Even Holy Men Are Not Without Sin

That no one in this life, however holy, is free from trespasses and sin, we are also taught by the Savior himself. He gave his disciples the form of the perfect prayer, and among its other lofty and sacred commands, which were given only to the saints and the perfect and cannot apply to the wicked and unbelievers, he told them to include this: “And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.” If, then, this is offered as a true prayer, and offered by saints, as we ought to believe without the shadow of a doubt, who could be found so stubborn and shameless, so puffed up with the pride of the devil’s own rage, as to maintain that he is without sin? Such a man would not only think himself greater than the apostles, but would also charge the Savior himself with ignorance or folly, as if he either did not know that some men could be free from debts, or were idly teaching people whom he knew to have no need of the remedy of that prayer. But all the saints, who keep the commands of their King completely, say every day, “Forgive us our debts.” If they are telling the truth, then truly no one is free from sin. If they are speaking falsely, it is just as true that they are not free from the sin of falsehood. [a]

That is why the most wise Ecclesiastes, going over in his mind all the actions and purposes of men, declares without any exception “that there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.” That is, no one ever could or ever will be found on this earth so holy, so diligent, so earnest that he can cling continually to that true and unique good, and not feel day after day that he is drawn aside from it and falls short. And yet, though he maintains that a man cannot be free from wrongdoing, we must not for all that deny that he is righteous.