The Great Quid Pro Quo

“And forgive us our debts, as

We have forgiven our debtors

[letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]”

-Matthew 6:12 AMP

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will

Your Father forgive your trespasses”

-Matthew 6:15 KJV

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

-Luke 23:34 KJV

Spiritual forgiveness is the Great Quid Pro Quo. This statement seems to be antithetical to the spiritual life. We often hear this term used in legal and political affairs. But on closer examination we can see in any act of quid pro quo a direct and equal exchange between parties. In the context of human interaction there is always a direct exchange between parties and the mutual acceptance of what is offered on both sides. Yes, it is even fair to say the quid pro quo is as ancient as time itself. The old saying, “scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” holds true from cradle to the grave. The evidence to this fact means that all resentment and disdain for the act of quid pro quo needs to be reconciled in the mind of the onlooker as not an inherently bad proposition. There are always the legal ramifications in the mundane world but what about the spiritual realm or the spiritual world? We will look at the Word and see that there is evidence that quid pro quo is just as much a part of spiritual life and practice.

Why forgive? What spiritual benefit is there in forgiving and is it spiritually “illegal”? We ask the Father, in the lord’s prayer, to forgive our trespasses as WE forgive those that have trespassed against us. The impetus for this forgiveness is the spiritual reconciliation within our own consciousness when faced with injustice done to us. The purpose of this request is to release the wrong doer so that we can quickly recover, re-establish our communion with God, and let the freedom and joy of Life continue to flow through us unhindered. It suggests that there is no need to confront the wrong doer for the onus is on us to rectify our emotional state as soon as we can. The wrong doer may have already moved on, passed away, or have completely forgotten the situation. The wrongdoer may even get enjoyment out of it. Confrontation may be an alternative, but this might not resolve that situation or even make us feel any better. As said earlier the onus is on us.

The Word has given us a promise that is geared towards our recovery from trespasses done to us and also what we have done to others. Which ever direction the trespass goes, the whole situation can be mitigated by the simple act of forgiveness: us forgiving the wrong doer, the Father forgiving us, and the wrong doer forgiving us. Note that this is a triangular pattern with a bilateral solution. The bilateral solution is where the quid pro quo enters in. It requires a raising up the situation (the trespass) to a whole new level. It is a promise of instantaneous reciprocity. The quid pro quo is the Father forgiving us as we in turn forgive the wrong doer. The instantaneous reciprocity is a spiritual one in which we make a deposit in our spiritual coffers so that the Father can make good on his promise to grant his forgiveness.

This instantaneous reciprocity requires that we freely forgive and in turn receive God’s grace and mercy. The difficulty in exerciseing our part in the quid pro quo is the emotional charge (and scars) that we endure because of the trespass. The promise seems distant and vague and we cannot se the point to the act of forgiveness. In a sense we do not see how we, ourselves, can give up the hurt and pain for healing. We give up the hurt because we see and know that what lies on the other side of the quid pro quo is much more rewarding and, yes, healthy. When we reach an impasse and the ability to forgive seems impossible this is where Christ comes in. The Lord’s prayer, as given by Christ, shows us the quid pro quo and the promise as a truth principle, not because it is easy but that he himself used the great quid pro quo on the cross in his final moments in the crucifixion. The bilateral operation was between himself and the Father as he prayed, “Father forgive them, as they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He asked the Father to forgive them as a mediator or channel for their trespasses. Here we see that Christ’s forgiveness of his trespassers meant that he could unto the Father with a clean heart. A heart free of resentment, hurt, and disdain. He made peace before he gave up the Ghost.

We too, like Christ, can and should continue to strive in our lives to take full advantage of the Great Quid Pro Quo (the promise). We will know that our spiritual life is nurtured by resolving the trespass so that we can come before the Father, receive his forgiveness, and thereby enter into, on a daily basis, the full embrace of his Eternal love.