Why We Pray Muestra

Consistent Forgiveness

The Lord’s Prayer, like the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, uses a literary device called a chiasm. A chiasm, or chiasmus, presents ideas and then repeats them in reverse order (for example, ABC, CBA or AB, C, BA). This creates a sort of “mirror” effect, where ideas are paired with their repetition, or “image.” (An idea that is not repeated stands out.) 

In a chiasm, the main point is in the middle of the passage. In the Lord’s Prayer, the middle verse is the one about forgiveness, the one that says, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Jesus’ first words after the Lord’s Prayer emphasize the importance of this verse. The very next verse, verse 14, says: “For if you forgive other people, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” It is underlining the main point, the central emphasis of the prayer.

Why is forgiveness the central point of this prayer? The Lord’s Prayer has us acknowledge our debts and need for forgiveness, and our need for daily bread. Yet, God’s provision is not the central point. The chiasm, and Jesus’ teaching after the prayer, emphasize forgiveness.

Perhaps it is Jesus’ way of saying that intimacy with God begins with taking ownership of our choices. Forgiveness is our own choice. It is required of us as a part of our fellowship and walk with God. It requires putting aside offense and seeking the best for others. To pray the Lord’s Prayer rightly requires some self-reflection, for we are asking God to treat us as we treat others.

As we grant forgiveness to others throughout our lives, we are promised this same forgiveness, which leads to intimacy. Perhaps that also means our mistakes and flaws are taken care of in this life and that when we stand before the fiery judgment seat of Christ, our evil deeds will have already been burned away through forgiveness.

When we exercise forgiveness and ask God to love and forgive us as we are loving and forgiving others, we unlock the keys to the Kingdom. We start to see reality as it is. We are not blind to our faults or oblivious in our relationships with others. We begin to take responsibility for the way we walk with God and others. We start to partake of God’s great rewards.