in how we view people who sin against us. Knowing the pain of past hurts and how deep wounds can be in a fallen world, Jesus tells us to pray as a way of resourcing us with the grace God provides us to engage the process of forgiveness. Nonetheless, out of the abundance of our forgiveness before God in Christ we have all the resources we need to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:21-35).

QUESTIONS:

  1. Why are all people in debt to God?

  2. What is the difference between overlooking something and forgiving something?

  3. How does the Gospel inform how we approach forgiving others?

  4. What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

  5. What are some practical steps you can take in forgiving someone?

PRAY:

As you pray, pray for forgiveness in specific areas for sins against God. Pray with full assurance of your forgiveness in Christ and remind yourself daily that we are free to commune with God not because of what we’ve done but because of Christ’s work on our behalf. Pray for a heart that is ready and willing to forgive.