Article June 29, 1929 Issue

"As we forgive our debtors"

VERONA SMITH

"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," said Jesus, when he was teaching his disciples how to pray. Just before this, however, he had instructed them concerning right conduct toward their fellow-men, and had spoken these significant words: "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

Among all the qualities the disciples needed before they could go into the world to bless and to heal mankind, was not love the greatest? Love—not the impulsive, fluctuating, changeable emotion commonly called love, but the love which Paul describes in his letter to the Colossians as the putting on of the "bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." This love indeed comes down from the Father, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." It is the tender compassion which the Master practiced untiringly, and which helped him to meet the human need. Love, then, is what the disciples especially needed before they could be disciples in word and in deed.

On page 17 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy gives as the spiritual interpretation of the words of the Lord's Prayer, quoted at the beginning, "And Love is reflected in love." So, Jesus taught his disciples that, in order to have their own debts forgiven, they must themselves reflect divine Love.

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