Forgiving the Unthinkable

For our time together, I have an interesting tea blend for us called Pumping Pomegranate, it contains the tastes found in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul; hibiscus, rosehip, spices, apple & elderberries.

We are going to reflect upon a difficult but essential topic as we sip this interesting blend today.

I thought in keeping with the travel theme of the middle east, we would have some delicious dates, almonds, dried apricots all from Turkey with gf orange blossom & fig cookies.

Now we are enjoying these delights, let us begin our reflection…

Have you ever had to forgive the unthinkable?

I realise that question may raise some queries at to what exactly unthinkable or maybe another way of putting it would be unforgivable means.

It really can be defined as; any action that is so great that it can be classified as unforgivable or unthinkable to the one on the receiving end of that action.

And I do understand, truly I do, that to forgive an action that is classified as unforgivable is no easy or light task to even contemplate, let alone do!

Why do I understand?

Because I too have had to come to that place in forgiving a medical professional whose actions caused the death of my only son, Benjamin. Which I shared in The truth behind the mask.

However, forgiveness, isn’t a one time event, is it!

For in our exegetical dig into The Lord’s Prayer, we have come to the verse that highlights this very topic.

Let’s look at the entire prayer first to get this verse in context;

Our Father who is in Heaven,

Holy is your name,

Your kingdom come, your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven,

Provide for us today our daily needs,

And forgive us our transgressions,

as we forgive others their transgressions against us, 

Help us not to stray into temptation, 

But deliver us from the evil one. 

Amen.

Matthew 6: 9-13

However, there’s an initial part to that verse isn’t there, ‘And forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive others…’ Jesus is teaching us an important principle here which we will examine today.

Isn’t it just Semantics?

In translating this verse in the intervening years from the original Aramaic that Jesus spoke, into Greek. Then into the English versions, various words have been used in what we are asking forgiveness for & forgiving; debts, sins, trespasses, offenses & transgressions are some.

However, I always like to go back to the original source for the true context & meaning. The Aramaic word that Jesus used here is;

‘ḥōb,

which means a debt owed…a moral debt.’