Praying with Jesus
Forgive us our debts …
May 9, 2021
Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
We live in an era of cancel culture, which is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is suddenly thrust out of social or professional circles.
A cancel culture encourages people to be reluctant to forgive and that’s dangerous. It creates an environment where no one can disagree with us and if they do, they’re an enemy.
We can’t ask for grace but refuse to give grace to others.
If we want grace, we must give grace.
Matthew 18:21-30 NIV
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.”
Ten thousand talents = The largest numeral in the Greek language (Zillion)
Hundred Denarius - a few day’s wages
1. “Lord, forgive me.”
We’ll never forgive others if we’ don’t confess our own sins.
We must stop comparing our sins to the sins of others – this is the first step to becoming self-righteous.
“Thank you for forgiving my enormous debt.”
2. “Lord, help me to forgive.”
Forgiveness isn’t getting vindication or getting even with the person who harmed you.
Forgiveness isn’t pretending everything is ok and burying the hurt.
Forgiveness isn’t letting the offender off the hook.
Forgiveness is releasing that person from your judgment and allowing God to heal your heart.
Any part of our heart that’s occupied by unforgiveness is uninhabited by God.
We’re often waiting on justice instead of choosing forgiveness.
The healing we need often happens after we forgive.
Jesus on the cross – “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
We’re never more like Jesus than we forgive.
