Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. The debtfulness of sin should be remembered. It implies the wrongful possession of what belongs to another. Say that sin occupied a moment: that moment was God's. Sin has diminished the glory of God: therefore we owe God glory. "Trespass" implies the same thought; it is when you go on ground where you have no right to go. Forgiveness follows our request for daily bread, and is quite as necessary. Only they who show mercy can expect mercy. We must be careful to draw no parallel of degree between God's forgiveness and ours, though there is a resemblance in kind. What is the nature of the forgiveness you expect from God? 1. Absolute in character. 2. Immediate in time. 3. Universal in extent. 4. It is an easy thing to use a result, while we are totally unobservant of the great processes by which that result has been produced.If God had forgiven without this process He would not have manifested any great abhorrence of sin. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. |
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