Lord’s Prayer – Forgive, Sin/Debts

Matthew 6:12 and Luke 11:4a focuses on two things: forgive and sins/debits. No, these are not perfectly identical. Luke’s version is longer and gives more details. I suggest you use Mounce or do a text analysis and compare our translations with the Greek. A major difference between Matthew and Luke is that Luke uses two words for sins. Here are some of the words you will see in these two versions of the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:12 MOUNCE – and forgive us our sins, as we also – Bible Gateway

Luke 11:4 MOUNCE – and forgive us our sins, for we – Bible Gateway

In non-biblical Greek writings, the words forgive, sin, and debit are frequently found in legal and commercial matters. This complements Jesus’ last utterance on the cross of a single Greek word. That single word was tetelestai, that is everything, everyone, and all has been paid for, and any debit has been taken care of in the future. THANK YOU, LORD JESUS.

This legal side of righteousness reminds me of the verses of Exodus 34:6-7 and Nehemiah 9:17 where the attributes of God are given. Him being willing to forgive us is just one of the things He is and does.

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