And Forgive Us Our Debts

First off, I memorized this as a child as "Forgive us our trespasses", but I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone say it like that in at least 5 years, so I'm not sure which translation it is. Consequently, my daughter has memorized it this way, and I think I'm going to have to teach here to say "debts" instead. I don't think either one really translates that well in today's vocabulary though. They both convey the right idea when you think about it, but the meaning that first jumps in my head is usually different.

postscript: I found this

The word 'trespasses' has come down to us from the very earliest English translations of the New Testament. As early as 1380 it was used in Wycliffe's translation of the Lord's prayer. It is more difficult for us to grasp the full meaning of what it means to 'trespass' against someone, because the word has changed its meaning since 1380. Nowadays we tend to use the word 'trespass' to mean walking over someone else's land without their permission. Originally, though, the word had a sense of infringing not only land, but the rights and dignity of another. To trespass against someone was to injure them or do them an injustice.

Here is the principle of daily confession of sins. When I was first a believer someone taught me that once we confessed our sins that first time, everything was square, and that was it. But Jesus teaches us just the opposite when he tells his disciples to ask for God's forgiveness whenever they pray. Confession is important not only so that we may be forgiven, but also to remember why we need to be forgiven. When Jesus says that he has come to heal the sick, not the well, we can sometimes think "Uh-oh, I'm not even really that sick, will Jesus still take me," and in that thought (or something similar) we reveal how truly sick we really are. It's so easy to trust in your own (non-existent) righteousness, and that is the very thing that we must repent of, and the very thing that He saves us from.

When I am praying this I tend to confess all the things I have done, and all the things that I am (a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, etc.) It is a time to ask the Lord to open you up, and to be honest before Him. All things must be brought out into the light and exposed for what they are. This is helpful for me, but maybe all that is needed, is all that Jesus said, "Forgive us our debts." I will just point out once again the corporate aspect of this petition "forgive us." 

¶ 2/23/2005 11:29:00 AM