Lesson 7Prayer |
We have come to the last two verses in this series on “PRAYER”. Yet in no way do we stop learning how to pray and the correct attitude we should have at ALL times. Remember how we have defined prayer. It is an outpouring of the heart in times of persecutions, pain, joy and in the times of need to someone that you know has the ability to meet you at that moment, give you what you need at that special time, and to share it with you. Prayer is also an outpouring of thanksgiving and gratitude for how that someone has met your known and unknown needs.
During this series, we have seen that Jesus has asked us his disciples, to seek the Father for everything. We are to have a forgiving heart and to know that the Father’s will is to be done here on earth. In doing these things we will see ourselves grow in the knowledge that our Father loves us. Moreover, see Him in everything we do and what is going on around us as part of His plan to reach mankind.
These last two verses show how much it means to have a forgiving heart. But it even goes deeper than that. Read Matthew 6:14 – 15:
14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Do you see that Jseus introduces additional direction here? Do you understand the level and meaning of what He is directing us to do? Yes, Jesus said AMEN and the end of verse 13, but this is still part of the teaching of prayer that his disciples have to learn. Jesus still uses the word forgive, but does not use these words in these two verses “… our debts or debtors…”. Here Jesus talks about “…men their trespasses…”. Why? What is he asking of His disciples? Look at how it is linked to the Father?
In order to examine this more closely, we need to know the meaning of the words in this verse:
Forgive = to let go, give up, to disregard, send away as not demanding what is owed to you.
Men = mankind or the human race.
Trespasses = a false step, lapse, a falling away, a deviation from truth & uprightness, a blunder; all of these terms are in the face of knowing the truth or what is right and correct.
Jesus is pushing his disciples into a deeper and wider view of the world and the events going on. As you have just learned the word men stands for mankind or the human race. Let us go into this a little deeper. What did Jesus come here to earth to do? The answer is to save the world at that time and the time to come until His Father calls an end to the world, as we know it now.
God is always teaching mankind lesson about Himself and our relationship with Him. In reading Exodus 7 – 12, we see that God brings plagues to teach that there is no other God but Him and, that mankind will have a choice in serving Him or not. Read Romans 8:28 for a complete explanation of God’s plan and it works. Yet if we chose not to learn and grow into what He has planned, the relationship we have with Him is damage. Remember, Pharaoh and Saul made the wrong chose and it cost them. Also, remember it is not too late to fix the relationship relationship as long as God gives us the opportunity. Think of the two thieves on the cross with Jesus; one got it right and in time.
Now, understand all of this, let us look at the word trespasses. The viewpoint here is that a person or persons knows the truth and what is right and correct based on God’s standards, but has made a lapse in judgment which has cause a problem or has put some events into action which will affect or has affected mankind in some way. These events may not be major nor make it to the headline news, but here is the deeper point that Jesus was making. We, who are His disciple or servants, must see everything from God’s viewpoint in that we are His children and His plan is at work. So how can we do our job if we do not seek Him for understanding of the events going on around us? Why is this linked to our relationship with God? Some of these events may put us into hard times or facing life in ways we do not like. Therefore, we get angry with those who cause the problems or events that we experience. We, the victim, want to fix or get even with the trespasser. We forget that God has a plan and that this event or experience is part of it. Therefore, we need to let His light and love shine through us at these times so that people can come to Him.
Read Acts 16 11 – 40, and see how they let the light and love of God lead them and NOT fall victim to the flesh. This is what Jesus is talking about in verses 14 – 15. We must understand: it not about self, but about showing off Jesus Christ and His mission.
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