Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, a debt is an obligation or liability to pay or render something to someone else. This can be in the form of money, goods, or services. The concept of debt is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible, encompassing financial, moral, and spiritual dimensions.

Old Testament References:
The Old Testament provides several laws and guidelines regarding debts, emphasizing fairness, compassion, and the protection of the poor. In Exodus 22:25, the Israelites are instructed, "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This reflects a concern for the welfare of the impoverished and a prohibition against exploiting those in need.

The Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, is a significant concept related to debt. Every fiftieth year, debts were to be forgiven, and land returned to its original owners, symbolizing a reset of economic inequalities and a restoration of social balance. Deuteronomy 15:1-2 further instructs, "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite."

New Testament Teachings:
In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles address the issue of debts, often using it as a metaphor for sin and forgiveness. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). This highlights the spiritual dimension of debt, equating it with sin and underscoring the importance of forgiveness.

The parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:23-35 illustrates the kingdom of heaven's perspective on debt and forgiveness. A servant who is forgiven a massive debt by his master refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt, resulting in severe consequences. This parable emphasizes the expectation that those who receive mercy should also extend it to others.

Apostolic Instructions:
The Apostle Paul provides practical advice regarding financial debts in Romans 13:8, "Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." This instruction encourages believers to avoid financial obligations that could lead to bondage or hinder their ability to love and serve others freely.

Moral and Ethical Implications:
The Bible's teachings on debt extend beyond financial transactions to encompass moral and ethical responsibilities. Believers are called to live lives marked by integrity, fairness, and compassion. The biblical approach to debt encourages responsible stewardship, generosity, and a focus on relationships over material wealth.

Spiritual Debt and Redemption:
The concept of spiritual debt is central to the Christian understanding of salvation. Humanity's sin is viewed as a debt owed to God, one that cannot be repaid through human effort. Colossians 2:13-14 speaks of Christ's redemptive work: "When you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross." This passage underscores the belief that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid the ultimate debt, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

Practical Application:
Christians are encouraged to manage their financial affairs wisely, avoiding unnecessary debt and practicing generosity. The biblical principles of debt forgiveness and compassion for the poor continue to inform Christian ethics and social responsibility. Believers are reminded to prioritize spiritual debts, seeking God's forgiveness and extending grace to others as a reflection of the mercy they have received.3783. opheilema -- that which is owed, a debt
... the suffix). Word Origin from opheilo Definition that which is owed, a debt
NASB Word Usage debts (1), what is due (1). debt. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3783.htm - 6k

5498. cheirographon -- a (handwritten) document, legal note, bond
... Word Origin from cheir and grapho Definition a (handwritten) document, legal note,
bond NASB Word Usage certificate of debt (1). manuscript, record of debts. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5498.htm - 6k

5671. abtit -- weight of pledges, heavy debts
... 5670, 5671. abtit. 5672 . weight of pledges, heavy debts. Transliteration:
abtit Phonetic Spelling: (ab-teet') Short Definition: loans. ...
/hebrew/5671.htm - 6k

4859. mashshaah -- a loan
... a loan. Transliteration: mashshaah Phonetic Spelling: (mash-shaw-aw') Short Definition:
debts. ... of mashsha Definition a loan NASB Word Usage debts (1), loan (1). ...
/hebrew/4859.htm - 6k

Debts.
... Money Debts. In a simple little sentence Paul reveals how thoroughly he
had grasped Jesus' meaning. He said, "I am debtor both to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/debts.htm

'Forgive us Our Debts'
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII 'FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS'. 'Forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.'"Matthew 6:12. The sequence ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/forgive us our debts.htm

And Forgive us Our Debts as we Also have Forgiven Our Debtors
... CHAPTER XVIII AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xviii and forgive us.htm

The Next Petition Is, Forgive us Our Debts. ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 45 The next petition is, FORGIVE US OUR
DEBTS.? The next petition is, FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS. In ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 45 the next petition.htm

Of the Clause: "Forgive us Our Debts, Etc. "
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XXII. Of the clause: "Forgive
us our debts, etc.". "And forgive us our debts as we ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxii of the clause .htm

Psalm CXLIII.
... the leaders of the sheep, the chief members of the Shepherd and Gatherer [5819]
of the one flock; even they learnt to say, "Forgive us our debts." [5820] They ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxliii.htm

From the Seventh to the End of the Tenth Commandment
... You violate it also by not paying your just debts or by purchasing goods
that you know you will never be able to pay for. Moreover ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 34 from the seventh.htm

Chapter viii.
... 28. The fifth petition follows: "And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive [302]
our debtors." It is manifest that by debts are meant sins, either from that ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter viii 2.htm

Almsgiving and Forgiveness
... The condition of this is that just as they truly say, "Forgive us our debts" (since
there is no lack of debts to be forgiven), so also they truly say, "As we ...
/.../handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xix almsgiving and forgiveness.htm

Whether Death Will be the Term "Wherefrom" of the Resurrection in ...
... Enchiridion cxv) that the four last petitions of the Lord's prayer refer to the
present life: and one of them is: "Forgive us our debts [Douay: 'trespasses ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether death will be the.htm

Debts (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Debts (10 Occurrences). Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also forgive our debtors. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/debts.htm - 9k

Debt (48 Occurrences)
... indebtedness. Quite a noticeable advance in the matter of debts and debtors
is noticed as we enter the time of the New Testament. ...
/d/debt.htm - 28k

Debtors (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Debtors (8 Occurrences). Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also forgive our debtors. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/debtors.htm - 8k

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)
... All debts, except those of foreigners, were to be remitted (Deuteronomy 15:1-11).
There is little notice of the observance of this year in Biblical history. ...
/s/sabbatical.htm - 16k

Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... indebtedness. Quite a noticeable advance in the matter of debts and debtors
is noticed as we enter the time of the New Testament. ...
/d/debtor.htm - 16k

Decalogue

/d/decalogue.htm - 8k

Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... (2) Most of the occurrences of "pledge," however, deal with the debts of the very
poor, who had no property that they could spare even temporarily. ...
/p/pledge.htm - 28k

Year (4027 Occurrences)
... year; in other words, its scope had been enlarged in later years so as to include
the release from pecuniary obligation, ie the remission of debts or, at least ...
/y/year.htm - 26k

Neglect (19 Occurrences)
... in regard to; to suffer to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to omit; to
disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts. ...
/n/neglect.htm - 12k

Unable (102 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 7:42 When they were unable to make payment, he made the two of them
free of their debts. Which of them, now, will have the greater love for him? ...
/u/unable.htm - 35k

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