November 01, 2022 – Tuesday
Luke 11:4a RGT
4a ‘And forgive us our sins. As we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
Luke 11:4a NIV
4a Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
Luke 11:4a ESV
4a and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
Comment
In case you have forgotten, this is part of what we call The Lord’s Prayer. At the beginning of this chapter Jesus was praying and when He was finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
And then He taught them and it went like this, 2 “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father, Who are in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Let Your will be done even on Earth, as in Heaven. 3 ‘Give us our daily bread each day. 4 ‘And forgive us our sins. As we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into trial. But deliver us from the evil one.’”
In Matthew it was a bit different as were the circumstances. Jesus started out warning them against praying as the hypocrites in public to be admired. Instead, pray privately in secret and your Father will reward you openly. Avoid meaningless repetitions like the heathen. Don’t be like them as your Father knows your needs before you ask. However, the prayer itself was very similar with a few key and major differences. 9 ‘Our Father Who are in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. 10 “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. 11 “Give us this day our daily bread. 12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 “And lead us not into trial. But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.’ 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, no more will your Father forgive you your trespasses.
In Luke Jesus say to pray And forgive us our sins. As we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. In Matthew sins become debts, And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. But the thought is the same in both. Still, in Matthew Jesus adds two clarifying statements after His amen, 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, no more will your Father forgive you your trespasses. And here debts and sins have become trespasses.
Jesus is making clear we must forgive as well if we are to be forgiven. Now, I do not know if our forgiveness has to be all at once upon repenting or if it is a process. I suspect it is a process as when we are forgiven, we are so grateful for our own forgiveness we are ready to forgive. It is only with the passage of time that we realize we have so much to forgive others for just as we discover ever more sins we have yet to repent for. The Holy Spirit is great for reminding us, “What about this?” and “What about that?” in our past.
I believe the purpose is to cleanse us of grudges, hate, spite, etc as none of that can go into heaven with us.
Bottom Line: As we are forgiven, we too are to forgive. The more we forgive, the more we are forgiven.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Through Your Son You have instructed us on what we are to be about when it comes to forgiveness. You have forgiven so very much, how can we not do our best to do the same. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek