The Small Catechism – part 176
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:4–6
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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From the Confessions: The Small Catechism
The Fifth Petition
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would not hold our sins against us and deny our prayers because of them. We know we have not earned, nor do we deserve, those things for which we pray. But we ask that he would grant us all things through grace, even though we sin every day and deserve nothing but punishment. And so we, too, will heartily forgive, and gladly do good to those who sin against us.
Pulling It Together: The unity of the church begins and ends with God. Her unity is the Spirit’s work — not yours or mine. Christ’s Spirit unites the church. There is but one body of Christ, not many bodies, and we are brought into the one body through baptism. Now, you may say that there are many kinds of churches and even different modes of baptism. Granted, but there is one Head of the body into whom we are all baptized. He is our unity — not our church names or rituals. God holds us all together, just as surely as he holds together the whole creation (Colossians 1:17). Though we cannot destroy his unity, we should be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:3). That begins with the word of forgiveness that we daily and weekly pray we will give.
Prayer: Lord God, give me your courageous humility so that I may forgive. Amen.
Click here for resources to learn the Ten Commandments.
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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