Mt.6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
"Debts" is translated from a commercial term contained in the phrase τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν (forgive us our debts) meaning "debts". It is sometimes translated "sins", because Luke uses the word for that instead, and allowing for ancient translation from Aramaic to Greek, it makes as much sense to translate it that way here, and some versions do.
The more relevant thought for this post is "as we also have forgiven our debtors". I like the CSB and ESV versions for the way they translate the aorist in this phrase. Luke employs similar language incorporating a commercial term for "debtors" rather than the word for "sin".
I find that whatever the spoken Aramaic may have been, "debts" and "debtors" carry a clear meaning, namely what our sins cost God, and what others' sins cost us. The cost to us _must_ be forgiven. We must not hang on to it as a debt, irrespective of how badly we were wronged. From 1 Cor. 13:4-5, "Love ... does not keep a record of wrongs."
Forgiving the debt doesn't condone the wrong, but it releases us as you describe.
And if you could hear what goes on in our choir when we sing the Hallelujah Chorus, you might change your mind about the howler monkeys.
To approach this another way...
Mt.6:12 (CSB) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
"Debts" is translated from a commercial term contained in the phrase τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν (forgive us our debts) meaning "debts". It is sometimes translated "sins", because Luke uses the word for that instead, and allowing for ancient translation from Aramaic to Greek, it makes as much sense to translate it that way here, and some versions do.
The more relevant thought for this post is "as we also have forgiven our debtors". I like the CSB and ESV versions for the way they translate the aorist in this phrase. Luke employs similar language incorporating a commercial term for "debtors" rather than the word for "sin".
I find that whatever the spoken Aramaic may have been, "debts" and "debtors" carry a clear meaning, namely what our sins cost God, and what others' sins cost us. The cost to us _must_ be forgiven. We must not hang on to it as a debt, irrespective of how badly we were wronged. From 1 Cor. 13:4-5, "Love ... does not keep a record of wrongs."
Forgiving the debt doesn't condone the wrong, but it releases us as you describe.
And if you could hear what goes on in our choir when we sing the Hallelujah Chorus, you might change your mind about the howler monkeys.