The Lord s Prayer the Fifth Petition And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our Introduction: Today s petition is a sobering petition. Today s petition is a shocking petition. Theme: We should expect God to forgive us, in keeping with the way that we forgive others. Subordinate thought: We are to be humbled in seeking God s forgiveness by keeping in mind that God has forgiven us much more than we will ever forgive others. I. The fifth petition is directly in conjunction with the fourth petition. Matthew 6:12 (KJV 1900) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our Matthew 6:12 (ESV) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our Mat 6:12 (NASB) 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our The first three petitions stand independently from one another. The last two however, are linked by ands (in the Greek there are three ands) almost as if to say that life sustained by food is not enough. We also need forgiveness of sin and deliverance from temptation. Matthew 6:11 (ESV) Give us this day our daily bread, Matthew 6:12 (ESV) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our Matthew 6:13 (ESV) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 1
A. Just as we are in need of daily bread, so too we are in need of daily forgiveness. B. Just as we are in need of being forgiven daily, we are daily in need of not being led into temptation. II. The view of sin as a debt. A. Luke uses the word sin in this petition. Luke 11:4 (ESV) and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. B. Matthew uses the word debt in place of sin. Matthew 6:12 (KJV 1900) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our Matthew 6:12 (ESV) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our C. Sin is thus to be viewed as a debt. We owe it to God to worship and serve Him. Sin is the failure to meet our obligation to worship and serve God as we ought. Thus, we are indebted to Him. D. Therefore, in forgiving us God has forgiven or canceled our debt. Colossians 2:13 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, Colossians 2:14 (ESV) by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. All obligation to repay the debt has been removed. III. The desire to be forgiven by God is to be in keeping with the way that we forgive others. A. We ought to stand ready to supply abundant forgiveness to those who have done us wrong even as we have been abundantly forgiven by God. 2
Matthew 18:21 (ESV) Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? B. It is to be a sign of being regenerate and gracious that we forgive abundantly. Matthew 18:22 (ESV) Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. C. The unregenerate and obstinate are ones who seek abundant retribution. Genesis 4:23 (ESV) Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. Genesis 4:24 (ESV) If Cain s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech s is seventy-sevenfold. IV. Since God has forgiven us so great a debt it is wicked of us not to forgive others. A. An illustration of the wickedness of one who fails to forgive little when they have been forgiven much. Matthew 18:23 (ESV) Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. B. There was a slave who had been forgiven a great debt by the king. Matthew 18:24 (ESV) When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. Matthew 18:25 (ESV) And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. Matthew 18:26 (ESV) So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. Matthew 18:27 (ESV) And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. C. However, that very same slave, after having experienced the graciousness of the king, was harsh and would not forgive the small debt owed to him by another. Matthew 18:28 (ESV) But when that same servant went out, he found one 3
of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. Matthew 18:29 (ESV) So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. Matthew 18:30 (ESV) He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. Matthew 18:31 (ESV) When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. D. The king became angry when He had heard what had happened. Matthew 18:32 (ESV) Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Matthew 18:33 (ESV) And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? Matthew 18:34 (ESV) And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. E. The Lord pronounces a severe warning. Matthew 18:35 (ESV) So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. F. Forgiveness of others should be an outflow of our having been forgiven by God. V. Since God has forgiven us great debt we should have a deep and supreme love for God and thus a love to forgive others as well. A. Jesus makes a point of loving much as a result of having been forgiven much. Luke 7:40 (ESV) And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Say it, Teacher. Luke 7:41 (ESV) A certain moneylender had two One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Luke 7:42 (ESV) When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? Luke 7:43 (ESV) Simon answered, The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. 4
B. Jesus makes an application concerning loving much in connection with having been forgiven much. Luke 7:44 (ESV) Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Luke 7:45 (ESV) You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. Luke 7:46 (ESV) You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Luke 7:47 (ESV) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. Luke 7:48 (ESV) And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Luke 7:49 (ESV) Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? Luke 7:50 (ESV) And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace. C. We must never forget how much we have been forgiven by God. 2 Peter 1:5 (ESV) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 2 Peter 1:6 (ESV) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 2 Peter 1:7 (ESV) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:8 (ESV) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:9 (ESV) For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:10 (ESV) Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 2 Peter 1:11 (ESV) For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. VI. Conclusion: If the Lord has forgiven both ourselves and our brother, than who are we not to forgive our brother also? If we expect our God to forgive us so much, we ought to be willing to forgive our brother and sister so little. 5