In our study of the Disciple’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 we now come to the request, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This request is amplified in verses 14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
It would be incongruous to expect God to forgive your sins if you harbor an unforgiving spirit toward someone else. This is not conditional in the sense that God won’t forgive. If we have an unforgiving spirit we render ourselves unable to receive God’s forgiveness. An unforgiving spirit short circuits God’s readiness to forgive us.
This reminds me of what Jesus said about forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
To clarify what He meant Jesus tells the parable of the unmerciful servant. Remember, a king was settling his accounts with his servants. Since one of his servants was unable to pay his debt, the king ordered he and his household be sold to cover the debt. When he pled for mercy it was granted.
Once freed the servant went out and ran into another servant who owed him a small debt in comparison. When he asked for it, this servant pled for mercy. He refused his plea. That response short circuited all that was happening and led to the first servant’s forgiveness being revoked.
How sad. How tragic. Yet, how often true.
