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…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 6:9-12, 14-15

Week 1: “Our Father” is the loving God of

people throughout all time.

Heaven is where what God wants done is done. —Dallas Willard

Our lives either

or desecrate God’s name.

Week 2: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” is a way of saying the same thing twice.

Do what’s best – as above, so below. —Eugene Peterson

“Thy will be done” means, “Whatever you want God,” we place our wills

your will.

Week 3: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

In the Bible, bread is a metaphor for

, for doing the will of God, and for the heavenly banquet.

This Week: “Forgive us our debts,

also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

Unforgiveness is linked to

disease, high blood pressure, stress, and poor mental health.

My Additional Notes:

What Forgiveness Is Not

Forgiveness is not

(restoration of friendly relations) or restitution (compensation for injury or loss).

Forgiveness is not

.

Forgiveness is not freedom from ongoing

, even if you forgive or are forgiven.

Forgiveness is not

the action of the person who wronged us.

Forgiveness is not returning to an abusive marriage. It is letting go of the bitterness, anger, and desire for retribution. —Adam Hamilton

My Additional Notes:

Forgiveness in the Bible

1. We
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   sin and need forgiveness. 2. God is
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   to forgive us.

He paid a debt he did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay. —Gospel Song

Jesus

God’s forgiveness with our forgiveness of others. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Prayer for God’s forgiveness is unthinkable for one who is intentionally an unforgiving person. —New Testament Professor Eugene Boring, Texas Christian University

We cannot ask for ourselves what we

to others. (Mark 11:25)

Paul teaches this Christian character and Christian conduct to the

. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

When you accept Jesus as

, your

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must change to be like his. (Colossians 3:12-13)

Jesus answers Peter’s question about the

of forgiveness with a story. (Matthew 18:21-35)

Torture in the story was not punishment but rather a common way to

whether the debtor was concealing any money or valuables.

A talent was worth more than 15

wages, while a denarius was the

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wage of a laborer.

Jesus’ point is those who

for God’s forgiveness must themselves forgive.

Jesus’ entire

poured out forgiveness, mercy, and grace. (Matthew 26:28, Luke 23:32-34)

In Jesus’ day, if you could not pay your debt you became a

or were put in prison until someone paid off your debt.

The act of paying off another person’s debt was called redemption, and the person who did this was called a redeemer. —Adam Hamilton

My Additional Notes:

Action Step

Who are the people you need to forgive today? This is the day of

; our redeemer lives!

My Additional Notes: