Forgive us as we Forgive

Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJV

By these verses, we see that our own forgiveness is based upon our forgiveness of others.

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." NKJV

To “judge not” means: do not pass judgment or sentence anyone to punishment. It is perfectly ok to make a judgment, to determine if something is right or wrong to avoid getting involved with evil, but we are not to pass judgment. If we sentence someone by wanting them to pay or be punished for their own debt of sin, we sentence ourselves to the same punishment; in doing so we disregard and make ineffective the payment that has already been made by Jesus on the cross.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. KJV

The measure of law is on a lower level than that of grace. The Galatians fell from grace by trusting in their own efforts to do things by the law. They had not gone back to sacrificing animals for their sins, but they forfeited the full power of Christ’s sacrifice by reverting back to requiring circumcision for salvation, which was only an outward, prophetic sign of what was accomplished by Christ. They, in effect, traded in their newly acquired measure of grace and faith for the inferiority of the law.

There is a legal measure and there is the measure of mercy and grace, through faith. The pressed down, shaken together and running over measure is mercy and grace which surpasses the law. Jesus’ death on the cross was a pressed down, shaken together and running over payment. It far surpassed the payment of the blood of animals prescribed by the law. The payment that Jesus made for our sin debt included everything the law provided and much, much more.

Legal forgiveness cancels the debt but comes short of grace. Our debt is canceled by a legal payment but it affords us nothing extra: as it were, money in the bank. Those under the old covenant (law), who offered animals as a sacrifice for their sin, were forgiven but had nothing in the bank for future debt. They had to return every year to offer another animal to renew their forgiveness. The payment of Christ on the cross includes grace, an abundant supply, added to our account, available to pay off debt the moment we need it. We do not have to wait another year as if Jesus needed to die again for our sin.

This grace account is available to us through the cross. Our use of the grace, filled overflowing measure, ensures that it will be used toward us. If we prefer to use the legal measure toward others, it will be the standard of measurement used toward us. Those under the Old Covenant (law) did not have their consciences cleared of offences nor could they enter the intimate presence of God. That was only experienced, once a year, by the high priest as he entered with the blood of innocent animals. The people were forgiven of sin but the enmity, or animosity, between the offended parties was not cleared from their consciousness. The old sacrificial system of the law allowed the devil to take advantage of its legalities and continued to accuse and bring guilt and condemnation upon the people.

Though we do not offer animals as a temporary sacrifice for sin, it is possible to reduce the effectiveness of Christ’s once and for all time sacrifice, to that of the old law. We determine which will be used toward us by the one we want others to have. If we forgive others, that is good, but the law system did that. If we go beyond forgiving their debt, by blessing them and praying that God will have mercy and give them a repentant heart, we will also receive what we ask for others. Jesus said:

Matt 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. NKJV

In these verses, Jesus describes the use of the overflowing measure of grace. The old way was to only return good for good but now under grace we are to return good for evil. This could be misinterpreted as rewarding evil with good, but it is the power to overcome evil, not to reward it. Returning blessing for cursing and good for evil is God’s wisdom. Man would call it foolishness but what does the scripture say?

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. NKJV

What appears foolish and weak to men is mighty to destroy the works of the devil.

Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV

The law was ineffective at destroying the power of sin. The only way sin could be destroyed was to destroy the sinner. The use of grace and faith, as our measuring standard, overcomes evil with good. The power of evil is destroyed for the one who uses the overflowing measure. Our enemy, the devil, is only powerful over us if we remain in legal territory. Our use of the legal measure keeps us in his territory but we move to higher ground, and have advantage over him, if we use the overflowing measure of faith.

In Jesus’ model prayer He says “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” We are delivered from the evil one as we not only receive His undeserved mercy and grace, but as we extend it to others. It probably takes more faith on our part to bless and to do good to those who have wronged us than it does to receive it from God for ourselves. It is more blessed to give than to receive. When we extend undeserved mercy, grace and blessing to others we are, at the same time, adding to our own account.

So when Jesus prays “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” it is much like when He says “forgive and you shall be forgiven. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:37 NKJV

This scripture has often been used when speaking about giving an offering, but the context is speaking of forgiveness. Forgive and you shall be forgiven, then, by adding giving to our forgiving, it becomes a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Forgiveness without the added giving is a legal measure. Though forgiveness was a gift undeserved it was still a benefit of offering the sacrifices of the law. By adding a gift of undeserved blessing and favor to our forgiveness we press beyond the legal territory where Satan traffics.

Paul speaks often in his epistles concerning our natural inclination to gravitate toward the law. The flesh man wants desperately work off his debt. He has a hard time accepting a free, undeserved gift from God and he has an even tougher time extending such a gift to other undeserving souls.

As New Covenant believers, we can think we have this grace all figured out, but it stands to reason that, if the Galatians, and others, needed a course correction so soon after this grace was first revealed, we should not think we are beyond falling back under the law as they did.

Our Daily Bread

The prayer that Jesus modeled shows us how important it is to integrate the eternal realm with the temporary: walking here in time and space, yet living as though we are already in eternity. Heaven invades earth as the two agree as one. Jesus, God’s Son, is the heavenly pattern for the children of this earth. The kingdom of heaven is the pattern for order and rules of authority on earth. Lack, and worry about provision, is a foreign concept in heaven. We, here on earth, must look beyond our limited abilities and resources into the endless resources of heaven.

Matt 6:9-13
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. NKJV


To summarize: we are to address God as “Our Father.” We come to Him as His children. We are His family, not outsiders attempting to gain His favor.

His name is hallowed, holy and highly honored. His name is our family name and our authority is in that name.

