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耶稣用这篇通常被称为“主祷文”的祷告，来教导跟从祂的人如何祈祷。然而，耶稣自己并不需要这样祷告，祂并没有任何需要免去的债务或罪过；但祂的门徒却有这个需要，所以祂便教导他们如此祷告。而我们岂不也需要如此祷告吗？

承认我们需要饶恕不是一件容易的事。但是，让我们看看这项祈求的下半部怎样说“……如同我们免了人的债。”有时我很想知道：“如果神照着我们饶恕别人那样来饶恕我们，我们得到神的饶恕会到什么地步呢？”

在尼日利亚时，有一次难过的经历，令我想起这个祷告。我们很信任我们所雇用的管家，他是我们家庭的一份子；他知道我们的生活习惯，包括我们放置金钱的抽屉钥匙收藏的地方。有一天，我们当场抓住了他——他正准备从抽屉里偷取金钱。

尽管如此，他仍然极力地否认。后来，他很不情愿地承认了他做了什么事；他恳求我们免了他的“债”。饶恕是不容易的，我们感到受伤和难过。他配得到饶恕吗？然而，我们自己又怎样呢——我们配得到神饶恕我们的罪吗？

我们为这事祷告，又去请教一位满有智慧的尼日利亚朋友。最后，我们终于决定饶恕我们的管家，而他也继续为我们工作。

Jesus taught his followers this prayer, and it is often called "The Lord's Prayer." But it is a prayer that Jesus didn't need to pray. He had no debts or sins for which he needed forgiveness. His disciples did, though, so he taught them this prayer. We also need this prayer, don't we?

Acknowledging that we need forgiveness is not easy. But look at the last part of this request: "... as we also have forgiven our debtors." I sometimes wonder, "If God were to forgive us as we forgive others, how forgiven would we be?"

A difficult experience we had in Nigeria makes me think about this prayer. The steward we hired was a trusted part of our family. He knew our ways, including the place where we hid the key for our cash drawer. We caught him one day—almost in the act of taking money from the drawer.

Even so, he denied it—strongly. Then later, but not willingly, he admitted what he had done. He begged us to forgive his "debt." It was not easy to forgive. We were hurt and grieved. Did he deserve forgiveness? But what about us—did we deserve God's forgiveness for our sins?

We prayed. We sought the advice of a wise Nigerian friend. We were led to forgive our steward, and he continued to work for us.