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“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
— Matthew 6:12
Let us look at what the Word of God says. This one sentence, right in the heart of the Lord’s Prayer, touches one of the most powerful and most resisted areas in the Christian life: forgiveness.
Jesus did not place forgiveness on the edge of Christian experience. He put it at the center of the daily prayer He commanded us to pray. The lyrics you have given simply echo and expand what Jesus Himself taught:
The central theme: we are forgiven by God, and we are commanded to forgive others on the same basis. Forgiveness is not an optional “extra.” It is a condition for continued fellowship with God. It is a key to freedom, healing, and deliverance. The song rightly calls this “The Freedom of Forgiveness.”
### The Lord’s Prayer Context (Matthew 6)
Matthew 6 is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is instructing His disciples how to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven in the midst of a fallen world. In this context He addresses prayer, giving, fasting, and motives of the heart. When He gives them a model prayer, He includes:
> “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
Then—this is important—He returns to this one petition for special emphasis:
> “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
> But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14–15)
Out of all the requests in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus explains only this one. That shows the centrality of forgiveness in the Christian life.
### The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18)
In Matthew 18, Peter raises a practical question:
> “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (v. 21)
Peter thought he was being generous. The rabbis often spoke of forgiving three times. Peter more than doubles it: seven times. Jesus answers:
> “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (or “seventy times seven”). (v. 22)
Then Jesus explains with a parable: a king settles accounts with his servants. One servant owes him ten thousand talents—an astronomical, unpayable debt. The king forgives the entire amount. That same servant then goes out, finds a fellow servant who owes him a very small sum, and refuses to forgive. The king is angered and hands the unforgiving servant over “to the tormentors” (v. 34, KJV) until he pays all.
Jesus concludes:
> “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (v. 35)
The song lyrics are built around this picture: we have been forgiven an unpayable sum, and therefore we must forgive others.
### Paul’s Exhortations (Ephesians 4, Colossians 3)
Paul writes to communities of believers learning to walk in the new life. To the Ephesians he says:
> “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
To the Colossians:
> “Bear with each other and forgive one another… Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
The pattern is always the same: God’s forgiveness of us is the measure and model of our forgiveness of others. We do not forgive because people deserve it; we forgive because we received what we did not deserve.
The early Christians lived in a harsh world of persecution, injustice, and suffering. Yet the apostles insist: forgiveness is non-negotiable. The same holds today.
### 1. “Debts” – ὀφειλήματα (*opheilēmata*) – Matthew 6:12
“Forgive us our debts…”
The Greek word is ὀφείλημα (*opheilēma*), from a root meaning “to owe.” It can mean a financial debt, but in this context it is moral and spiritual debt—our obligations to God which we have failed to meet.
Luke’s parallel version of the Lord’s Prayer helps us:
> “Forgive us our sins (ἁμαρτίας, *hamartias*),
> for we also forgive everyone who is indebted (ὀφείλοντι, *opheilonti*) to us.” (Luke 11:4)
So our “debts” in Matthew 6:12 are our sins—our failures to meet God’s righteous claims upon us. Sin creates a moral debt. We owe righteousness; we have given God disobedience. That debt must be settled.
In the song, the line:
> “Forgive us our debts, our sins against You”
captures this: every sin is ultimately against God (cf. Psalm 51:4).
Understanding sin as “debt” shows:
### 2. “Forgive” – ἀφίημι (*aphiēmi*)
The main New Testament verb for “forgive” is ἀφίημι (*aphiēmi*). Its basic meaning is: to send away, to let go, to release, to cancel.
This is crucial. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a decision to release:
In the parable of the unpayable debt, the lord “forgave” the debt—he canceled it, removed the claim.
When the song says:
> “Teach us to release, to let mercy flow free…
> Let go of the hurt, release every chain”
it is echoing the very meaning of *aphiēmi*: to let go, to send away.
Forgiveness means:
That is an act of the will based on the Word of God, not on emotion.
We will move through the major themes of the lyrics and align them with Scripture.
### A. “Forgive us our debts… Just as we also have forgiven”
> “Forgive us our debts, our sins against You
> Just as we also have forgiven those who wrong us”
This mirrors Matthew 6:12 exactly. Notice the order of the verbs in the Greek text:
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (aorist tense) our debtors.”
The implication is that our forgiveness of others is assumed as already done. When we pray this prayer honestly, we are saying to God:
“God, I am asking You to treat my sins by the same measure that I treat others’ sins against me.”
That is a fearful prayer if we have unforgiveness in our hearts.
