Forgiveness: A Path to Healing and Freedom

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness as Release, Not Forgetting

Forgiveness, as described in Scripture, is not about erasing the memory of wrongs but about releasing both ourselves and others from the burden of guilt, shame, and condemnation. God does not simply forget our sins as if they never happened; instead, He takes full account of every debt and chooses to release us from them, offering us mercy and grace. This act of release opens up a new future, unshackled from the weight of the past, and invites us to do the same for others. [38:10]

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)
"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Reflection: Is there a past wrong—either your own or someone else’s—that you keep replaying in your mind? What would it look like to ask God to help you release it today, rather than simply trying to forget it?

Day 2: The Conditional Nature of Forgiveness

The Lord’s Prayer teaches that God’s forgiveness of us is intimately connected to our willingness to forgive others. Jesus makes it clear that if we are unwilling to release others from their debts against us, we cannot expect God to release us from ours. This is not about earning God’s love, which is unconditional, but about participating in the very mercy we seek. To harbor unforgiveness is to break the bridge we ourselves must cross to receive grace. [44:20]

Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Reflection: Is there someone you are struggling to forgive? What step could you take today to begin releasing them, trusting that God’s mercy flows through your own act of forgiveness?

Day 3: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Jesus’ story of the king and the unforgiving servant reveals the vastness of God’s mercy and the tragedy of withholding forgiveness from others. The servant, forgiven an unpayable debt, refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him, showing how easily we can forget the grace we have received. God expects us to extend the same forgiveness to others that He has so generously given to us, refusing to let our hearts be hardened by the debts of others. [46:23]

Matthew 18:23-35 (ESV)
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Reflection: When you consider the mercy God has shown you, how does it change your perspective on the “debts” others owe you? Is there a specific relationship where you need to practice this kind of mercy today?

Day 4: Forgiveness Opens a New Future

Forgiveness is not about pretending the past never happened, but about choosing to release the hold it has on our present and future. When we forgive, we not only relieve our own burden but also open the possibility for healing and reconciliation in relationships. True forgiveness acknowledges the wrong, remembers it, and yet chooses to let go, making space for a new story to be written—one not dictated by past hurts but by hope and grace. [42:15]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: Is there a relationship or situation where you need to let go of the past in order to make room for a new future? What would it look like to take one step toward that release today?

Day 5: The Courage to Forgive and Be Forgiven

Forgiveness requires humility and courage—both to ask for it and to extend it. Sometimes, as with the story of Admiral McRaven, seeking forgiveness is a vulnerable act that can bring healing not only to ourselves but to those we have wronged. Likewise, there are times when we must recognize we are not ready to pray for forgiveness because we are still holding onto resentment. The invitation is to examine our hearts honestly and to seek God’s help in becoming people who are both forgiven and forgiving. [47:39]

James 5:16 (ESV)
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Is there someone you need to ask forgiveness from, or someone you need to confess your struggle to? What would it look like to take a step of humility and courage in that direction this week?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer—“forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”—we move from asking God for our daily physical needs to seeking healing for our deepest spiritual and emotional wounds. This prayer is not just about our relationship with God, but also about how we relate to one another. The language of “debts” in Matthew’s Gospel is intentional, drawing from the economic world to describe the moral and spiritual obligations we accumulate. In Jesus’ time, every sin was seen as a debt that separated us from God, while every righteous act was a credit that drew us closer. The radical invitation of Jesus is to come before God and ask for the cancellation of our debts—not just the ones we owe, but also the ones we hold against others.

Forgiveness, as Jesus teaches, is not about forgetting. The biblical concept of forgiveness is about release—God releases us from the shame, guilt, and condemnation that our debts bring. God does not pretend our wrongs never happened; instead, God takes full account and chooses to set us free anyway. This act of release opens up a new future, unchained from the mistakes of our past. The story of Admiral McRaven and the Afghan father illustrates how forgiveness, even in the face of deep pain, can break the cycle of hatred and open the door to healing for both parties.

Yet, the most challenging part of this petition is the little word “as.” Jesus links God’s forgiveness of us to our willingness to forgive others. This is not a comfortable truth. God’s love may be unconditional, but Jesus makes clear that God’s forgiveness is conditional upon our own readiness to release others from their debts to us. The parable of the unforgiving servant drives this home: we cannot expect to receive what we are unwilling to give. To pray this prayer with integrity, we must examine our hearts for any debts we are still holding onto, and be willing to let them go, trusting that in doing so, we open ourselves to the fullness of God’s mercy.

