Lessons in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther For the Senior Department of Lutheran Sunday-Schools and for General Use · George Mezger
LESSON 44.
The Lord's Prayer. The Fifth Petition. Which is the Fifth Petition? _Our Father who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us._ What does this mean? _We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor on their account deny our prayer; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for use daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we also heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us._ 1. _"And forgive us our trespasses,"_ thus the Lord teaches us to pray in the Fifth Petition. That means, as our Catechism explains these words: _"We pray in this petition that our Father would not look upon our sins."_ A child that has disobeyed his father approaches him sorrowfully, asks his forgiveness, and promises to be more obedient in future. We, the children of God, do the very same thing. Every day we come to our heavenly Father with a contrite heart and ask His _forgiveness._ Daily we confess that we have sinned again. We are deeply sorry that again we have been disobedient to His good will, that we have deserved His punishment. But we also know that God is _our gracious, loving Father,_ always willing to forgive us our many sins. We know that Christ has paid the _ransom for our transgressions_ and earned God's forgiveness for us. In our Savior's name, trusting in Him, we come to God every day and pray with deep shame, but also with firm confidence: My dear Father in heaven, I, a poor sinner, come to Thee and humbly confess that again I have trespassed and sinned against Thee. Do not look upon my sins, do not punish me as I have deserved, but regard Thy Son's righteousness and for His sake forgive me all my sins. We pray as did the prodigal son: _"Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight, and I am no more worthy to be called Thy son."_ Luke 15,21. However, accept me again for Christ's sake.
2. We have a _special reason_ for asking God's forgiveness in our prayers. We pray to God for many blessings, for many precious gifts, both heavenly and earthly. But we are sinners; _"we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them."_ If God would look upon our unworthiness and sin, how could He grant us our petitions? _"For we daily sin much and deserve nothing but punishment."_ As long as our sins separate us from God, we are certain that God will not hear us. Our prayers would indeed be in vain. Therefore we pray to our Father that He would not look upon our sins, _"nor on their account deny our prayer,"_ as we have so well deserved. We pray that He would grant us His forgiveness and give us all His rich blessings _by grace, for Christ's sake._ In Christ's name we come to our Father and confidently pray with the _publican_ in the Temple: _"God be merciful to me, a sinner."_ Luke 18,13.
3. Our Lord adds something to this petition. He says: _"As we forgive those who trespass against us."_ These words contain a _promise_ on our part. Because God so graciously and willingly forgives us our many and great sins, we promise that _we also will forgive those who sin against us._ There are such as sin against us, wrong and grieve us with word or deed. But how small are their faults over against the great and grievous sins we have committed against our Father in heaven! Having received the gracious forgiveness of our Father, how could we do otherwise than forgive also those who trespass against us? Willingly we promise to forgive them, and to do so _heartily, from our hearts,_ as our Father has forgiven us, and not only to forgive them, but _readily_ to _do good to them._ Does not our Father do the same thing to us? We sin against Him and grieve Him daily, and nevertheless He not only forgives us, but He also blesses us every day with all His gifts for body and soul. If, on the other hand, we refuse to forgive our brother, we shall not obtain forgiveness from our Father. _"When we stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."_ Mark 11,25.26. (Read carefully the beautiful parable of our Lord about the _wicked servant,_ Matt. 18,23-35.)
1. _We pray in this petition: My dear Father in heaven, do not look upon my sins and do not on their account deny my prayer. I am not worthy of any of the things for which I pray, but on account of Thy grace hear my prayer and forgive me all my sins for Christ's sake._ 2. _We promise in this petition: My dear Father in heaven, as Thou hast forgiven me the multitude of my sins and hast granted me daily all Thy precious blessings, so will I show Thee my gratitude by heartily forgiving those who sin against me and readily doing good to them. Grant me grace to do this, dear heavenly Father._ _Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight and am no more worthy to be called Thy son._ Luke 15,21. _God be merciful to me, a sinner._ Luke 18,13. _When ye stand praying, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses._ Mark 11,25.26.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.