However, Matthew concludes the Lord's Prayer with a proverb that emphasizes forgiveness (Matt 6:14-15). Here the offense to be forgiven is called a “trespass.” Which of these options do you use? Why do you prefer it? Do you think we all should settle on one option or leave room for individuals to say whichever version is most familiar to them. Why?
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In the Old Testament, “debt” is a common metaphor for sin. If sin is a debt to God (a view evidenced by the sacrificial system), then forgiveness of sin is like the action of releasing a debtor. In ancient Israel, there was a system in place for the periodic releasing of debtors from their financial obligations. God's willingness to release sin was tied theologically to the human release of financial debts. Read: Deuteronomy 15:1-2. Notice that there is a rhythm of releasing others from their debts that is associated with the practice of Sabbath keeping. While this system might seem impractical to us today, what do you think it teaches us about releasing others from their metaphorical debts (i.e., sins)?
Consider a time in which you extended forgiveness to someone. Was it difficult to do so? How did you feel afterwards? How did this impact the relationship?
In your opinion, is forgiveness the same thing as getting over something? If not, which do you think has to come first? "
INTRODUCTION Prayer is a medium through which we present our requests and petitions before God. The Lord's Prayer is structured with two sets of requests: three "you" petitions (covered in week 3) followed by three "we" petitions. The first "we" petition offers a request for daily bread. For those facing poverty, the question of whether there will be daily bread is a real one. But this request takes on a different meaning for those Christians who are financially stable. What does it mean to pray for daily better for those who never worry about their stomachs being empty? The second petition is a request for forgiveness. The promise of God’s forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian message. But it is also an ethical imperative for how we are to treat one another. Forgiven people should be forgiving people. In this study, we will take deeper look at the first two "we" petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. We will not only explore what these petitions meant in their ancient context but we will also reflect on how they continue to bear on our relationship with God and one another in today’s world.