Who Pays The Bill?
“and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors” Matthew 6:12
As We Also – It’s such a well-known phrase that we don’t really pay close attention to its implications. It just runs off our lips like drinking from a hose. But there is something very important here; important because it is right at the heart of justice; important because it is almost humanly impossible to do. Unless you see it, this part of the prayer will never belong to you.
Jesus tells us that unless we forgive, we will not be forgiven (Matthew 6:14-15). That is very uncomfortable, especially when we realize that forgiveness is not reluctant acceptance of a wrong suffered, nor easy dismissal of hurts received. Forgiveness is about debts – real ones owed to you – emotional, physical and financial. Forgiveness opens the accounting books and looks right at the debit and credit lines. It’s hard numbers. Forgiveness is anything but easy.
The Greek phrase hos kai hemeis (as also we) draws a direct relationship between God’s mercy and our mercy. The implication here is that someone owes. We owe God because we have abused and ignored and presumed on His holiness. He justifiably demands payment. We owe Him life itself, but we beg for mercy and are forgiven – not because we don’t owe, but because Jesus pays the debt for us. The debt is real. The demand is legitimate, but the resolution is unique.
Timothy Sanford suggests a revealing way of applying this divine grace principle to those who really do owe us. His suggestion illuminates the meaning of “as we also.” He says, “When you forgive, you willingly transfer the debt into God’s hands for Him to collect. . . You are no longer responsible for making the other person pay.” “Once you give the debts on your list to God, the people who wronged you – although still accountable to God – owe you nothing, not even an ‘I’m sorry.'”
Ouch! Sanford is right. God forgives me and marks my account “Paid In Full.” He doesn’t continue to treat me like a debtor. He recognizes that my debt has been absorbed by His Son and I owe nothing more. If I am going to forgive like that, then I need to do exactly what Sanford suggests. Make my “who owes me” list, mail it to God for collection, and let it go . . . completely! Those on my list no longer owe me anything, just as God no longer demands payment from me. When we forgive like this, we reflect the heart of the Creator – and we exercise the full authority of the Son. Then, says Jesus, we will understand real forgiveness – and God will smile upon us in grace.
Do you carry a list of those who owe you? It might be a decade old, something never resolved from your past. It might be last week. An insult? An unpaid “loan?” Whatever it is, it’s time to send it to the bill collector. Are you willing to forgive like that?
Topical Index: forgive, debt, collector, paid in full, Matthew 6:12, hos kai hemeis
If you can focus on His Gift, His Will, and our debt “Paid in Full”, there is not much to worry about 🙂
I learned this part of the prayer as “trespasses” or occassionally as “sins”. I don’t know why it changes so much to think in terms of “debts” but it does. Do I really completely let go of all the ways others disappointment, wrong, or take advantage of me? Not really. Not always. I’ve heard said “you have to forgive but you don’t have to forget.” In light of today’s lesson, does this make any sense? How can I stand before God knowing I “move on” without completely TRULY forgiving as if nothing ever happened? I continue to cling to the memory – as precaution, as latent bitterness, as reluctant tolerance. Give it up to God – all of it – the grief, the disappointment, the unspoken desire to get even – let ALL of the debt go. Praise God for His expansiveness. For His generosity. Without the gift of His son’s sacrifice, how could we ever stand before Him? We can never measure up without the Christ’s intercession on our behalf.
I pray this prayer more mindfully and humbly now that I understand its depth. Thanks.
Wow! I’m sitting here thinking what an amazing thought. I try to do this, but it is hard. And, as
Rox stated, what about ‘the forgive but remember statement’. If one does remember, it makes it difficult to trust a ‘forgiven’ one. Have we really forgiven?
Thank you Skip, for this mindful study.
Wow! Again the Lord speaks to me through the internet?. Getting rid of my list now! “ It is finished”—- done! Thank you Lord for taking that list.