Key Takeaways

1. The language of “debts” in the Lord’s Prayer is not accidental; it reflects the reality that our sins create real obligations and separations between us and God. Just as financial debts can weigh us down, so too can the moral and spiritual debts we accumulate. Jesus invites us to bring these debts honestly before God, trusting in God’s willingness to forgive and restore us. [33:36]
2. Forgiveness in the biblical sense is not about erasing memory or pretending nothing happened. Instead, it is an act of release—God chooses to set us free from the condemnation and shame of our past, even while fully acknowledging what has occurred. This release is what makes true reconciliation and new beginnings possible. [38:10]
3. The act of forgiving others is not just for their benefit, but for our own liberation as well. Holding onto debts or grudges keeps us bound to the pain of the past, while releasing them opens us to healing and peace. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves as much as it is a gift to others. [41:35]
4. The word “as” in “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” is a profound challenge. Jesus teaches that our experience of God’s forgiveness is inseparable from our willingness to forgive others. This is not a comfortable teaching, but it is a necessary one if we are to live in the freedom and grace God offers. [43:39]
5. To pray the Lord’s Prayer with integrity requires self-examination and humility. If we are harboring unforgiveness, we may find ourselves, like Robert Louis Stevenson, unfit to pray these words. The invitation is to release what we are holding onto, so that we might fully receive the forgiveness and freedom God longs to give us. [47:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:04] - Reading the Lord’s Prayer
[24:56] - Opening Prayer
[25:39] - Installation Service Memory
[26:16] - Gathering of Diverse Community
[27:36] - Debtors and Trespassers
[29:00] - Tradition and Language Differences
[30:19] - The Meaning of “Debts” in Greek
[32:11] - The Challenge of Forgiving Debts
[33:36] - Spiritual Debts and Divine Release
[34:55] - The Story of the Bishop and the Visionary
[38:10] - Forgiveness as Release, Not Forgetting
[40:16] - Forgiveness and New Futures
[41:35] - The Power of Apology and Release
[43:39] - The Conditional Nature of Forgiveness
[45:05] - The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
[47:39] - The Cost of Unforgiveness
[48:22] - Invitation to Release and Receive Forgiveness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:9-15 — _“Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”_

- Matthew 18:21-35 (The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant)

Observation Questions

In the Lord’s Prayer, what word does Jesus use in Matthew’s Gospel to describe what we ask God to forgive—debts, trespasses, or something else? What is the significance of this word choice? ([30:19])
According to the sermon, what does the word “forgive” mean in the Bible? Is it about forgetting, or something else? ([38:10])
In the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), what happens to the servant who is forgiven a huge debt but refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him? ([45:05])
What does Jesus say about the relationship between God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others? ([43:39])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus uses the language of “debts” instead of “sins” or “trespasses” in the Lord’s Prayer? How does this shape our understanding of what we owe to God and to each other? ([33:36])
The sermon says forgiveness is not about forgetting, but about release. What does it mean for God to “release” us from our debts, and how is this different from pretending nothing happened? ([38:10])
The word “as” in “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” makes God’s forgiveness conditional on our willingness to forgive. Why do you think Jesus makes this connection? How does this challenge our usual ideas about forgiveness? ([43:39])
In the story of Admiral McRaven and the Afghan father, what impact did asking for and granting forgiveness have on both parties? What does this teach us about the power of forgiveness in breaking cycles of pain? ([41:35])

Application Questions

The sermon says that holding onto debts or grudges keeps us bound to the pain of the past, while releasing them opens us to healing and peace. Is there a specific “debt” or grudge you are holding onto right now? What would it look like to begin releasing it? ([41:35])
Jesus teaches that God’s forgiveness is linked to our willingness to forgive others. Is there someone in your life you find it hard to forgive? What is one small step you could take this week toward releasing them from their “debt” to you? ([43:39])
The biblical idea of forgiveness is not about forgetting, but about choosing to release someone from condemnation. How does this change the way you think about forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply? ([38:10])
The sermon mentions that to pray the Lord’s Prayer with integrity requires self-examination and humility. Are there any relationships or situations where you feel “unfit” to pray these words? What might God be inviting you to do about it? ([47:39])
The parable of the unforgiving servant shows the danger of receiving forgiveness but refusing to extend it. Have you ever experienced a time when you were forgiven but struggled to forgive someone else? What did you learn from that experience? ([45:05])
The story of Admiral McRaven and the Afghan father shows that forgiveness can break the cycle of hatred. Is there a situation in your life, family, or community where forgiveness could open the door to a new future? What would it take to start that process? ([41:35])
The sermon says forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves as much as it is a gift to others. How have you experienced freedom or peace after choosing to forgive someone? If you haven’t, what holds you back? ([41:35])

