Hi Randg,
I found the EBCNT says that CFD Moule makes an excellent point.  If we 
realize the seriousness of our own debts to God, which we can never repay, 
then we will not take the offenses of others against us so seriously:
Quote:
    Some have taken the second clause to mean that our forgiveness is the 
real cause of God's forgiveness, i.e., that God's forgiveness must be 
earned by our own. The problem is often judged more serious in Matthew than 
Luke, because the latter has the present "we forgive," the former the 
aorist (not perfect, as many commentators assume) aphekamen ("we have 
forgiven"). Many follow the suggestion of Jeremias (Prayers, pp. 92-93), 
who says that Matthew has awkwardly rendered an Aramaic perfectum praesens 
(a "present perfect"): he renders the clause "as we also herewith forgive 
our debtors."
    The real solution is best expounded by C.F.D. Moule ("` ... As we 
forgive ... `: a Note on the Distinction between Deserts and Capacity in 
the Understanding of Forgiveness," Donum Gentilicium, edd. E. Bammel et al. 
[Oxford: Clarendon 1978], pp. 68-77), who, in addition to detailing the 
most important relevant Jewish literature, rightly insists on 
distinguishing "between, on the one hand, earning or meriting forgiveness, 
and, on the other hand, adopting an attitude which makes forgiveness 
possible--the distinction, that is, between deserts and capacity.... Real 
repentance, as contrasted with a merely self-regarding remorse, is 
certainly a sine qua non of receiving forgiveness--an indispensable 
condition" (pp. 71-72). "Once our eyes have been opened to see the enormity 
of our offense against God, the injuries which others have done to us 
appear by comparison extremely trifling. If, on the other hand, we have an 
exaggerated view of the offenses of others, it proves that we have 
minimized our own" (Stott, pp. 149-50; see on 5:5, 7; 18:23-35). 
End Quote.
Sincerely in Christ,
Charlie Ray, 
Chaplain
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourself and your hearers.  (NIV).
chaplain@isgroup.net
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 * WR  # 461 * Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide.
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