The lyrics continue:
> “Don’t let bitterness root in our hearts
> Teach us to release, to let mercy flow free”
This reflects Hebrews 12:15:
> “See to it… that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
Bitterness is unforgiveness that has taken root and begun to grow. It does not remain private. It defiles many. Unforgiveness opens the door to demonic torment and bondage. In the parable of Matthew 18, the unforgiving servant is delivered to “the tormentors.” Many believers suffer inward torment—fear, depression, oppression—because they refuse to forgive.
The song rightly connects:
> “For if we hold grudges, we bind ourselves too
> But in forgiving, we’re set free by You”
When you bind others by your unforgiveness, you are in fact binding yourself. Jesus said:
> “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2)
Spiritual law: the way you treat others is the way you open yourself to be treated.
Forgiveness is not only a gift to others; it is a key to your own deliverance.
### B. Conditional Forgiveness – Matthew 6:14–15
> “If you forgive others when they sin against you
> Your heavenly Father will forgive you too
> But if you refuse to forgive from the heart
> Your Father won’t forgive your sins either”
This is almost a direct paraphrase of Matthew 6:14–15, and the phrase “from the heart” ties to Matthew 18:35:
> “Unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
This means forgiveness is not to be merely verbal or outward. God looks at the heart.
Two key truths emerge:
1. God’s continued forgiveness of us is conditional on our forgiving others.
Jesus states it plainly. This does not mean we earn forgiveness; it means we must not block the flow of what we have received by withholding it from others.
2. Heart-level forgiveness:
This is deeper than polite words or “I’ll forgive but not forget.”
It means a genuine release before God, in His presence, at the level of our will and inner life.
The lyrics then quote Christ’s instruction to Peter:
> “Seventy times seven—keep letting it go
> There’s no limit to grace that we’re called to show”
“Seventy times seven” is not intended as a literal 490 times. It means without limit. As God’s forgiveness toward us is without limit, our forgiveness toward others must reflect that same nature.
Every time the hurt resurfaces, we re-affirm the decision to forgive: “Lord, I forgave that person in obedience to Your Word. I refuse to pick the debt up again. I bless them in Jesus’ name.”
### C. Imitating Christ’s Forgiveness – Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
> “Be kind and compassionate, tenderhearted too
> Forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you”
This is Ephesians 4:32. The standard is “just as Christ forgave you.”
How did Christ forgive?
> “He canceled our debt on the cross that day
> Nailed it to the wood, took our sins away”
This echoes Colossians 2:13–14:
> “…having forgiven you all your trespasses,
> having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us…
> And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
There was a spiritual “record of debt” standing against us. God did not merely lower the payment plan; He wiped it out, canceled it, nailed it to the cross. Jesus paid in full.
To the extent that we grasp the enormity of what happened at the cross, forgiveness becomes inevitable. To the extent that we forget or minimize it, forgiveness becomes impossible.
> “Bear with one another, make allowance for faults
> Love covers over a multitude of wrongs”
“Bear with one another” is precisely Colossians 3:13.
“Love covers over a multitude of sins” is 1 Peter 4:8.
Forgiveness is not denial; it is choosing not to expose, rehearse, or broadcast the offense, but to cover it in love, as God covered ours.
### D. The Unpayable Sum – Matthew 18:23–35
> “We’ve been forgiven an unpayable sum
> Ten thousand talents—yet mercy has come
> How can we withhold what was freely given?
> The servant forgiven must forgive in return”
In Jesus’ parable, ten thousand talents was an unimaginable sum—far beyond any servant’s ability to repay. Jesus is showing the magnitude of our sin debt before God. Our problem is that we measure our sin against others and think, “I’m not so bad.” But we must measure ourselves against God’s absolute holiness.
When you feel that someone’s sin against you is “too great” to forgive, you are implying:
“Their sin against me is greater than my sin against God.”
That is deception. It exalts your own hurt above the cross.
> “Let go of the hurt, release every chain
> In the freedom of grace, we live once again”
Unforgiveness is a chain—often a demonic chain. Many are tied emotionally and spiritually to those who hurt them, precisely because they refuse to forgive. Forgiveness severs that chain. It does not say, “What they did was right.” It says, “I choose not to be their prisoner any longer.”
Grace not only forgives; it frees. Freedom is not primarily the absence of problems. Freedom is the absence of bondage—especially inward bondage.
