Jesus taught us to pray, “Father…forgive us the wrongs we have done.”
THE CONTEXT OF “FORGIVE US”
The petition to forgive us occurs in the middle of three chapters of Matthew (5-7) that record Jesus’s teaching on everything from the Law to Giving. As we reflect on the petition for forgiveness, it’s important to consider what Jesus meant by “the wrongs we have done,” “our sins,” “our trespasses,” “our debts” (depending on the translation). Let’s look at a couple of examples. First, the sin of murder (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus said, “As you know, long ago God instructed Moses to tell His people, “Do not murder; those who murder will be judged and punished.” But here is the even harder truth: anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged for his anger.” (The Voice)
Next, let’s take the sin of hatred. (Matthew 5:43-44). Jesus said, “ You have been taught to love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you this: love your enemies. Pray for those who torment you and persecute you.”
If those teachings aren’t daunting enough, Jesus ends his teaching on morality with the statement, “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
OUR PLIGHT
Jesus set the bar impossibly high. Not one of us can reach perfection. I’ve never murdered anyone, but I certainly get angry on a regular basis, and I’ve hated people. The idea that we can’t measure up no matter how good we is counter-cultural. I regularly hear people say things like, “I don’t have time to read my Bible (or go to church or pray), but I’m a good person.” Unfortunately, good does not equal perfect.
THE GOOD NEWS
Jesus gave us the bad news about what God expects from us, but he didn’t stop there. The good news of the Model Prayer is that God is willing to take us as we are: all we have to do is ask. “Forgive us the wrongs we have done.”
YOUR TURN
How have you heard people push away the idea of “the wrongs we have done”?
A passionate reader, I began writing as a young girl. After graduating from college, I became a teacher. Over the course of my career, I taught high schoolers, college undergraduates, and public school teachers how to write personal narratives, expository and persuasive essays, as well as poetry and short fiction. I continued to write: publishing professional articles, two textbooks, short stories, and poetry. In 2013, I won first place in Romantic Suspense in the ACFW Genesis Contest.
Suzanne, we live in a society that seems to feel the blame belongs somewhere else. He made me do it, or if she hadn’t done xxx, then I wouldn’t have xxx. We forget we are responsible for our own actions and reactions. As for sin, God sees sin as sin, we see sin in colors. You know, the little white ones that don’t count, the gray ones that may count depending on the circumstances, and the black ones that we have never done!! Oh how we need a savior!