Mathew 6:12 emphatically states “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Luke 11:4 also says “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.” This request in the Lord’s Prayer is based on a qualification. Before we go into this, let us consider some elementary aspects.
In the first place, forgiveness is an aspect that has to be accepted in the affirmative. When we come to the realisation that we are sinners and accept this as a fact, the question of forgiveness arises. If otherwise then the question of forgiveness is in vain. The need for forgiveness should arise in our hearts. In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, the prodigal son was in need of forgiveness, but he didn’t know it. He was squandering his father’s money in a far-off country and didn’t care about forgiveness. Until he got so desperate that he “came to himself.” When he came to himself, he realized his need to be forgiven and be reconciled to his father. So, he returned home. His father embraced him, forgave him, and threw him a party. That’s the forgiveness that God longs to give to each of us.
The second step is who can forgive. After all, if we do not knock on the right door the efforts will be of no use. Luke 5:20-21 “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Only Jesus can forgive sins. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Only Jesus shed blood for us by dying on the cross and since he was the only one who was sinless. As God only sinless Jesus can forgive sins. No human being, idol, or anything can forgive sins barring God alone.
Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of forgiveness is the qualification of the request “And forgive us our sins,” which is based on “as we forgive those who sin against us.” Jesus teaches that as we ask our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, we should also confirm our practice of forgiving others. How could we ask God to forgive us if we hold grudges and forgive not? Mathew 6:14-15 clearly states “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” The most outstanding example of forgiveness is given in Genesis when Joseph forgives His brothers when they are reunited.
The Parable about the unforgiving servant given in Mathew 18:23-35 underscores this point. This person received forgiveness but isn’t grateful for that gift, and sees no need to pass it on. Forgiveness that is received, and not reciprocated, is what Jesus is warning about as it will end in non-forgiveness. Thus, forgiveness is a two-way process. We should be guided by the ‘Golden Rule’. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a biblical concept spoken by Jesus in Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12; it is commonly referred to as the "Golden Rule."
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in