Forgiving Debt

Matthew 6:12 HCSB

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Opheilema

Opheilema

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ὀφείλημα

ὀφείλημα, ατος, τό (ὀφείλω, cp. ὀφειλή; Thu. et al.; ins, pap, LXX).

① that which is owed in a financial sense, debt, one’s due (Pla., Leg. 4, 717b; Aristot., EN 8, 15, 1162b, 28; 9, 2, 1165a, 3; SIG 1108, 10 [III/II B.C.]; PHib 42, 10 [262 B.C.]; PLond III, 1203, 4 p. 10 [113 B.C.]; POxy 494, 10 ὀφειλήματα; Dt 24:10; I Esdr 3:20; 1 Macc 15:8) of wages for work done οὐ λογίζεται κατὰ χάριν ἀλλὰ κατὰ ὀφείλημα it is considered not as a favor, but as a person’s due Ro 4:4 (on the contrast χάρις–ὀφείλημα cp. Thu. 2, 40, 4 οὐκ ἐς χάριν, ἀλλʼ ἐς ὀφείλημα=‘not as a favor but as payment of an obligation’. The ref. here is to reciprocity in general).

② obligation in a moral sense, debt=sin (as Aram. חוֹבָא in rabb. lit.; s. MBlack, Aramaic Approach3, ’67, 140) ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφ. ἡμῶν forgive us our debts (=sins) Mt 6:12 (the parallel Lk 11:4 has τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν). Betz, SM 400–404.—DELG s.v. ὀφείλω. M-M. TW.

ὀφείλημα, ατος, τό (ὀφείλω, cp. ὀφειλή; Thu. et al.; ins, pap, LXX).

① that which is owed in a financial sense, debt, one’s due

of wages for work done it is considered not as a favor, but as a person’s due not as a favor but as payment of an obligation’. The ref. here is to reciprocity in general.

② obligation in a moral sense, debt=sin forgive us our debts (=sins)

William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 743.

The first three petitions stand independently from one another. The last three, however, are linked in Greek by “ands,” almost as if to say that life sustained by food is not enough. We also need forgiveness of sin and deliverance from temptation.

The first three petitions stand independently from one another. The last three, however, are linked in Greek by “ands,” almost as if to say that life sustained by food is not enough. We also need forgiveness of sin and deliverance from temptation.

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in Matthew & Mark, vol. 9 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition, ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland; Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 206.

accord://read/EBC-R#116432

One does not gain forgiveness by forgiving. But a person evidences his or her own forgiveness by forgiving others. Since this is family forgiveness, our sense of forgiveness is denied us when we deny forgiveness to others.

Aphiemi

To dismiss or release someone from a place or one s presence

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀφίημι

ἀφίημι

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀφίημι

① to dismiss or release someone or someth. from a place or one’s presence

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀφίημι

① to dismiss or release someone or someth. from a place or one’s presence

To release from legal or moral obligation or consequence, cancel, remit, pardon

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀφίημι

to dismiss or release someone or someth. from a place or one’s presence

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (6:12). Sin creates an obligation or “debt” to God that humans [Vol. 1, p. 46] cannot possibly repay. The evidence that a person has truly been forgiven of his or her debt of sin is the willingness to forgive others (cf. 18:21-35), a sentiment found commonly in Judaism: “Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray” ().

12. Forgive (see on 12:31) recognizes that sinning puts people in the wrong with God and that only he can cancel out the offense and pardon it. The offense is here seen as a debt (in we have “sins”), which recognizes that we owe to God our full obedience. When we do not pay it we are debtors to God, and only he can remit the debt.

The Nature of Man

Jeremiah 13:23 HCSB

Can the Cushite change his skin, or a leopard his spots? If so, you might be able to do what is good, you who are instructed in evil.

jer

Romans 6:23 HCSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:19 HCSB

“This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

Isaiah 64:6 HCSB

All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

is

Romans 3:23 HCSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

rom

What do we owe God?

The Debt of Rebellion

Romans 6:23 HCSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Relation to Others

Matthew 18:21–35 HCSB

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him. Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. “At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ “At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. “Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”

mat

Colossians 3:13 HCSB

accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.

1 John 1:7–9 HCSB

But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 john 1

One does not gain forgiveness by forgiving. But a person evidences his or her own forgiveness by forgiving others. Since this is family forgiveness, our sense of forgiveness is denied us when we deny forgiveness to others.