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As We Forgive Our Debtors

            Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 5:9b-13 NASB)

          I’m sharing the whole prayer so that you can see that the prayer is very simple. Today’s contemplation is on God’s forgiving our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. It’s the only verse that might be considered transactional. Two readings come to mind.

          Forgive us our debts, as we (right now are declaring that we) have forgiven our debtors.  This brings to mind the story of the dinner at Zacchaeus’ home, where he said, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8) This is one option for the reading of “as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

          Or… Forgive us our debts (in the same way and to the same extent) as we have forgiven our debtors. In other words, if you say that you can or should never forgive someone for something, you’re telling God you’re willing to have Him not forgive you for something – possibly the same thing, or possibly you taking His place as god in your judgment of that person.

          Of the possibilities, the second seems to me to be the more likely. As Jesus takes up the subject of forgiveness immediately after providing this example prayer, the issue must be significant, perhaps even critical. All else, God does regardless of what we do. Forgiveness has a price. Fortunately, God seems willing to be patient.

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