Lord's Prayer: Forgive UsSample

There’s two places where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6 and Luke 11. The way he teaches us to pray about forgiveness is different in each of these places.

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Now look at how he words it differently in Luke 11: “Forgive us our sins, because we also have forgiven everyone who owes us.” Don’t focus on the choice of word Jesus uses (debt or sin). We’ve covered that earlier this week. Focus instead on why we’re asking God to forgive us.

Luke 11 appeals to God based on the way we forgive. It’s like saying, “Father, I forgive people who sin against me. And you’re so much greater than I am. So if I’m willing to forgive, how much more should you be willing to forgive me!”

Wow. That seems pretty presumptuous. But it’s one way Jesus teaches us to pray.

Matthew 6 can be read similarly. Just like Luke 11, it can be understood to say, “Father, forgive me, just like I forgive other people.” But there’s another way it can be understood. And this way may be intentionally barbed. “Father, forgive me in the same manner that I forgive other people.” In other words, forgive me to the same degree that I am willing to forgive someone else. Ouch!

I don’t know about you, but I want God to forgive me despite how I forgive others, not in the same way that I do.

The good news is God does. Your forgiveness is not dependent on you first proving to God how well you forgive. But there’s something linked between the two. Receiving mercy leads to showing mercy. If not, it’s doubtful we really came to terms with the debt we owed and the mercy we received to begin with.

Jesus teaches us that what God does for us changes us. And he shows us that God is greater than us. He doesn’t teach us to simply receive from God unaffected. He teaches us to live with radical grace and forgiveness. To seek to love others as much as myself. To treat them the way I want to be treated. To do unto others… The Lord’s Prayer reminds us of that. Especially, with forgiveness.

Consider this today…

God wants you to forgive others. Who are you holding a grudge towards? What anger and resentments are you holding on to? Where are you refusing to forgive someone? Pray this part of the Lord’s Prayer, and ask God to soften your heart and forgive that person today.