Matthew 6:12 KJV
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Scofield's Notes suggests that this motive to forgive has been supplanted today by a much higher motivation. Here we are motivated with a loss; if we don't forgive God won't forgive us. However, this is a part of Christ's offer of the kingdom to the nation of Israel. It is legal in nature; forgiveness is merited through an act of man's will.
Ephesians 4:32 provides a higher motivation through grace; we have already been forgiven through Jesus Christ. Our being forgiven is not conditioned upon whether we forgive but upon the finished work of Jesus. We are completely forgiven of our sin. Now our motivation for forgiving is based not on a loss but on a gain. It is because we have been so freely so graciously so wonderfully forgiven that we are to forgive.
There are no penalties for being unforgiving. However there are some personal difficulties that develop. When we do not forgive a root of bitterness may grow up in us and trouble and defile us. This is not God's withholding of anything; it is the fruit of our own deed.
The reason to forgive is gracious, not legal.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Scofield's Notes suggests that this motive to forgive has been supplanted today by a much higher motivation. Here we are motivated with a loss; if we don't forgive God won't forgive us. However, this is a part of Christ's offer of the kingdom to the nation of Israel. It is legal in nature; forgiveness is merited through an act of man's will.
Ephesians 4:32 provides a higher motivation through grace; we have already been forgiven through Jesus Christ. Our being forgiven is not conditioned upon whether we forgive but upon the finished work of Jesus. We are completely forgiven of our sin. Now our motivation for forgiving is based not on a loss but on a gain. It is because we have been so freely so graciously so wonderfully forgiven that we are to forgive.
There are no penalties for being unforgiving. However there are some personal difficulties that develop. When we do not forgive a root of bitterness may grow up in us and trouble and defile us. This is not God's withholding of anything; it is the fruit of our own deed.
The reason to forgive is gracious, not legal.
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