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Have We Forgiven Our Debtors?

By Seth Dralle | Comments (5) | Posted on August 22, 2007

As we have discussed in previous blogs, the current month on the Jewish calendar emphasizes repentance and forgiveness in preparation for the appointed times of next month. This month, and the Ten Days of Awe next month, sees an increased amount of prayers focusing on repentance, supplication and confession. Yet, it would be a mistake to assume that forgiveness is solely attained through prayer.

It’s true. In fact, this was a central teaching of the Master. Sometimes, forgiveness is only attained through action. When the disciples asked the Master how they should pray, he not only explained to them how to pray, but what they were responsible for and how to receive forgiveness:

Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, emphasis added)

Then the Master continued:

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6:14-15)

When it comes to our interpersonal relationships, forgiveness is not simply a matter of praying a prayer and going on our way. No, if we have sinned against a brother, we should pray for forgiveness and also go to be reconciled with him. Or vice versa, if a brother has sinned against us, we should go and forgive him of his wrongdoing. In this way, the forgiveness that God grants us is shown through our lives and true reconciliation is made. Forgiveness should be a tangible reality in our lives, not simply an abstract legality in the courts of heaven. God’s will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In my opinion, this is perhaps the most difficult commandment in the entire Bible. It requires an enormous amount of faith and humility. Yet, great faith or not, it is still the standard that God calls us to. It is so much easier to put on the religious face and pretend that everything is “A-OK” in our lives. But to do this is to deny the omniscience (all-knowing quality) of God. It is He who searches our hearts and calls us to walk in obedience. Though it is difficult, no other mitzvah I know holds so much potential for blessing and reward. It is truly a wonderful thing to see brothers dwell together in unity after a period of strife (Psalm 133:1).

So during this month of Elul, God is calling you to offer forgiveness to that brother or sister who burned you years ago. Or he may be calling you to ask for forgiveness from the people you said those careless words to last week. If left unresolved, these breaches in our interpersonal relationships ultimately lead to a separation from God. But if we swallow our pride, and reconcile with our brothers and sisters, we will be drawn closer to the Father. May we have in us the same spirit as that young Jewish boy far from home and feeding pigs...

I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight…” (Luke 15:18)

Grace and peace,
Seth Michael Dralle
8 Elul 5767

About the Author: Seth Dralle is the fulfillment and shipping department manager and a research and teaching assistant for FFOZ. He is also a contributor to messiah magazine, the Monthly eRosh and the Torah Club Online Dictionary.

Visitor Comments

Hi Seth,

I enjoyed your post, important points indeed...

Posted by: michael kemp | August 22, 2007 5:06 PM

Oh so true - especially within a society that seems to thrive on seeking and glorifying vengeance (check out most film themes)! I remember on one occasion The Lord spoke to my spirit saying "... Warren, if you continue to seek vindication for yourself than there's nothing I can do for you!" ... so I let go and He didn't let me down :-)

Posted by: Warren Wysocki | August 23, 2007 5:56 AM

So what do you do when you've had to break off contact with an abusive person who doesn't think they've done anything wrong? What if you want to forgive, but contact (let alone a relationship) is impossible?

Seth's Comment: Primarily, the important issue is the status of our hearts. If we have forgiven people in our hearts, then we have met the Master's standards. Complete reconciliation is not possible in all instances, especially in cases of abuse. But there can be forgiveness and a moving on past the hurt. It is probably best to not seek a close relationship with someone who has abused you. And obviously, it is probably best to not contact the person if there is a further threat of abuse or if they feel they have not done anything wrong.

Posted by: MJ Belko | August 23, 2007 7:23 AM

This is the first blog İ disliked at FFOZ!

İ like considering halacha concerning Shabbat etc but forgiveness.. Yet İ really would like to encourage you to go on with these kind of blogs because these are things which truly make us different from the world. The willingness to be humiliated, the willingness to endure shame for the Masters sake.

İ'll tell you this blog kept on blugging me:) Until İ surrendered and got to the point of sending an email extending forgiveness to a debtor.

Just saying in my mind I have forgiven her is not very difficult, but going to the one and telling it even though you know she didn't feel like she did something wrong is tough. (btw İ'm saying this for my own situation, İ fully agree with the position on the comment above)

"Let us be merciful even as our Father is merciful"

Seth's comment: I'm with you, halacha is much easier to get caught up in and is less threatening. But, the recorded words of the Master are suspiciously lacking direct halachic debate. Yet the personal morality is everywhere. I'm not saying we should disregard halacha, but we have to have the same priorities as Yeshua did. Thanks for your comment Daniel.

Posted by: Daniel | August 24, 2007 2:38 PM

Forgive those that have burned you! Forgive those that financed the burning, those of our house. Do good to those that persecute you. Love your enemy. Do this !! Save yourself and the world !!

Posted by: Harry | September 17, 2007 8:53 AM

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