The Fifth Petition.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who
trespass against us.
What does this mean?
Answer - We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not
look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are
worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them;
but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and
indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also
heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.
The most powerful person on the face of the earth is that
person who is in position to forgive. When I need forgiveness and my neighbor
refuses to forgive me, I am left powerless. There is nothing I can do. I can
beg, plead, and appeal all day long, but until that person forgives, I am left
powerless, helpless, stranded. In this
petition we are reminded that we forgive because God forgives.
Because God forgives our sins, we promise to forgive those
who sin against us. We do this from the heart by doing good to those that have
done evil against us. As we daily sin much and daily need the assurance of
God’s forgiveness so we need to forgive our neighbor. As God in Christ Jesus
has forgiven great and many sins we need to be ready to forgive the sins others
have committed against us.
O most merciful God, who hast given Thine only-begotten Son
to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our
sins; and by Thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of Thee and of Thy
will true obedience of Thy Word, to the end that by Thy grace we may come to
everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Prayer of Confession, The Lutheran Hymnal © 1941 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
Artwork by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things
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