And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. — Matthew 6:12 (Christian Standard Bible)
“Trespasses” are so ingrained in me that I simply gag trying to pray “debts” and “debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer. Yet, “debts” is the literal meaning of the biblical term. It’s something that’s owed another person that’s so serious that, if not repaid, could result in jail time (see Matthew 18:21-35). In the context of Jesus’ prayer, debts refer to those things we shouldn’t have done and, consequently, should be punished for.
However, I think “trespasses” sharpen things. Our farm had “No Trespassing” signs on the barbed wire surrounding much of our property. Don’t cross into our land and take stuff without permission. And in spiritual terms, it means don’t cross boundaries and take things from God (disrespecting what God wants) and from others (disrespecting their rights, dignity, and necessities).
Awfully easy to trespass like this, isn’t it?
However, in this bit of word-play, we overlook something. We naturally pray, “forgive us our trespasses/debts, AS we forgive…” Yet the literal meaning, as the Christian Standard Version has it, is, “forgive us…AS WE HAVE ALSO FORGIVEN…” Jesus is saying that forgiving the wrongs someone does us should be so automatic that we’ve already forgiven them even before we turn to ask forgiveness from God. We want God to cut us some slack just as we have already done so with the tacky people who’ve crossed our barbed wire.
From now on, I’m not going to be so caught up regarding trespasses or debts. Rather, when I reach this part of the Lord’s Prayer, I’m going to pause briefly and consider if I’m really living up to what the Lord asks.
Good one.