Written by Paul J Bucknell on October, 29, 2024

Matthew 6:12,14-15 Finding Forgiveness, Part 1

This is the first of a three-part series on Finding Forgiveness.

Part 1: Introduction to Finding Forgiveness (Matthew 6:12,14-15)
What is Forgiveness? (Mat 6:12) (Continued below.)

Part 2: Why is forgiveness so crucial? Matthew 6:12, 14-15

Part 3: Why is it so hard to forgive? Matthew 6:14-15

Introduction to Finding Forgiveness (Matthew 6:12,14-15)

Some don’t find forgiveness because they cannot forgive. After all, Jesus says, “Forgive us…as we also have forgiven…” (Matt 6:12). Though believers are assured of their salvation, Jesus heightens our concerns about our salvation when we suddenly discover that our sins might not be forgiven. Jesus’ teaching in the Lord’s Prayer raises all sorts of questions. Hopefully, after thinking through this passage, we can recommit our lives to Jesus, our fellow man, and Jesus’ teaching that fosters much peace.

“⁹ “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ¹⁰ ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

¹⁴ For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Mat 6:9-15)

Our Lord’s model prayer becomes a catechism, instructing His disciples on the importance of completely forgiving everyone daily. Jesus instills this teaching in every believer. We need food each day, but we also need to forgive others.

This might not match your understanding of salvation: “I am forgiven even if I don’t forgive others!” But let’s be more cautious in our conclusions, especially when they directly conflict with Jesus’ teaching.

There is a robust and unquestioned relationship between verse 12 and verses 14 and 15, written immediately after the Lord’s Prayer. We must not miss this connection! Let’s start by noting that verses 14-15 use the word ‘forgive’ twice in each of the three verses. This is primarily how verses 14-15 further clarify what He prayed in His model prayer.

In verse 12, Jesus tells us how to pray, seek His forgiveness, and forgive others. Verses 14-15 add powerful explanatory notes to combat the unwillingness to forgive. Jesus understands our difficulty in reconciling our theology with His teaching and the paradox of seeking forgiveness when we don’t give it! I’ll show how that works out later in a theological sense.

Let’s ask three questions to navigate through these verses.

1. What is forgiveness? (Mat 6:12)

A Description of Forgiveness (Mat 6:12)

2. Why is forgiveness so crucial? (Mat 6:12)

The Importance of Forgiveness (Mat 6:12)

3. Why is it so hard to forgive? (Mat 6:14-15)

The Difficulty of Forgiveness (Mat 6:14-15)

(Parts 2 and 3 will later be posted.)

Let’s first observe what forgiveness is.

1. What is Forgiveness? (Mat 6:12)

We need to understand forgiveness; much confusion comes through its misunderstanding. Let’s define forgiveness and what Jesus means in verse 12 before describing two kinds of moral indebtedness.

Forgiveness is far more straightforward than we think, however, there are powerful spiritual realities linked to it.

(1) Forgiveness is a Simple Concept

So, what is forgiveness? Jesus said, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Forgiveness isn’t a religious word but describes how someone releases a person from a moral obligation or debt.

Because Jesus does not mention the word ‘sin’ in this verse, some have concluded that this refers to financial debt. It can, but the context shows that this debt primarily concerns moral and ethical issues. The parallel passage in Luke 11:4 says, “And forgive us our sins, as we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Luke uses the word sin, not debt, as Matthew does. Matthew affirms this interpretation in his additional note in verses 14-15. The indebtedness refers to an obligation, often unseen, toward another person.

The simplicity of forgiveness is seen in how it primarily occurs through one’s words. For example, if I loan you $100, you owe me $100. “Owe” refers to an unstated but expected obligation between us. It can be resolved by repaying the $100. Or, if I choose, I can forgive the debt out of the generosity of my heart. I merely need to say, “I forgive you that $100.” Forgiveness releases the other’s obligation to pay it back. That obligation is erased. He is instantly free from the indebtedness.

In English, synonyms for “forgive” are pardon and cancel. The Greek verb has several broader meanings: send away, leave behind, leave dying, or even abandon, but it is still used to release someone from a financial or moral debt.

(2) Forgiveness is a Powerful Truth

Although forgiveness can be easily granted with words, we must not underestimate its importance or the spiritual realities that occur when a person forgives—or does not forgive.

Love is the norm in this world. Everyone, including unbelievers, children, and adults, is made in the image of God. God requires kindness from all of us; call it a built-in spiritual law. Societies are built upon it and decay without it.

God expects us to speak graciously to each other, which is why parents are responsible for raising polite children. If someone does not act kindly, it instantly creates a moral deficit. They owe the offended what they held back.

Moral debt has a horizontal and a vertical side. There is a debt toward the mistreated person and another toward the Creator. God sees everything going on and holds us accountable for our wrongs.

