主教導我們在祈求日用的飲食之後，便祈求神赦免我們的罪。

甚麼是赦免？這個詞若用在債項方面，就表示免去人所欠的債。如果用在過錯方面，就表示寬恕別人的過錯。若用在罪惡方面，就表示把過去所犯的罪一筆勾銷。我們都熟悉這個詞，父母饒恕孩子的過錯時，經常會說：「我原諒你的過錯，但以後不要再犯了。」

我們每個人都需要神的赦免。新英語聖經譯本把這節翻譯為「赦免我們所犯的過錯」。這裡所指的是甚麼過錯呢？由於這是神的兒女向天父發出的禱文，換言之，必然是神的兒女在生命中所犯的過錯。

我們是否察覺到，我們很多時候都需要祈求神的赦免？我們沒有正視自己的壞脾氣、自我中心的表現和驕傲自大的心態，反而用種種藉口來為自己解釋。我們很少省察隱藏在心中的嫉妒，以及對其他信徒的不滿。我們實在需要聖靈指出我們的過錯。我們要經常默想約翰壹書一章7至9節的話，常向天父祈求說：「父啊，求你赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。」

禱告的下半句也是十分淺顯的：「正如我們免了人的債」。但我們不要誤解，以為是因為我們饒恕了別人，所以才得著神的饒恕。事實上，我們是因為基督的救贖而得著神的赦免。既然神也願意赦免我們的罪債，我們還有甚麼理由不去饒恕得罪我們的人呢？

饒恕那曾經傷害我們的人，實在並不容易，可能傷害深及內心。然而，我們若要與基督有親密的相交，就必須有一顆願意寬恕別人的心。有沒有人是我們難以寬恕的呢？曾經深深的傷害令你耿耿於懷。它在多久以前發生？對方是否真的犯了彌天大錯？事件真的傷害了你，還是只傷害了你的自尊心？

你願意把這件事帶到神的面前，求神醫治你的創傷，及你心中的不平嗎？因著神願意饒恕你，你可否同樣饒恕別人呢？你願意為基督的緣故而饒恕別人嗎？

願我們都時刻默念這句禱文：「求你免我們的債，如同我們免了人的債。」

In the family prayer given to us by our Lord, the request for daily bread is followed by the request for forgiveness.

What is forgiveness? The word, if used concerning a debt, means the debt has been cancelled. If it is used regarding an offence, it means the person has been pardoned. If used concerning sin, it means the sin has been wiped out. We all know the word very well. It reminds us of our parents saying, "I forgive you, but don't do it again."

We all need forgiveness. The New English Bible says, "Forgive us the wrong we have done." What wrong and what sin are we talking about here? This prayer belongs to the family of God, so it must be sin in the life of a child of God.

Do we realize how often we need to pray this prayer? We excuse our outbursts of temper, our selfishness and our pride. We think too little of envy or jealousy. We hide our wrong feelings toward a fellow Christian. We need the Holy Spirit to point these things out to us. We need to pray this prayer often, "Forgive us Father for the wrong and the sin in our lives." (1 Jn 1:7-9)

The second part of the phrase also is very plain: "As we also have forgiven our debtors". We are not forgiven because we have forgiven others. We are forgiven because of Christ. Having been forgiven ourselves, we could hardly withhold forgiveness for others.

Forgiving someone who has wronged us is not easy. It can cut very deeply, yet one of the conditions of complete fellowship with Christ is a forgiving spirit. Is there someone you have never forgiven? You were hurt deeply. You have never forgotten it. How long ago was it? How big was it really? Did it hurt you or did it only hurt your pride?

Can you ask God's forgiveness for those wrong feelings today? Then because He will forgive you, will you forgive that other person? Will you do it for Christ's sake?

Let's say the phrase again, "Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors." May that be our continuing prayer.