Matthew 6:12

Commentary on Matthew 6:12 (KJV)

Matthew 6:12 is a pivotal line from the Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. This petition addresses the critical need for divine forgiveness and links it directly to the human capacity and willingness to forgive others.

Context

This verse is nestled within the model prayer Jesus provides to His disciples, emphasizing principles for a righteous life within the Kingdom of Heaven. Following petitions for God's hallowed name, His kingdom's coming, and daily provision, this line shifts focus to spiritual and relational well-being. The term "debts" here is not financial but moral, referring to our sins or trespasses against God. Likewise, "debtors" are those who have sinned against or wronged us. This prayer highlights the profound connection between our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with fellow human beings.

Key Themes

• Divine Forgiveness: The verse acknowledges humanity's constant need for God's mercy and pardon for our failings. It is a humble plea for the cleansing of sin.
• Reciprocal Forgiveness: The crucial phrase "as we forgive our debtors" establishes a profound condition or reflection. It implies that our experience of God's forgiveness is intrinsically linked to our willingness to extend that same grace to others. It's not that we earn God's forgiveness by forgiving others, but rather that our forgiveness of others demonstrates a heart transformed by God's grace and a true understanding of the forgiveness we ourselves have received.
• Spiritual Health: Holding onto unforgiveness can hinder our spiritual walk and relationship with God, as this prayer suggests. Releasing others from their "debts" to us is essential for our own spiritual freedom.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "debts" (ὀφειλήματα - opheilemata) literally means "things owed" or "obligations," but in this spiritual context, it unequivocally signifies sins or trespasses. The parallel in Luke's account (Luke 11:4) uses "sins" (ἁμαρτίας - hamartias), confirming this interpretation. The word for "debtors" (ὀφειλέται - opheiletai) refers to those who owe us something, in this case, a wrong that needs to be forgiven. The conjunction "as" (ὡς - hōs) is crucial; it denotes a comparison or correspondence, implying that our forgiveness of others is a measure or reflection of the forgiveness we seek from God.

Related Scriptures

The importance of this petition is underscored by Jesus' immediate follow-up teaching in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." This principle is further illustrated in the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), where a servant who was forgiven a great debt refused to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him, leading to severe consequences. The Apostle Paul also encourages believers to be "forbearing one another, and forgiving one another" (Colossians 3:13) and to be "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32).

Practical Application

This verse challenges us to examine our hearts for any unforgiveness, bitterness, or resentment we might harbor. It calls believers to embody the very grace they have received from God. Practically, this means actively choosing to release those who have wronged us from the "debt" of their offense, not necessarily condoning their actions, but letting go of our right to retribution and allowing God to be the ultimate judge. This act of forgiveness, though often difficult, is liberating and aligns our hearts with the character of God, fostering reconciliation and spiritual health. It reminds us that walking in God's forgiveness involves extending it to others, reflecting His boundless mercy in our daily lives.