Lord’s Prayer: As We Forgive Those Who Trespass

(Continued from page 1)

A few chapters ago, we mentioned that we can take control of our will power if we see it as just a series of small choices. The same goes for managing and removing our judgments. Every judgment we make and every punishment we inflict is a matter of choice. And every silent judgment inflicts the Spirit with as much harm as the one that is voiced—just as the lustful heart damages the same as the lusting flesh.¹ We sometimes forget that, especially when we make personal judgments about people. Our feelings seem to arise naturally, when in reality they’ve been conditioned by our choices, as well as the culture in which we live.

Few of us realize how deeply our judgments are affected by culture. Though sporting a majority Christian population, America is a country where we often take nationalism to the extreme—seeing our country’s superpower status as manifest destiny; and its cultural mores as universal ideals. That Jesus sought to erase national barriers and cultural pride makes no difference to Christians who wraps themselves in the flag.

More than just nationalistic, we Americans also place great store in personal responsibility. And while this is (in essence) an admirable trait; it can also prove a hindrance when it comes to forgiveness. As Christians, we must recognize that personal responsibility has its limits, and that we all share a certain responsibility for the trespasses of others. When we acknowledge our shared responsibility, offering forgiveness becomes a lot easier. To understand this better, let’s turn to Jesus’s parable on judgment and forgiveness.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a king who wishes to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owes six million pounds but cannot pay it back, so the king orders him to sell all of his possessions. The servant throws himself at his master’s feet and says, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” Moved with compassion the king relents and forgives the servant his debt.

Later that day, the servant whose debt was forgiven sees someone who owes him ten pounds. He seizes the man by the throat and says, “Pay what you owe me!” The servant shows no compassion to his friend and throws him into debtor’s prison. When the king hears of this he sends for his servant and screams, “You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?” Jesus goes on to say that our heavenly Father will show us no mercy, unless each one of us forgives our brothers and sisters from our hearts.²

So how are we to interpret this parable? Well, like all of Jesus’s parables, this story contains multiple lessons on different levels. On the surface level, we can say that the king understands the limitations of personal responsibility, and knows that he in some ways shares responsibility for his servant’s inability to pay his debt, thus he shows compassion and forgives the man what he owes. We are, in turn, to forgive others in the same fashion.

But let’s keep in mind that Jesus tells this story to describe the “kingdom of heaven,” which is within us. So, on a deeper level, we might say that the judgment and mercy shown by the king are symbolic of the God within (or Son), our internal judge.³ This inner judge can no more show mercy to us than a dammed river can show mercy to a barren land below the break.

He can only wait patiently until the dam we’ve created is removed, so that blessings of the Holy Spirit can flow forth. To bring down this dam we must let go of the trespasses committed by ourselves and others—not by granting blind forgiveness, but forgiveness where wisdom and compassion are combined, the gospel of Christ used as the plumb line for our decision–making.⁴

Read Chapter 10: And Lead Us Not Into Temptation (Overcoming Our Pride)

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1. You have heard that it was said: ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ 28 I, however, say to you that anyone who looks at another to lust after them has already committed adultery with their hearts. – Matthew 5:28 [↩]
2. The master sent for the servant, and said to him: ‘You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. 33 Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’ 34 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt. 35 So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives your brother from his heart. Matthew 18: 32–35 [↩]
3. The Father himself does not judge anyone, but has entrusted the work of judging entirely to his Son. – John 5:22 [↩]
4. You who reject me, and disregard my teaching, has a judge already—the very message which I have delivered will itself be your judge at the last day. John 12:48 [↩]