Matthew 6:12, 14-15
Purpose: To highlight the importance of forgiveness.
Aim: I want the listener to value their forgiveness and practice it.
INTRODUCTION: There is a lot of confusion about forgiveness. Here is an example. Old Joe was dying. For years he had been at odds with Bill, who used to be one of his best friends. Wanting to clear his conscience, he sent word for Bill to come and see him. When Bill arrived, Joe told him that he was afraid to go into eternity with bad feelings between them. Then, very reluctantly and with great effort, Joe apologized for the things he had said and done. He also assured Bill that he forgave him for his offenses. Everything seemed fine until Bill turned to go. As he walked out of the room, Joe called out after him, "By the way, if I get better, this conversation didn't happen!"
What a picture of the way we often treat one another! The forgiveness we offer is often superficial, and can be given with a selfish motive. Maybe it's to appear spiritual, or just to quiet our conscience. We may say that we forgive, but when the next irritation arises we are quick to dredge up the past problems. We like to "bury the hatchet" with the handle sticking out. That way we can easily pick it up again and use it to our advantage.
In order to understand what Jesus means about forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer we must first ask,
► I. Why is Sin a Problem?
We all know that sin is "bad" but why is it "bad"?
To begin with, the Bible is clear that sin is a problem that affects every single human being.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NAU)
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; (NAU)
Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners.... (NAU)
► A. Sin causes misery
Job 5:7 For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward. (NAU)
Isaiah 57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." (NAU)
Sin ruins relationships, causes bitterness, steals joy, affects our health, and generally makes life hard.
Even nature itself is affected by sin. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (NAU)
The frustrations of earning a living are rooted in sin. Genesis 3:17--19 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, ..." (NAU)
This is why Paul said, Romans 8:23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (NAU)
► B. Sin rules our emotions
John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (NAU)
► C. Sin glorifies Satan
Ephesians 2:1--2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (NAU)
► D. Sin deserves God's wrath
Ephesians 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (NAU)
Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross? He had to endure the wrath of God in order to pay for sin. When Jesus was praying to His Father in Gethsemane (just before His crucifixion) He said, Matthew 26:39 ... "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (NAU) The CUP refers to the wrath of God. Revelation 16:19 ... the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. (NAU)
► II. What Kinds of Forgiveness are there?
► A. Eternal forgiveness
We need legal forgiveness before we can pray "Our Father." Romans 3:24--26 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (NAU)
When we have been forgiven then ALL of our sin has been paid for and we will not face them in eternity. Romans 8:33--34 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (NAU)
Forgiveness is all about God's righteousness, not our righteousness.
► B. Parental forgiveness
In this model prayer Jesus is talking about clearing the way so that the child can have a good relationship with the Father. A child's behavior cannot change who his parents are. In the same way, a Christian's sin cannot change the fact that God is his loving heavenly Father.
John explained the difference between legal and relational forgiveness. 1 John 1:3--4 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship [legal forgiveness] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that[relational forgiveness] our joy may be made complete. (NAU)
A Christian's sin will interfere with a fulfilling relationship with God; it will rob us of joy.
►Sin ruins our intimacy with God.
When Jesus was celebrating the Passover with His disciples just before His death He acted out our need for both kinds of forgiveness. Jesus, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." (John 13:4--10 NAU)
If we understand how great and undeserved God's forgiveness is then we will naturally want to be free from any sin since it offends the One who died for us.
"I am guilty, but pardoned,
lost, but saved,
wandering, but found,
sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to thy cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace,
Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,
sparkling like crystal,
flowing clear and unsullied
through my wilderness of life." [1]
► III. How are we Forgiven?
►Vs.12a A. When we ask "forgive us our debts"
We will only ask for forgiveness when we see the ugliness of our sin.
►We must see our sin as a debt we owe that we cannot pay
Our real problem is not theological it is personal. When we don't see ourselves as very great sinners then we do not appreciate how greatly God has forgiven us
Micah 7:18--19 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea. (NAU)
Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. (NAU)
This is why Paul loudly proclaims: Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...(NAU)
If we have embraced God's forgiveness then we will be constantly asking for God's forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess [or "are confessing"] our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NAU)
►Vs.12b,14-15 B. As we forgive "as we also have forgiven"
St. Augustine called this text "a terrible petition." He pointed out that if you pray these words while harboring an unforgiving spirit, you are actually asking God not to forgive you. Think about that for a moment. If you pray "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" while refusing to forgive those who have wronged you, this prayer which is meant to be a blessing becomes a curse. In that case you are really saying, "O God, since I have not forgiven my brother, please do not forgive me."
But when our own sins seem small, the sins of others against us will seem big indeed. The only other time that Matthew uses the word DEBTS is in chapter 18:32 where Jesus illustrates this. Jesus told the story of a steward who was forgiven millions of dollars who was unwilling to forgive another man a few dollars. [►Picture] We must see our sins as numerous, [►Picture] before we will forgive the individual sins of others. Jesus concluded His story with: Matthew 18:32--35 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (NAU)
"If the members of the family are not getting along with one another, how can they claim to have a right relationship with the Father?" [2]
Look at verses 14-15. Jesus is saying that we set the standard and then God follows the standard. When you pray this prayer you are really saying, "O God, treat me the same way I treat other people." Is that what you want?
When we are unwilling to forgive or literally "let it go" then we are opening the door for Satan to get an advantage. 2 Corinthians 2:10--11 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: If we are not regularly forgiving others it's because we have lost sight of how much God has forgiven us. If we are not regularly asking God for forgiveness then we are not granting forgiveness to others.
Forgiveness Check List
Am I slow to forgive others?
Am I holding a grudge against anyone?
Do I harbor any bitterness against any person?
Do I often talk about what others have done to me?
Have I forgiven those closest to me who have hurt me deeply?
Thomas Manton said, "There is none so tender to others as they which have received mercy themselves, for they know how gently God hath dealt with them." [3]
As we come to the Communion Table let's remember that we should not come with anger or bitterness in our heart against anybody. Matthew 5:23--24 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. (NAU)
[1]The Valley of Vision Banner of Truth P. 83
[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Mt 6:5 (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996).
[3]The Works of Thomas Manton Vol. 1 Pg. 184
