Read: Matthew 6:9-13
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 ESV)
Have you ever had someone owe you money or a favor? Have you ever tried to unsuccessfully collect on it? Jesus' teaching on prayer included a phrase about debt, debtors, and forgiveness that reflects several of his earlier teachings.
The prospect of taking on a large financial debt is pretty intimidating to me. I feel a lot more freedom in my life without massive debt. But, where God and our sin are concerned that is precisely the issue at stake. We are all sinful people. Our sin has accrued for us a debt owed to God. We are all people that have fallen far short of God's standard for us. However, He is willing to reach down and willfully remove our cumbersome debt. In fact Jesus died to accomplish just that.
The words of Christ during this teaching serve as both a reminder and an incentive. We are freely forgiven of our sins if we choose to receive such forgiveness. We are also forgiven as long as we extend the same kind of merciful grace toward those who have wronged us.