If We Don’t Forgive Others, Will God Not Forgive Us?

Key takeaways

The concept of the good eye vs. bad eye illustrates the importance of perception in understanding and receiving God's generosity.
God's tests are opportunities for growth and trust, whereas temptations arise from inner desires and mislead us.
The request for daily bread in prayer reflects not just a need for physical nourishment but also a deeper need for spiritual sustenance through Jesus.
Forgiveness involves recognizing and reflecting on the depth of God's grace in our own lives and impacts how we relate to others.

Summary

The Good Eye and the Bad Eye in Context

In this segment, Tim and Jon dive into Abigail's insightful question about Jesus' riddle regarding the eye as the lamp of the body. They discuss the Biblical concept of the 'good eye' and 'bad eye'—the former representing generosity and the latter indicating stinginess. By linking this riddle to Genesis 3, they explore how the idea of perception in seeing relates to discerning goodness and generosity from God versus succumbing to greed or misperception. This discussion reveals the broader implications of these teachings beyond financial matters, emphasizing the quality of one’s perception and relationship with God.

God’s Testing vs. Temptation

Tim and Jon tackle questions from Aslan and Michael regarding the nature of God’s testing as described in the Bible, particularly contrasting it with James 1, where God is said not to tempt anyone. They elucidate the distinction between God’s tests, which are designed for growth and depend on trust, versus temptations stemming from disordered desires, which can lead to sin. The dialogue emphasizes that while God may allow tests to build character, temptations ultimately arise from human desires misaligned with God’s will.

Praying for Daily Bread and Its Significance

In this section, Joshua presents a thought-provoking question about the line in the Lord’s Prayer asking for 'daily bread' and how it connects to Jesus' identification of himself as the 'bread of life'. Tim and Jon discuss the historical reference to manna in the wilderness and the importance of trusting God for daily provisions. They elaborate on the deeper spiritual connection of daily bread as not solely physical sustenance but also as a request for closeness to Jesus, the ultimate source of life and nourishment.

Understanding Conditional Forgiveness

Maya poses a profound question about the notion of forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, highlighting the tension between Jesus’ unconditional forgiveness and the conditional aspect implied in the prayer. Tim and Jon explore this paradox, suggesting that while God's forgiveness is generous, the act of forgiving others is a reflection of our own understanding of that forgiveness. They imply that being unable to forgive may hinder our full experience of God's grace, thereby framing forgiveness as both an obligation and a grace that transforms our relationships.

Show notes

Sermon on the Mount Q+R 4 (E35) – Can Jesus’ riddle about the good eye and the bad eye also apply to Genesis 3? Does the Bible offer conflicting views on the topic of testing? What is the connection between asking God for our daily bread and Jesus calling himself the “Bread of Heaven?” Does God forgive us only after we forgive others? In this episode, Tim and Jon respond to your questions from episodes 22-28 in the Sermon on the Mount series and share some of the Lord’s Prayer song submissions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions to this episode!

Listen to the rest of the Lord’s Prayer songs on our website →

Timestamps

Did Jesus Have Genesis 3 in Mind When He Taught About Good Eyes and Bad Eyes? (00:00-17:45)
Does the Bible Contradict Itself When it Comes to God Testing Us? (17:45-45:33)
Is Jesus Himself the “Daily Bread” He Tells Us to Pray For? (45:33-56:06)
Does God Forgive Us Only After We Forgive Others? (56:06-01:04:42)

Referenced Resources

Check out Tim’s library here.
You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.

Show Music

“The Lord’s Prayer” by Sean Bullo
“MSG on the Ukulele” by Adalia Socha
“The Prayer of Jesus” by Chris and Kristen Whiteley
Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
BibleProject theme song by TENTS

Show Credits

Jon Collins is the creative producer for today’s show, and Tim Mackie is the lead scholar. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; Colin Wilson, producer; Stephanie Tam, consultant and editor. Aaron Olsen edited today's episode and also provided our sound design and mix. Tyler Bailey was supervising engineer. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Special thanks to Christopher Maier for his help compiling audience questions.

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