Friday, March 18, 2016

Friday, March 18, 2016

Friday, March 18, 2016   Forgive Us Our Trespasses                            



Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

Peter’s question was a follow-up to the instructions Jesus had given on how to treat a tinning brother (Vv.15-20). Seven times? Peter probably regarded his suggestion as was quite lenient since some rabbis taught that one needed to forgive the same sin only three times. Jesus’ remark, seventy times seven meant that forgiveness has no limits.[1]

What is the Fifth Petition?  And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. What does this mean?  We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.[2]

O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen[3]



[1] The Lutheran Study Bible, © 2009 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis, MO Pp.1622
[2] Luther’s Small Catechism, 5th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

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