Forgive
In these post-Pentecost Sundays of the church year, Jesus continues to teach the crowds that gathered around Him, as well as His disciples. This Sunday is no different:
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:1–13 ESV
“For we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” When we hear it this way, our ears might stand up. Further, as we receive other passages of Scripture (Matthew 6:15, Matthew 18:35), our consciences might also be pricked. Luther helps unpack this forgiveness of others so beautifully in his Large Catechism:
93 There is here attached a necessary, yet comforting addition: “As we forgive.” He has promised that we shall be sure that everything is forgiven and pardoned, in the way that we also forgive our neighbor. 94 Just as we daily sin much against God, and yet He forgives everything through grace, so we, too, must ever forgive our neighbor who does us injury, violence, and wrong, shows malice toward us, and so on. 95 If, therefore, you do not forgive, then do not think that God forgives you [Matthew 18:23–25]. But if you forgive, you have this comfort and assurance, that you are forgiven in heaven. 96 This is not because of your forgiving. For God forgives freely and without condition, out of pure grace, because He has so promised, as the Gospel teaches. But God says this in order that He may establish forgiveness as our confirmation and assurance, as a sign alongside of the promise, which agrees with this prayer in Luke 6:37, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Therefore, Christ also repeats it soon after the Lord’s Prayer, and says in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” and so on.
97 This sign is therefore attached to this petition. When we pray, we remember the promise and think, “Dear Father, for this reason I come and pray for You to forgive me, not so that I can make satisfaction or can merit anything by my works. I pray because You have promised and attached the seal to this prayer that I should be as sure about it as though I had Absolution pronounced by You Yourself.” 98 For Baptism and the Lord’s Supper—appointed as outward signs—work as seals [Ephesians 1:13]. In the same way also, this sign can serve to confirm our consciences and cause them to rejoice. It is especially given for this purpose, so that we may use and practice forgiveness every hour, as a thing that we have with us at all times.1
Dear friend, let Jesus be the one who molds your life and your habits. Forgive freely and often and without price or cost, as your Father in Heaven has richly forgiven you through Jesus Christ. As Luther closes in the above section, you have forgiveness with you at all times. You have Christ at all times. And so, you have His beautiful gifts to share with the world. So forgive radically as Christ forgives you.
Dear Redeemed Friends,
“Don’t ask others to do what you are not doing or willing to do.” So, in spring of 2024, the LCMS Northern Illinois District (NID) staff headed to Tabor Lutheran in Chicago for a Shine! project. Shine! is all about connecting congregations, ministries, and fellow Christians to help and serve in the name of Jesus to bear witness to Jesus as Savior.
That day, we also went to the local public school for some hours of service. Amazingly, as we met with the principal, one of the first things out of her mouth was, “We love our Lutheran pastors!” I do not know if she is a believer in Christ, but the Lutheran pastors and local congregation had built a meaningful relationship. Well done!
This year, we headed to Christ the King Lutheran Church and School on the near south side of Chicago to serve again. This time, we also had the opportunity to recognize the 50+ years of service of Rev. John and Geri Brazeal in this urban setting. What dedication and long-term impact of these two servants of Christ! We are “Stronger Together: Co-Workers for the Kingdom of God!”
What’s ahead?
Paul Timothy McCain, ed., Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005), 419–420.