Sermon Clips

focusing today on the fifth petition the second of the human petitions we go from the basic physical needs give us this day our daily bread to now moving into those what we might think of as emotional spiritual needs forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors from Matthew chapter 6 here now the word of the Lord [00:23:36]

first of all we should note that in the original Greek of Matthew's gospel the word used in the text in this verse is the word debt in the economic sense of the word it means that which is owed in a financial sense and outside of scripture this word most often occurred in that time's Greek writings in business accounts managing debts that's the word that's in this prayer [00:30:00]

he says "In rabbitic thought every sin created a deposit of debt before God the accumulation of which formed a a separating wall between the person and God on the other hand every righteous deed contributed to the believer's accumulation of assets before God and so created a kind of bridge to God." [00:33:24]

that's closer to how the New Testament tends to use this word debts not simply as an economic term but more often in the sense of a moral or religious obligation and the audacity of this prayer as Jesus teaches it to us is that we can go to God like we might want to go to our banker and we can declare bankruptcy and God will forgive us our debts [00:34:15]

okay we do talk about forgiveness that way often don't though don't we though that somehow it's the same as forget forgetting we even say forgive and forget right we use that in common day language we talk about forgiveness like I forgive you let's just forget about it and get back to the way things were but in the Bible both in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament and the Greek language of the New Testament the word we translate as forgiveness does not mean to forget [00:37:33]

it means to release god releases us god releases us from shame god releases us from fear and guilt from the accumulation of those demerits that we might call debts what God does not do is forget them as if they never happened rather God takes full stock of every demerit and chooses to release us from them anyway call it the mercy of God if you want call it the grace of God but whatever you do do not call it the forgetfulness of God [00:38:10]

when those self-righteous hooligans brought that woman caught in adultery before Jesus and asked him to condemn her do you remember what he said he said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." And one by one each of them cowed and slunk back home until all that was left was Jesus and that one woman he looked up and he said "Has no one condemned you?" [00:39:05]

Forgiveness does not simply forget what you did it does something even better it releases you from condemnation in order to open up a new future to you it is an act of release that says the past does not need to dictate your future [00:40:09]

McRaven chose to ask forgiveness from the dad whose son had been killed accidentally the mission he says was all a horrible misunderstanding and as tragic as it gets we had inadvertently killed the man's son and maybe one of his daughters i knew that I owed the family a sincere apology he said "Before I met with the father I asked an Afghan general who worked for us how this man would respond if I asked for forgiveness." [00:41:13]

The general the Afghan general said "He will absolutely forgive you because it will not only relieve your burden it will also relieve his burden." So says Admiral McRaven the day came there were about 200 Afghans packed into this long banquet hall and I was one of only two Americans in the room the man looked heartbroken and was sitting with another son whose eyes were filled with hatred [00:41:49]

he says 'I stepped forward and said I am a soldier but I also have children i know how difficult this would be for me if this tragedy happened to my children he says "Then I asked the man for forgiveness." Says "I watched as the hatred and tension began to lower finally his son said to me "We accept your apology we will have no more hatred in our hearts for you a new future opened that the past had closed off hatred released forgiveness given [00:42:07]

and it did not happen because anything was forgotten was covered up or was left outside of recognition but because the wrong was remembered by the person who had committed it which brings us I think to the hardest part of this fifth petition of Jesus prayer for us perhaps the hardest word to get our heads around isn't the word debts or the word forgiveness but is that simple little two-letter word as [00:42:50]

it is putting God's forgiveness into a conditional relationship with our own willingness to be forgiving hear what I'm saying i am saying that God's love for us may be unconditional but that God's forgiveness of us is conditional and if you don't like that then I promise you're not upset at me you're upset with Jesus i'm up here hiding behind his words not my own [00:44:09]

two times in four verses Jesus makes it clear that if we aren't willing to forgive others then God is not willing to forgive us george Herbert said it like this he said "Those that cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass if they would ever reach heaven [00:44:42]

we can't have it both ways we are either forgiving and thus forgiven or we are unforgiving and thus unforgiven jesus says as much in that story he tells of the king who decides to settle accounts with his servants and he you remember the story he calls one in who owes him a a massive sum what would be the equivalent to about $2 billion in today's terms an amount not even any normal person could pull together let alone somebody who doesn't get paid for their work and the king forgives the servants's debts [00:45:12]

I wonder how often that is true for us because we have chosen to harbor in our heart a debt owed to us a trespass somebody has made against us why not release it and in so doing open yourself up to all the forgiveness available in heaven [00:48:00]

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