Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you should forgive mankind of their sins, your heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you should not forgive humanity, neither will your Father forgive your sins.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

There are many words in the Greek New Testament that are used to describe sinful behavior:

1. Most of the words are similar in meaning to the typical word for sin: hamartia (ἁμαρτία).  This is a word that simply means an act contrary to the will and Law of God.  There are no less than 4 different words and their cognates for this kind of sin.
2. Another dimension of sin is found in skandalidzo (σκανδαλίζω), a word we’ve seen just a verses earlier in Matthew 5:27-39.  This word means the bait which causes us to fall into a trap.  It is the root of our English word scandal.  There are no less than 4 words and their cognates that deal with sin in terms of entrapment or bait or leading someone into sin.
3. There is the word opheilo (ὀφείλω) about which we spoke yesterday.  This is the economic language of sin with respect to a moral debt that we incur against God that we cannot repay on our own.
4. There is the word agnoema (ἀγνόημα).  This word is literally an offense done in complete ignorance.  This kind of sin is a wrongdoing incurred by someone who legitimately doesn’t know what they are doing is wrong.  This does not negate the sin.
5. Another common dimension for sin is the word paraptoma (παράπτωμα).  This word literally means a false step.  This word usually describes sin that is either done unintentionally or sin that is done in the absence of genuinely considering the consequences of our actions.  This is the word that is used here in these verses for today.  There are no less than 3 different words and all of their cognates in the Greek that deal with this kind of action.

Have you ever thought there were so many words that the New Testament translates as sin?  What does it mean to you to realize that there are so many words that mean sin?  Why do you think the Bible has so many words to describe sin?  Note that this is just the words that deal with sin and doesn’t count the effects of sin such as “guilt.”

Second Thought:

Having looked at the many ways to talk about sin, notice that Jesus is specifically using a word in this passage that means a false step.  When Jesus is talking about sin here, He is not talking about the intentional or planned sin.  Jesus is reminding us that people are human and naturally make mistakes during the course of an activity, a day, or their life.  These missteps are unintentional, although their consequences are real.  But we should be willing to forgive these unintentional missteps.

How willing are you to forgive the unintentional missteps of others?  How does this speak to the idea of giving people the benefit of the doubt?  How does this tie in to grace?

Third Thought:

 Jesus is clear.  If we are filled with grace and forgive the unintentional missteps of others, then God will be willing to forgive our unintentional missteps.  However, if we are bitter in our hearts and we are unwilling to forgive the unintentional missteps of others then our Father will treat us the same way and be not so willing to forgive our unintentional missteps.  What a miserable existence that would be!  This is every reason for me to live life in a very forgiving manner.  If I learn to be quick to give grace and quick to forgive the unintentional errors of the people around me, I demonstrate how I desire to be treated by God.  And I would rather have God willing to forgive my unintentional sinfulness than scrutinizing my life with a fine tooth comb!

How about you?  Would you rather God look upon your unintentional sin with grace or scrutiny?  Do you need to change how you look at other people and their sinfulness because of this teaching of Jesus?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 6:16-18