The Lord's Prayer - 3

Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us

“Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:11-12 NIV).

   My understanding of the Lord’s Prayer increased a great deal when I realized the bread spoken of here is more than physical food.  Jesus said, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33 NIV).  And in John 6:35, Jesus stated He is the bread of life.  Thus the need here is not physical food, though obviously we need such, rather for spiritual sustaining, which only Jesus can provide.  We need Jesus!
   Some people think “our daily bread” is referring to the Bible, based on Jesus’ statement in Matthew 4:4.  We listen to God through Scripture so it ties in with needing Christ.
   Central in the mission of Christ was His death on a cross as the sacrificial atonement to offer the forgiveness of sins to anyone.  Jesus offers forgiveness.  And Jesus tells us to forgive anyone who has sinned against us, no exceptions.  He enables!
Hunter Irvine