The Jewish Background to Interpersonal Forgiveness in Matthew (original) (raw)

This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by reconsidering the debate on the Jewish background to interpersonal forgiveness in Matthew. It proposes that Sirach 28:1-7 is not only a possible Jewish background to the parable of the unmerciful debtor of Matthew 18:23-35, as has been argued, but also to the teaching in Matthew 6:12, 14-15. This claim rests on five underlying concepts shared by both the Matthean and Sirach passages: conditionality (ie, a condition to be met before we can be forgiven); reciprocity (ie, our forgiveness is related to our willingness to forgive); the link between mercy and forgiveness; reluctance to practise mercy and forgiveness; and God's judgement on those who refuse to practise mercy and forgiveness. There is also a link that exists between these first two concepts in both the Matthean and Sirach passages. And there is a further, complex link that exists between the final three concepts listed above, a link that can be seen in both Matthew and Sirach.