“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespasses against us.” Matthew 6:9-13
In ancient times, in the Middle East, if a man had debts he could not pay, he could write them on a piece of paper and nail it to the gatepost of his house. As rich men passed-by they would tell their servants to take particular pages, fold and write their master’s name across them. From then on, anyone that man owed money to needed to ask the rich benefactor for payment. The wealthier he was and the more he wished to show it, the more people he would help. Similarly, Colossians 2:14 says the debt we owed Yehovah for our sin was taken away and nailed to his cross.” Yeshua, our Redeemer, took the sin debt of mankind upon Himself. Only those who understand the enormity of that truth love and appreciate His sacrifice to the degree Yeshua spoke of in Luke 7:47, where He said “…her sins which are many are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” In fact, the sins of the world were forgiven on the cross: past, present and future. Yeshua died once for the forgiveness of all mankind, but only those who, by faith, accept that pardon receive the benefits of it. We have all been forgiven much, so we should all love and appreciate Yehovah so much, being forever grateful to Him. However, our attitude to others indicates where we are in Yehovah. Yeshua told the story of the unforgiving servant. The seriousness of this account is summed up when Yeshua said that if we do not forgive others their trespasses, our heavenly Father will not forgive ours. Paul speaks of the extent to which we must forgive in Ephesians 4. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as Yehovah for Yeshua’s sake hath forgiven you.” Consider this, you must forgive even as much as Yehovah has forgiven your sins and trespasses. So, to what extent has Yehovah forgiven you? Well, He will never again remember anything you have or will ever do wrong, making you just-as-if-you-never-sinned and in right-standing with Him. That is how the Scriptures say you must forgive those who trespass against you. When you pray “forgive us… as we forgive…,” you are giving Yehovah your consent to forgive, or not forgive, you to that same degree.