Matthew 6:12 has the word debts, Matthew 6:14 has trespasses, and Luke 11:4 has sins—three different English words for three different Greek words. So whether we pray for our debts our trespasses or our sins to be forgiven, we pray biblically. The words mean roughly the same thing.
Similarly, in Deuteronomy 15, God says that every seven years, creditors should “remit the claim that is held against a neighbor” because “the Lord's remission has been proclaimed.” In the New Testament, Jesus instructs his followers to pray “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, ...
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
The word debt suggests we owe God something we cannot pay. “Forgive us our debts” suggests that we have done things that we should not have done, and left undone things we should have done. “Forgive us our trespasses” comes from the Book of Common Prayer, which is why many people use the word trespasses.
The 'Parable of the Unforgiving Servant' is from the Christian Bible: Matthew 18:21-35. It details the story of a servant who was forgiven a massive (unrepayable) debt, only to refuse forgiveness to another servant who owed a relatively small debt.
One example comes from Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God has forgiven you.” In this sentence, Paul has summarized the biblical message: that we are to be kind, compassionate and forgiving.
Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little. Romans 4:4 - Wages, like a debt owed, must be paid.
The reason we pray “Forgive us our debts” is not because we've lost our state of grace and need to be re-saved. Justification is permanent. Rather, confessing our sin reminds us there's more to salvation than being justified. Salvation also involves being sanctified and treated as sons.
A Powerful Prayer for Getting Out of Debt
Dear God, I pray for relief from the burden and unbearable weight of debt. I'm so thankful that even though I may have made bad choices that got me into debt, You are much bigger than my mistakes. I ask for deliverance from the stress of debt.
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
“At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money. This is how it must be done.
You might say to God: “Heavenly Father, I lift this person up to you and put this situation in your hands. Please give me wisdom. Please bless this person financially so they will never feel the need to borrow in the future.
ESV Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. NIV Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. NASB One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.
The "trespasses" version appears in the 1526 translation by William Tyndale (Tyndale spelling "treaspases"). In 1549 the first Book of Common Prayer in English used a version of the prayer with "trespasses". This became the "official" version used in Anglican congregations.
Matthew 18:23-35
But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
“13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
With this declaration, Alma identified for Corianton the three most abominable sins in the sight of God: (1) denying the Holy Ghost, (2) shedding innocent blood, and (3) committing sexual sin. Adultery was third to murder and the sin against the Holy Ghost as abominable sins.
ESV And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." NIV And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Romans 5:1 In-Context
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Proverbs 3:27-28 is a very sweeping, broad stroke scripture. It offers quite a bit of instruction. First of all, it says in verse 27 we must not withhold good from our neighbors. The word good here does not mean just being nice in general. The emphasis is on providing tangible goods or material goods for our neighbor.
Debt and debtor are used in a moral sense also as indicating the obligation of a righteous life which we owe to God. To fall short in righteous living is to become a debtor. For this reason we pray, "Forgive us our debts" (Matthew 6:12).
Bible Gateway Deuteronomy 15 :: NIV. At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite.
ESV Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NIV Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. NASB Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Romans 8:18 in Other Translations
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.