Fifth petition. ὀφειλήματα, in classics literal debts, here moral debts, sins (ἁμαρτίας in Luke 11:4). The more men desire God's will to be done the more conscious they are of shortcoming. The more conscious of personal shortcoming, the more indulgent towards the faults of others even when committed against themselves. Hence the added words: ὡς καὶ ἡ. ἀφήκαμεν, etc. It is natural and comforting to the sincere soul to put the two things together. ὡς must be taken very generally. The prayer proceeds from child-like hearts, not from men trained in the distinctions of theology. The comment appended in Matthew 6:14-15 introduces an element of reflection difficult to reconcile with the spontaneity of the prayer. It is probably imported from another connection, e.g., Matthew 18:35 (so Weiss-Meyer).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament