Matthew 6:12
At the core of our relationship with God is how John the Baptist began his ministry—‘offering a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ In Jesus, God was about coming to the people, us, and redeeming them. The story of the Prodigal illustrates clearly that God, the Father, is running toward us to forgive us of our sins. Once forgiven (but not to earn forgiveness), we are to respond by living and offering that same forgiveness to others. Matthew’s version uses the word ‘debts.’ As our debts are forgiven by God and we forgive other’s debts to us, the kingdom comes truly among us and relationships are set right.