Episode 071 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 7: Forgiveness Has a Source
Key Passage(s): Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus told us to pray, “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus’s assumption is that we would be forgiving others in the manner in which God has forgiven us. But what happens when we’ve been wronged by someone and we’re struggling to forgive them? What do we do when the pain is so real that we can’t stomach the thought of forgiveness? That’s what we tackle in this episode as we seek to understand the nature of forgiveness. And in doing so, we learn how to forgive others well so that we can not only experience the power and freedom of forgiveness, but faithfully live out this command of Jesus from the Lord’s Prayer.
Discussion Questions
- What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
- How does our awareness of how much we’ve been forgiven by God help us in forgiving others? Why is this awareness still not enough for many people?
- What are some of the things you learned about what forgiveness is not? Where do you personally find comfort in these?
- What are some of the things you learned about what forgiveness is? How will this alter your ability or desire to forgive more effectively?
- Forgiving can be very hard work. After hearing this teaching, what do you believe is your primary roadblock to forgiving others well?
- Is there anyone you need to forgive? And in what way do you need to ask God – the source of forgiveness – to help you do this?
- How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?
For Further Study
- Make Your Mark by Brad Gray – Chapter 3 deals specifically with forgiveness.
- As We Forgive by Catherine Claire Larson
- Teaching Series Episode 015 – Loving God By Loving Others
- The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright
- LORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas
- The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer
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Brad, I have never thought of what forgiveness is not. I am going to type both what it is and is not and send it to people I believe could benefit from that. I bless God for your teachings. They have been such a blessing and growth in my life. Sue
Yeah, until my research on forgiveness, I had never thought about what it was not either.
Hi Brad,
I’ve always wondered about this issue specifically because it seems like the way we forgive and the way God forgives are two different things. When I pray for God’s forgiveness, I’m praying for reconciliation, absolution, and for him to forget my wrongs. But this is not what my own forgiveness toward other people must include (as far as reaching reconciliation) or can include (I can’t absolve someone of their sin). What are you thoughts on how God’s forgiveness and our forgiveness seem different. It seems to me there should almost be two different words for these two things. But then this verse about us forgiving just as we’ve been forgiven doesn’t make sense anymore.
Hi Libby, clearly since God is infinite and sovereign and we are finite and extremely limited makes forgiveness different for God and for us. However, the main point of commonality is that since God has forgiven us, we’re called to forgive others. Hence, this aspect of the prayer. As I mentioned in the teaching, I wrote a pretty lengthy chapter on forgiveness in my book (Make Your Mark) where I go deeper with other teachings of Jesus and how we can live this out more fully. So that might be a helpful resource for you. Thank you for your comments.
Hi BRAD, Thanks again for the Teaching series. This time, two comments of significance for me: forgiveness is a one way street and forgiveness has a source. Thanks so much for these reminders and their significance. Cheers. Ian
You are most welcome, Ian.
Hi Brad! I enjoyed the liberating aspect of forgiveness that God brings into our lives when we forgive others. I agree with you when you said that we surrender that person to God so he can deal with them. It is not always Gods will that we work out a resolution in a situation where forgiveness is needed. We obey God by forgiving others and allow his spirit move in the in the other person’s life to help them get in alignment with his purpose for them. I’ve surrendered many situations of forgiveness to him and stepped out of his way. Thanks for the encouraging teaching on forgiveness.
But under TORAH, is some case restitution, is a must ion order for forgivness to be applied to offender!
One cannot just tell God we sorry about the offenses but go to the person under the leadership of the HS and apply restitution!
Yes, but that’s assuming the offender wants forgiveness. If so, now we’re in the realm of reconciliation.
Totally agree, Donald. Thanks for sharing these thoughts.
Sad that forgivness is not a consistently taught “doctrine” seeing that is is so God relationship conditional and maybe that’s why so many new and older Christians struggle so hard to be or walk in righteousness-it is conditional and not an automatic condition!
Agreed, Bill. I think we need to spend more time talking about forgiveness since it’s at the heart of healthy and thriving relationships.
I posted on Facebook what forgiveness is NOT and what it IS. I felt others may need to know it too. It also reminded me of Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” I had to understand this when forgiving the young lady that caused our car accident a few years back. I was so angry. But in order to heal and move on for myself I read that verse, wrote her a letter that’s still in my Bible and let go. Thank you for a great teaching. Almost caught up!!!!
Thank you very much! For adressing the pain behind not letting go. And for also speaking about “not forgetting” the way you speak about it. These WalkingTheText teachings are generally among the best teachings that I have ever had the chance to listen to. Hope you will be as blessed as I am while learning from you.
Claudia,
Thank you for taking a minute to share how these teachings have impacted you. It’s a gift to get to do this work, and knowing it resonates and is helpful as you follow Jesus in your life means so much to us!