Forgiveness

Most readers will have noticed that in Matthew 6, the only part of the Lord’s Prayer in which the Lord himself made comment was “Forgive us our debts, as we for­give our debtors” He, knowing our nature, perceived how vitally nec­essary is the forgiving spirit in one who would have fellowship with God.

The same point is beautifully emphasised in a very subtle way by the Lord’s comment on the parable of the two debtors (it­self a unique lesson in forgive­ness). “So likewise shall my heav­enly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother”. Here Jesus does not use the familiar phrase “your heavenly Father” — as who should say : ‘Except there be whole­hearted forgiveness, God is no longer your heavenly Father !”