‘Forgive us our debts’: Lord’s Prayer a window into Passover freedom

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What does “the Lord’s prayer” have to do with Moshe’s (Moses) asking God to show him “Your glory”? You might be surprised. And what does Pesakh (Passover) have to do with tithing, remission of debts every seven and 50 years, and pilgrimages to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) for Pesakh, Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles)? Here’s the thread through all of these topics: We are to remember from Whom our sustenance and wealth come and from Whom our freedom comes from the things that hold us captive.

The traditional Torah reading for Yom Zacharin shel Pesakh, the day after the seventh and last day of Matzot (Unleavened Bread), is Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17. When we look at the themes of this parashah (section), we can see why it was selected long ago as a bookend for the festival: 

• Deuteronomy 14:22–29: Instructions on the tithe, especially the third-year tithe to benefit those locally.
• Deuteronomy 15:1–23: Shmitah (Sabbatical year) and the remission of debts
• Deuteronomy 16:1–17: Instructions on the three pilgrimage moedim (appointments): Pesakh (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Booths or Tabernacles)

We are to remember from Whom our sustenance and wealth come and from Whom our freedom comes from the realm of bondage. 

Remission of debts

The Israelite’s refusal to honor the Shmitah is what led to the exiles from the Land. 

“It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man; so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever you do.” (Deuteronomy 15:18 NASB)

The wealthy took advantage of the debtors and refused to release them at the end of their contract. Our ancestors in faith or flesh had forgotten the their predecessors’ history, when they were slaves and subjected to servitude and even genocide while in Egypt. 

The remission of debts is an important lesson of Pesakh (Passover) and Yom haKippurim (Day of Atonement). The sins, transgressions and iniquities of the people have to be removed. 

• The blood of the Pesakh lamb/goat, selected on the 10th day of the first month on God’s calendar, covered the gates of a home, blocking the LORD’s Destroyer (wrath) from the firstborn of the family or households inside the night of the departure from Egypt (Exodus 12).
• On the 10th day of the seventh month, the blood of the goat for the LORD and the goat for Azaz’el (scapegoat) covered and removed, respectively, the sins, transgressions and iniquities (rebellion) of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16).

How much more is Yeshua (Jesus) — those patterns made flesh (John 1:14) — the “Lamb of God Who takes away [literally, carries] the sins of the world” (John 1:29). He bore the iniquities, intercedes for the transgressors and makes tzadiq (righteous) the many (Isaiah 53:11–12).

Matthew 6:1–13; Luke 11:2–4: ‘Forgive us our debts’

The Lord’s prayer reviews many of the themes of today’s Torah reading. 

““Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.

 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’] “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:9–15 NASB)

The Mashiakh (Messiah) emphasized the lessons in the Shmitah (sabbatical year) and Yobel (Jubilee) remission of debts, as seen in the “Lord’s prayer” (Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4).

• “ ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’” (Matthew 6:12 NASB)
• “‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.’” (Luke 11:4a NASB)

Our “open hand” to others (Deuteronomy 15) doesn’t always have to be about cash, but also with acts of hospitality such as providing food, clothing, shelter, etc., for those who need help. We are supposed to be people who mix their charity with prayer. But this is not to be for the purpose of being noticed and praised by others. It’s also not to make ourselves the center of attention. If we are moved to acts of charity for the purpose of pride and popularity, than we have already received our reward on earth and it brings us no spiritual benefit. 

We are told not to make vows and promises thoughtlessly because the Lord’s promises to us are not thoughtless or trivial. He does not break His promises so we should not make promises lightly either. 

If patriarchs such as Yosef (Joseph) ben Ya’akov (Jacob) could forgive his brother’s for their crimes against him, we can forgive those who hurt us, too. 

Exodus 33:17–18; 34:6–7: ‘Qadosh be Your name’

Like Yeshua taught the Twelve Apostles to seek the qadosh-ness of the Father, Moshe (Moses) sought to know the name of the LORD, and the LORD revealed it to him. It’s interesting to look closely at the language of Ex. 33:17-18. 

“The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”” (Exodus 33:17–18 NASB)

When God says, “I have known you (Moshe) by name,” He is saying He knows who Moses from the inside out, not just the spelling or sound of his name. And Moshe wants to know God in the same way. 

“Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’”(Exodus 34:6–7 NASB)

God obliged and gave Moshe a profound insight into His character. God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, lovingkindness, truth. He forgives iniquity, transgressions and sin. 

God is the one who was, who is and who is to come. God was with the children of Israel in their midst through their flight from Egypt and to the foot of Mt. Sinai. He wanted to be in the middle of His people. 

We are all called to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, just as Moshe and Yeshua did. 

Deuteronomy 16:1–17: Howdy, pilgrim

The lesson of Pesach is that we are called to leave where we are, and go back to our roots. We are on a journey to freedom and we are leaving the house of slavery.

The lesson of Shavuot is that we are on a journey to redemption and adoption. We see this in the adoption of 3,000 at Pentecost (the same number of people died after the Golden Calf incident in Exodus 32) and the reaping of God-fearers from the nations.

We have a new owner, we have been bought with a price and no longer slaves to the evil one. A thread through the pilgrimage moedim is we must leave where we are, and go back to our roots:

• The lesson of Yom Teruah (Trumpets) is that we must hear the call to turn to the LORD. 
• Yom Kippurim (Atonement) reminds us that we must leave behind sin, transgression and iniquity. 
• The lesson of Sukkot (Tabernacles/Booths) is that we will travel with the LORD to eternally dwell with the LORD. 

The LORD didn’t move out from the midst of Yisrael. Yisrael moved the LORD out of her midst through neglect, disdain, arrogance and ignorance. Let’s not do the same.

Summary: Tammy