### E. The Healing Flow of Forgiveness
> “When we pray this prayer from deep in the soul
> We open the door for His healing to flow
> Forgive and be forgiven, the circle complete
> A heart full of mercy is humble and sweet”
Forgiveness and healing are intimately connected. James 5:16 says:
> “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
In many cases of emotional, mental, even physical sickness, the root is unforgiveness or bitterness. When we forgive, we remove the legal ground Satan uses to torment us. Then the Holy Spirit’s healing can flow freely.
The “circle complete” is 1 John 4:19:
> “We love because He first loved us.”
We forgive because He first forgave us. When what we have received from God flows out to others, the life of God circulates through us without obstruction.
> “Lord, help us forgive as You’ve forgiven us
> Till Your kingdom of grace lives in each of us”
That is exactly what Jesus taught us to pray:
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done…” (Matthew 6:10).
Wherever forgiveness, mercy, and grace rule in the heart, the kingdom of God is being manifested.
We must move from theory to practice. Forgiveness is not automatic. It is a series of conscious choices. Let me give distinct steps, each of which can be turned into a proclamation.
### Step 1: Face the Truth and Name the Debt
Forgiveness does not mean pretending nothing happened. It starts with facing the truth.
Proclamation:
“Lord, I choose to bring into Your light every hurt, every wound, every injustice. I will not hide or minimize it. I acknowledge the debt as it truly is.”
### Step 2: Choose to Release the Debt by Faith
Remember, *aphiēmi* means “to release, to send away.” Forgiveness is an act of the will in obedience to God’s Word.
You may not feel anything at first. That does not matter. Your will aligned with God’s Word is more powerful than your emotions.
Proclamation:
“By an act of my will, in the name of Jesus, I release this person from every debt they owe me. I cancel my claim. They owe me nothing. I hand them over to You, Lord—You are the Judge, not I.”
### Step 3: Renounce Bitterness and Close the Door to Torment
Unforgiveness opens a door to the demonic. Forgiveness closes it. But often we must explicitly renounce bitterness, resentment, and revenge, and command any associated spirits to leave.
Pray something like:
“Lord Jesus, I renounce all bitterness, resentment, hatred, revenge, and unforgiveness. I ask You to cleanse me from these sins by Your blood. I close the door I opened to the enemy through unforgiveness. In the name of Jesus, I command every spirit of bitterness, resentment, and torment to go from me now.”
Then fill the place that has been cleared:
Proclamation:
“I renounce all bitterness and unforgiveness. I close the door to every tormentor. I apply the blood of Jesus to this area of my life. I choose to bless those who hurt me.”
### Step 4: Maintain Forgiveness as a Lifestyle
Forgiveness is both an event and a process. The hurt may be deep; the memories may return.
“I have forgiven that person in Jesus’ name. I refuse to take the debt back.”
Proclamation:
“Forgiveness is my lifestyle. As Christ continually forgives me, I continually forgive others. I will not pick up old debts. I walk in the freedom of grace.”
### Proclamation of Faith
Say this aloud, thoughtfully and deliberately:
> **In the name of Jesus, I declare:
> I have been forgiven an unpayable debt by God through the blood of Jesus.
> He has wiped out the record of my sins and nailed it to the cross.
> Therefore I choose to forgive every person who has ever wronged me.
> I release them from every debt, every obligation, every claim I held against them.
> They owe me nothing.
> I renounce all bitterness, resentment, and revenge.
> I refuse to be bound by grudges or wounds from the past.
> As I forgive others, my heavenly Father forgives me.
> I open my heart for His healing to flow.
> I choose to walk in kindness, compassion, and tenderhearted mercy.
> I will forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven, without limit,
> just as in Christ God has forgiven me.
> This is my decision. This is my confession.
> By the grace of God, I will live in the freedom of forgiveness.
> Amen.**
### Prayer
“Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the immeasurable mercy You have shown me. You forgave all my sins. You canceled my unpayable debt at the cross. I ask now for the help of the Holy Spirit. Search my heart. Expose every root of bitterness, every hidden grudge, every wound I have held onto.
Give me the grace to forgive as You have forgiven me. I choose to release those who have wronged me. I cancel their debts. I lay down every right to repay or to remember against them. Lord Jesus, cleanse me from bitterness. Shut every door I have opened to the enemy through unforgiveness. Let Your healing power flow into my heart, my mind, and even my body.
Make me a vessel of mercy. Let Your kingdom of grace rule in me, so that when I pray, ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,’ it will be truth, not hypocrisy. I receive Your forgiveness, I extend Your forgiveness, and I walk in the freedom of forgiveness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
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