Christ's Blueprint for Prayer: Reconciliation Repentance toward God and Forgiveness of Others

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. Luke 11:4

Now Jesus instructs that each prayer should have a place in which forgiveness is asked from God and because of that forgiveness we also forgive those who have sinned against us.

Very few prayers omit asking for forgiveness but ironically very few include granting it. It should be noted that forgiveness is given by God based upon what Jesus has done for us. No work or righteousness which we do can have redeeming merit from God. Yet we must not write off the fact that these two acts of forgiveness are tied together. It should seem impossible to us who have been forgiven all our sin through Jesus Christ, to be unable to forgive someone else a slight or and offense no matter how great.

Read the following parable told by Christ.

Matthew 18:23-35

 23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
 

What is the lesson to be learned from this parable? We who have been forgiven a debt against God which we could never repay, should be grateful and willing to forgive those who have sinned against us. To not do so is to mock and count as nothing the much greater forgiveness we have received.

The forgiveness of our unbelief against God, is not conditional upon anything except the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and my accepting His death on my behalf. Continued forgiveness from God after I have experience the new birth of salvation may be hindered if I cannot forgive those around me. It is absurd to harbor feelings of resentment and bitterness toward another when God, who has every right to send me to hell for all eternity, willing forgave me and made me his child. What offense against me could be greater than my rebellion against God which caused His own Son to die on the cross?