And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12)

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12)

This verse deals first with our relationship with God and second with our relationships with others. When it comes to our relationship with God, we must ask for his forgiveness whenever we sin against him. We sin against God either by doing things we should not have done (sins of commission) or by failing to do things we should have done (sins of omission). When it comes to our relationships with others, we must forgive them when they sin against us or else, as verses 14-15 teach, we cannot expect God to forgive us. This doesn’t mean that by failing to forgive we forfeit our salvation. Rather, it means that we forfeit our fellowship with God until we forgive our debtors.

Can you recall a time when you were angry with someone and you hadn’t yet forgiven that person for the wrong they had done to you?  How did you feel? What kind of thoughts did you have? What were your desires? You probably felt anger, hurt, and bitterness. Your mind probably replayed the wrong over and over. And you probably wanted to find some way to get back at the person for doing you wrong. Now be honest: how close to God were you when you were holding that grudge? Did you really feel like worshiping him? Did you want to read and study his word? Did you eagerly look for people to share the gospel with? Did you delight to be around other believers? The honest truth is that you didn’t want any of that when you were holding the grudge, did you?  Your own experience confirms that your unwillingness to forgive ruins your relationship with God.

Do you know why this is so? It is because God calls his children to behave like he behaves. And since he forgives, he requires his children to forgive. God doesn’t make himself visible in the world. Instead, he works through his children to show the world what he is like. So if he wants the world to know that he is a forgiver—and he does want the world to know that he is—then he has to show it through his children. 

Nobody says that forgiving others comes easy. But the next time we are tempted to hold a grudge against one of our debtors, we should remember that God forgave us, although our sin put Jesus on the cross. Thinking like that will keep things in perspective and will help us to live like Jesus in the world. And that’s a good thing.