Because all of those things are how I want-how I need- God to forgive me.Īnd just as my plea to be forgiven is a daily need, so my forgiveness of others can be a daily decision. I don’t want God to measure out my forgiveness in measly human ways I want to measure out forgiveness to others in big ol’ God ways. I want to forgive willingly, because that’s the kind of reception I want from God. So when I pray, “Forgive us as we forgive others,” I am saying I want my mercy to be expanded. The phrase can be taken to mean, “Forgive us in the same way we forgive others ” it can be understood as a suggestion that our forgiveness of others will set the tone for the Father’s forgiveness of us. When we say, “Forgive us … as we forgive,” we’re acknowledging the truth that Jesus taught, that being forgiven is tied to our forgiveness of others. It’s a tiny word, both in English and in Greek. “Forgive us,” He told us to pray, “ as we forgive.” As. We should pray for both on a daily basis.īut notice also that Jesus linked our forgiveness from God with our forgiveness of others. “Forgive us” comes right after “Give us this day our daily bread.” It’s a hint that we need both, every day-food and forgiveness. In fact, when Jesus modeled this for His followers, He linked the petition for daily bread with the petition for forgiveness. We’re also saying that we want and need forgiveness. That’s key, because the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NIV). I’ve crossed the line.” It’s an admission, a confession, a mea culpa (to use the old Latin phrase). But what are we really saying when we say, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us?”įirst, we’re saying, “I’ve sinned. Regardless of the exact words, the thought is the same.

Forgive us our trespasses movie