Our Debt Before Others—the Horizontal

Each time a person is rude, acts irritated, withholds kind speech, makes ugly faces, acts meanly, or even thinks evil, a moral deficit piles up on their ethical ledger. You now owe that person love. This is one reason bitterness can last years or decades. The debt is still owed; it doesn’t erode over time. We can try to make it up to another, like paying back the $100, but it’s not easy, even if possible. Instead, Jesus tells us to take the initiative and forgive the person.

Since we hold the debt of love, we can forgive or release it. When we forgive another, we release them from the spiritual burden and neutralize the evil done to our relationship.

Let’s return and use the forgiveness illustration of a $100 debt. You state that the person is forgiven, and the debt is suddenly released, no longer needing repayment. The ledger is suddenly wiped clean with a few words; the debt is gone. You can get the agreement in writing, but speaking the words makes it effective. Jesus’ words show this is true in the spiritual realm, too.

Our Debt Before God—the Vertical

God keeps a moral ledger sheet for each of us. Each time we fail in our obligation to love another, this sin is added to God’s ledger sheet, denoting that we are accountable for this faulty behavior or thought.

This is important for two reasons. First, when we forgive a person, we no longer need to consider whether a person will be judged for his or her wrong. From your side, it’s forgiven, but they don’t go free. God will also judge all people. Judgment Day is coming when all these things will be revealed and judged. God reserves all judgment to Himself.

“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord” (Rom 12:19).

God sees into our very lives and thoughts. No one gets away with one single wrong deed. This is why we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; people need forgiveness for their wrongs against God.

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. ² You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. ³ You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:1-3).

In a point of application, once we forgive, we can drop the issue and get on with loving them. It allows us to care about someone, even our enemy, because our relationship is restored, at least from our viewpoint. Never hold onto a grudge or bitterness because you fear the person will get off free. We are not the Judge; God is. Jesus kindly reminds us to forgive for this is our beautiful opportunity to show God’s love.

Personal ramifications of Forgiveness

Two offenses occur when someone is rude or mean. He (or she) has 1) morally indebted himself to a person or a group of people and 2) is in debt before God. When we forgive, we only deal with the liability for the wrong against us. When a person forgives another, he removes the barrier between them that otherwise builds up and ruins their interpersonal relationship. Forgiveness restores the human-human relationship.

In Luke 23, Jesus faced two situations at the cross.

(1) The horizontal.

“But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus, as a man, forgave those who unjustly crucified and mocked Him. In this case, Jesus forgave them their particular offenses against Him—man to man. However, this did not free them from their sins before God; they still needed faith in the Messiah to be saved.

(2) The vertical.

“⁴¹And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” ⁴³ And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:41-43).

How do we deal with this vertical offense, the one against God? Who would ever want to be at fault before Him? When Jesus forgave the one thief being crucified next to Him, He said, “You shall be with me in Paradise today!” In this case, Jesus spoke as the Judge of Heaven and declared His forgiveness and redemption because of His near death on the cross. The man’s faith saved him.

If we have not yet believed in Jesus to escape our sins, we should do so now. Otherwise, the increasing burden of debt puts us in a more dangerous place every day as judgment approaches.

Other Thoughts on Forgiveness

I should point out that the modern agnostic worldview does not believe such a spiritual ledger exists. When a person withholds forgiveness, their relationships fail. Divorce, immorality, drugs, drinking, and bitterness all increase due to unresolved relationships.

Spiritual matters are challenging to understand because we can’t see them. However, we feel the weight of our moral debts. When someone yells meanly at you, it becomes an attack—even though he spoke unjustly. Jesus received and felt many unfair, malicious words and actions against Him and His disciples.

What does your ledger sheet look like? Who have you offended and not shown the love of God? Who has hurt you? No matter who it is, or what they have done, Jesus tells us to forgive. He doesn’t allow us to consider ourselves victims but takes this as an opportunity to reflect on God’s mercy. We forgive!

It’s because of our sins like this, the totality of our moral debts, that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross. When we believe in Jesus, we are forgiven and restored to God.

Questions For Matthew 5:12-15

Make several observations of someone who hasn’t forgiven another. How has bitterness affected their lives?
Write out Matthew 6:12,14,15 and circle the words with forgive.
Why might Jesus include these words of forgiveness in the Lord’s prayer?
Would you say that forgiveness is dependent on forgiving others?
Is there anyone you have not forgiven?
What is forgiveness?
Why is forgiveness so powerful, though quickly done?
Describe horizontal forgiveness.
How does horizontal forgiveness differ from vertical forgiveness?
What does your soul’s ledger sheet look like, describing those that ethically owe you and what you owe God? How are you dealing with this?