In the Fulness of Time/Part 27

Previous Article

In this article we will discuss two more of the universal principles for prayer taught by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 6, namely, Petition and Confession.

Petition: Supply of Needs.

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

This request should be understood to encompass any material and physical need. The fact that Jesus called it “daily bread” is easier to understand in a culture where much employment was on a daily basis, as some of the parables also reflect. As far as Jesus’ disciples were concerned, they had already been warned that persecution would come, and in such times, this prayer would be needed. Had Christ’s Kingdom been accepted and established on earth, then they would have experienced abundance of supply, because all their needs would have been met, as Amos 9:13 testifies: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.” (see also Isaiah 65:18-25). But until that day would occur, the prayer is legitimate for all believers.

Confession: Sensibility of Sin.

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

There are three aspects of forgiveness, the first of which is Judicial Forgiveness. This includes all our sins, once for all, forever: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13). This was accomplished “through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

Second, there is Paternal Forgiveness, which is the subject of Matthew 6:12. Those praying here are disciples, asking their Heavenly Father for forgiveness of “debts,” from the Greek word opheilemata, which is interpreted by Jesus in Matthew 6:14-15 as “trespasses.” In the parallel passage, Luke 11:4, Jesus uses the word hamartia, “sins.” The disciple is to ask forgiveness, so this presupposes confession of his sins: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). The words here in Matthew, “as we forgive,” do not involve proportion nor degree of forgiveness; it is rather the attitude which results from confession of sins to God.

Third, there is Fraternal Forgiveness, which comes within the family of God. It is forgiveness of one another. This may be included within “our debtors” or in 6:14-15, “forgive men their trespasses” yet, these debtors or men, could just as easily be unbe­lievers. However, fraternal forgiveness is the subject of Matthew 5:22-24 and certainly is evident in Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you.” In every dispensation this forgiving attitude is needed. It was exemplified by Joseph before the Mosaic Law, in Genesis 50:15-21 when his brothers were fearful of revenge on his part. They sent him Jacob’s dying message, “So shall ye say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil” (verse 17).

Then too, under the dispensation of Law, David experienced Paternal Forgiveness: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah” (Psalm 32:5). This is the classic example of Grace under Law. Both David and Bath-Sheba should have been stoned to death according to Deuteronomy 22:22; nev­ertheless God, in His lovingkindness, forgave them (cf. Psalm 51:1-4). Thus, it is no surprise to find such forgiveness under Grace (Ephesians 4:32), as well as here in Matthew 6:12 as part of the presentation of the principles which the Messiah/King taught His disciples, and which will be fulfilled, “in the fulness of time!”

Read Part 28