Pardon in Prayer
We have slowed to a crawl during our study of the sermon on the mount in order to study the disciples’ prayer more closely. Prayer is a central part of what we do as believers; it should be natural to our very lives. After all we are creatures created by the Creator for a purposeful and worshipful relationship. All of us stand to gain something from carefully studying our Lord’s instruction. In the past few weeks, we have taken this part of scripture a verse at a time trying to discern that which God desires to speak to His people. During this time we began in Matthew 6:9-10 finding the priority in prayer. Last week we studied the provision in prayer and this week we will see the pardon in prayer.
We turn our attention to the final part of Jesus’ model prayer. Here we see Jesus re-introduce forgiveness. This idea of forgiveness is not new. A careful look at the Old Testament will reveal a God who continually demonstrates His forgiveness and mercy toward His chosen people. Over and over God is pictured as a God of second and third and fourth chances when it comes to the people on whom His affection rests. In Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6, we find an imperative that asks God to forgive as we forgive others.
The reality of God’s forgiveness is the result of the Gospel. We see forgiveness afforded to us as sinners when Christ became our substitute on the cross and when we repent and trust Him. He extends to us forgiveness, and we as His disciples are to mimic His example. As believers we are called to extend forgiveness as many times as the transgressor repents (Luke 17:3-4).
