APR 23

Matthew 6:14-15
Memorise Matthew 6:14-15
“Your heavenly Father will also forgive you…”

While both words “debts” and “trespasses” are sins, there is a fine shade of difference. “Debts” are not financial debts but sins of omission (not doing what we ought to). We are asking God to forgive us for what we have failed to do. We are asking for forgiveness for our debt. “Trespasses” are sins of commission when we break the moral law by doing what we ought not to like lying and stealing. We are asking for forgiveness for something we have done. Whilst we recite ‘forgive us of our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us’, it does not exclude the idea of debts that we have against God as well.

The use of the word trespasses in our Lord’s Prayer actually dates back to the 1500s, even before the King James Version was translated. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer based their rendition of the Lord’s Prayer on the English translation by William Tyndale, which used the word trespasses in Matthew 6:12. Since then, we have been using this as our standard for the Lord’s Prayer. Some other churches may use the word ‘debts’ instead, and they are not wrong also. This is an issue more of practice than a different doctrine.

The most important thing is that we should realise the depths of our sins that many a time we sin not only by doing wrong but also in not doing that which is right before God. We must therefore mean what we say when we pray for forgiveness, and we must be willing also to forgive others. All their offences can never be greater than our sins against God.

Dear Teen, may the Lord help you to bear a clear conscience before God and before men that you be willing to forgive others who may have offended you as Christ has freely forgiven your offences.

Thought: There is wideness in God’s mercy.
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, though we sin against Thee often, You are always merciful to forgive.