“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

Meditation 4: “Also Forgiven” is Reflective

This part of the petition is difficult for some people. We are only forgiven when we forgive. Forgiving others doesn’t earn us forgiveness. But it is a sign that we have understood our forgiven state when we forgive others.

Jesus taught a parable about a servant who would not forgive (Matt 18:21-35). Though the servant had been forgiven, he refused to forgive others. Jesus said that that is servant was wicked and ultimately not forgiven. This petition teaches us to understand deeply our own forgiven state and to joyfully forgive others. This is how we should pray.