“Forgive Us Our Debts”

“You have heart that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Matthew 5:21-26

“…And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 6: 12-15

We can devalue life without killing. We can put people down.

Matthew talks about reconciliation, and a part of that is forgiveness. The Lords Prayer speaks to us.

Forgiveness is not a feeling. Forgiveness is not pretending you were not hurt. Forgiveness is not condoning what the person did to you. Forgiveness is not trusting the offender. Forgiveness is not relieving the offender of responsibility.

November 25, 2008