Text: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” – Matthew 6: 12
Comment: This is a very important portion of the All-Sufficient Prayer that our Lord and Saviour taught his followers on the mountain, at the start of his ministry. It remains relevant till the end of time. St. Luke renders it thus: ‘And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us’ (Luke 11: 4).
‘FORGIVENESS’ is an important ingredient of the Christian life. It is a pre-condition for anyone to go before God in prayer. The Saviour explains further, ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses’ (Matthew 6: 14,15). Here, self-appraisal comes to play; and ‘If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts’. – 1 John 3:20,21.
One who forgives others their trespasses puts himself in a condition in which he could appear before the Lord with a pure-heart and a clean hand by His grace. (Psalm 24: 3,4; Matthew 5: 8) In answering the question from Apostle Peter as to how many times one should forgive his brother, Christ told his Apostles: ‘I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.’ Then, with the aid of a striking parable he drove home the point, adding ‘So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses’ – Matthew 18: 21-35.