Forgive Us Our Debts

This particular sermon is entitled “Forgive Us Our Debts,” and as the title suggests, it concerns the petition in the Lord’s Prayer where Jesus teaches us to ask the Father to “forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.” If you are like me, that petition causes a cluster of questions to pop up in your mind. And if it doesn’t, then Jesus’ commentary immediately after the Lord’s Prayer surely will. For Jesus explains that if we do not forgive those who have trespassed against us, neither will the Father forgive us our trespasses against him (Mat 6.14-15). Why does Jesus link our forgiveness to our forgiving of others? Is forgiving others some sort of work by which we must earn our own forgiveness? Is it some sort of ritual act we must do to qualify for forgiveness? Is unforgiveness of others the unforgivable sin? If not, isn’t it covered by the cross of Christ like other sins? And while we are at it, why do we need to ask for forgiveness at all if we have already been forgiven in Christ? Aren’t all our sins, past, present, and future, covered in Christ? And why does Jesus refer to our sins as debts? The answers to those questions are as surprising as they are profound. To hear them, you will have to listen to the sermon. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening. –Alan Burrow