Debts & Debtors: What the Bible Says

Almost everyone has debts of one kind or another. Debts are something you owe to someone in return for something they gave or did for you. Some people have good credit because they repay their debts while other's have bad credit because they do not or cannot repay their debts. Jesus Christ paid a debt we owed when He died on the cross for our sins in one huge act of Grace (undeserved favor). Do we owe Jesus Christ a debt for sacrificing Himself as God's only Son? Let's see what the Bible says about debts and debtor's.

What Jesus said about Debts
When Jesus prayed the prayer we refer to as "The Lord's Prayer" He not only set an example of how we were to pray, he felt that debts and debtors was an important enough issue to address God the Father with when He asked Him to forgive our debts in the same way that we forgive other's, in other word's, if we demand payment of debts owed to us by others God will demand payment of our debt that we owe Him. However, if we are forgiving or understanding of people who are in debt to us-expecting nothing in return God will be understanding of the debt we owe Him.

• And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matt. 6:12

Peter asks Jesus how many times we should forgive someone
When Peter approached Jesus asking Him how many times should he forgive someone (his brother) if they did him wrong would forgiving him seven times be enough and Christ told Peter that seven times was not enough and to forgive him 70 times 7 times:
Jesus saith unto him, say not unto thee, until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matt.18:22
Jesus went on to tell a parable of sin and forgiveness. He told a story of a King who had servants which owed him money.  A certain servant begged the King to give him more time to pay his debt and the King was good as he showed compassion and forgave the debt so the servant. However, this same servant went to his fellow servants and roughly demanded payment from them, would not show compassion and even went as far as putting them in prison until they could pay. The fellow servants told their Lord what was done to them by the servant who had been forgiven his debt and the Lord was angry and sent him to be tortured. 

• Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
• Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
• Matthew 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
• Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
• Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
• Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
• Matthew 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
• Matthew 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
• Matthew 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
• Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
• Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
• Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
• Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Debtor's

• Luke 7:41
• Gal. 5:3

You should not lend one from another and if you do then you should not expect repayment and you will not be dissappointed if the debt is not paid.
What Jesus said about Lending:
Jesus said to give of what you have to those who ask of you without asking for anything in return.

• Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. Luke 6:30

Jesus said to do something good for everyone. He specifically points out the fact that  only doing good for people who have done good things for you is not a Christ like act when he states "For sinners also do even the same."

• For if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. Luke. 6:33

Jesus tells us that as Children of God we are expected to give of what we have to other's without expecting anything in return.

• And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Luke 6:34

We have certain responsibilities when we are Christians and the most important is love.  In Luke we see that we are not only required to love those that love us but we are required to love our enemies and evil people as well. He expects us to  do good, and lend with no expectation of getting anything in return. When we strive to take care of these responsibilities we are assured of a great reward.

• But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35

We are instructed to be merciful to other's in the same way that our Father in heaven has been merciful to us. There is no way we could ever repay what He has done for us when He sent His only Son to die as recompense for our sins, nor did He expect to repay Him. However, He does expect us to treat other's in the same way. If you are going to lend than you should simply give to other's and expect nothing in return and you will receive your reward in heaven with Him for doing so.

• Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36

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Memory Verse

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matt. 6:12

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