We are to pray that His kingdom will come and that His heavenly purposes would become the practice of this earth.

We focus our attention now on receiving daily bread both for this natural life and our spiritual life. Jesus taught us that we are not to be anxious or worried about where our provision will come from.

Matt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

If God supplies food for the birds of the air, and grass for the cattle of the fields, will He not also provide for those who are made in His own image?
Seeking first the kingdom of God is looking to heaven as the source rather than to man or even the earth. God uses the natural process of our sowing and reaping to provide food, but we tend to see this earth as our source, rather than the One who made it.

Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters. NKJV

When we seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first, we will come into agreement with His total ownership and His care for creation. We are able to leave the responsibility of provision with Him. We work to harvest a crop but we can rely on God to provide all the necessary ingredients.

Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread. NKJV

There were many who began to follow Jesus and seek after Him, but they were not submitting to God’s kingdom authority over their lives: they just liked the free food. They experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loves and fishes and assumed it would be an every day occurrence.

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." NKJV

Here Jesus sets the priority. He says to labor for, or seek after, the food that endures to everlasting life. Though we do labor to receive food for our natural life, it is obvious that eternal life has to be the priority. This natural life will come to an end and, if we have not sought after the food that comes from knowing Him, we will not have life.

1 John 5:10 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. NKJV

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. NKJV

The same power that multiplied the natural bread and fish will be at work in everyone who eats of this heavenly bread. They will never again hunger for the things they previously used to fulfill the soul. It is obvious that Jesus did not mean one taste would keep us full the rest of our lives but that we would never hunger again for that which does not satisfy.

Give us this day our daily bread, refers to both the natural and the spiritual. We need fresh bread every day. We can not live on yesterday’s experience. Life with God is a continual, relational experience, not a fast food on the run type of thing. Too often we get our priorities reversed. We seek diligently for this life’s provision and occasionally hit the holy “drive through” for a quick bite of heavenly bread. A lifestyle like that leaves us very unhealthy, spiritually speaking, and open to afflictions in our soul. We need the bread of heaven, daily, to remain spiritually healthy.

There is a keen balance in living our temporary, natural lives as eternal creatures. It boils down to maintaining proper alignment. We are a spiritual being with an eternal soul living in a natural body. Though we want every part whole and completely healthy we must not allow the desires and appetites of our body to rule over our soul. Our spirit, in submission to God’s Spirit, takes charge over our soul and body, keeping them in alignment with God’s heavenly kingdom. Our eternal soul is satisfied with the eternal bread of heaven. Our body feels left out because it is earthly and does not hunger for the heavenly bread, but we must discipline it.

1 Cor 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJV

Paul is using the illustration of those who are disciplined athletes training for a race. Their body has to be in top physical condition to win. Our race for the heavenly prize is more likely lost by allowing the appetites of our natural bodies to make us spiritually unfit to run. We can get so busy, even preaching the Gospel, that the appetite of our flesh gains priority over our spirit man.

So let us maintain a healthy spiritual diet and discipline our bodies so that we are not disqualified from this race for the eternal prize.

He Is Risen

Mark 16:1-8

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. NKJV

These three women went to the tomb of Jesus early in the morning of the third day fully expecting to find his dead body. They carried spices with which they were planning to anoint Him. They pondered how they would get into the tomb because they knew the stone covering it was very large and heavy.

It appears that the enemies of Christ remembered His words concerning the resurrection better than His own followers.

Matthew 27: 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." NKJV

The chief priests and the Pharisees thought some of Jesus disciples would carry out a deceptive plan to make it look like He had risen from the dead, but his followers were not even thinking of the possibilities of His resurrection, let alone faking it. They were so overcome with the sadness of His death that they seemingly forgot everything He said on the subject.

Jesus even told them where He would meet with them after His resurrection.

Matt 26:32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. NKJV

This was confirmed by the angel messenger at the tomb.

Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples — and Peter — that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you. NKJV


Matthew records three separate occasions that Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection.

Jesus speaks of His death and resurrection
Matt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." NKJV

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 17:22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful. NKJV

Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
Matthew 20:17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." NKJV

Jesus probably spoke to His disciples concerning this subject more than three times but we know that He did at least these three times. The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." NKJV

Jesus taught that every truth shall be established or confirmed by two or three witnesses. We most often think this has to refer only to separate people as witnesses of the same incident, but Paul uses this truth in reference to his third visit to the Corinthian Church. He may have been saying that, after hearing the same message of truth three times, it should be established in their hearts.

Since Jesus spoke to His followers in detail about the truth of His death and resurrection three times, or even more, they should have had the same level of expectation as those who opposed Christ. They could have posted a watch at the tomb to wait for something to happen but they were seemingly convinced it was all over.

Jesus appeared to two of His followers on the day of His resurrection.

Luke 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV

Cleopas revealed his lack of understanding of how the Christ would redeem Israel. He concluded that Christ’s death was somehow a failure rather than the first phase of a two part victory. The prevailing expectation among Jesus’ followers was that He would defeat those who opposed Him through physical force or power. They lacked perception into the spiritual realm where His real enemies reside. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated all spiritual powers and made it possible for mankind to remove themselves from their influence by entering into the freedom of God’s Kingdom.

How are we doing today? Do we still struggle or wrestle with flesh and blood in an attempt to realize the promised victory of His resurrection. Due to a lack of perception into the spiritual realm we often launch an attack against what we see with our natural eyes rather than the spiritual forces that are manipulating things behind the scenes.

2 Corinthians 13:3 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. NKJV

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. NKJV

Because of His resurrection we have hope of our own resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. NKJV

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.NKJV