Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
Verse 12. And forgive us our debts, etc. The word debts is here used figuratively. It does not mean literally that we are debtors to God, but that our sins have a resemblance to debts. Debtors are those who are bound to others for some claim in commercial transactions; for something which we have had, and for which we are bound to pay according to contract.
And forgive us our debts,.... Nothing is more frequent in the Jewish writings than to call sins "debts"; and the phrase, of forgiving, is used both of God and men. Thus the prayer of Solomon is paraphrased (y) by the Targumist: "and hear thou the petition of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make before this place; and do thou receive...
Because we are ignorant of what to pray as we ought, Christ puts words into our mouths. The form can be used as a prayer itself, though it also serves as a summary of what our prayers should contain. Use it with understanding, not vain repetition.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 6:9-15