Debts Forgiven

The second request (of four, Matthew 6:9–13) having to do with the petitioner’s needs is a request to have one’s debts forgiven. Debt is defined as something owed or due, and becomes a problem, a failure, when it is not paid. Since one’s sinful flesh makes full obedience impossible, a debt to God is incurred. The only thing one can do is to ask acquittal for the failure. The Bible defines sin in terms of guilt, not failure. So, the reference here is to failure, not sin.

All God’s creatures owe Him sincere and perfect worship, which is evidenced by earnest and perpetual obedience to His Word and will. None can ask to be released from these obligations. Since one’s sinful flesh makes the full payment of this debt impossible, the only thing one can do is to ask acquittal for failure.

Paul argued, “So then, brothers, we are debtors” (Romans 8:12). How so? Paul explains, “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13, ESV). Paul’s discussion here (Romans 8) ties it to the Lord’s Prayer by the principle that underlies both. The principle is expressed in the first petition, “Hallowed [to cause to be revered and respected] be your name,” a request instituted by the divine/human connection in creation. Humans were created to glorify God by doing His will in the earth.

Jesus previously addressed the blessedness of those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10, 11). He then stated the cause of the persecution: “You are the salt of the earth. ... you are the light of the world. ... Let you light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (vv. 13, 14, ESV). In other words, earnest and perpetual obedience to the heavenly Father by His children is the means whereby they reflect His holiness and hallow His name; and, for which they will be persecuted by those who love sin and darkness.

Believers fail to glorify God when they live according to the flesh, by which they incur debt to God. Therefore, they must ask forgiveness. This failure also involves sin, as is clear in Luke’s version: “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). To sin is to “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) through violation of God’s law (1 John 3:4); debt is what one owes another due to the failure of obligation. Jesus took on Himself the wrath incurred by the sins of His people and, in so doing, He canceled their debt also. “God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses [offenses], by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands” (Colossians 2:13, 14, ESV).

Paul gives a fuller development of the means whereby believers can hallow His name. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:14–16, ESV). Is there not a clear correlation here with the Lord’s Prayer?