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We Must Learn to Forgive Others As We Have Been Forgiven (From the Pulpit)

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We Must Learn to Forgive Others As We Have Been Forgiven

Title: We Must Learn to Forgive Others As We Have Been Forgiven
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35
Church: New Life Community Chapel
Date: October 4, 2009

I. Forgiveness is beyond measure.
..A. Peter steps us.
....1. This appears to be another proud Peter moment.
......a. Peter comes to Jesus.
......b. He asks Jesus a question, “how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?”
......c. The he proposes an answer, “Up to seven times?”
........1) Peter is being literal here.
........2) He also is using a rabbinical law of his day.
..........a) The rabbinical law said they were to forgive 3 times.
........3) Peter double that number, plus one.
..........a) I sense he expected a sound word of affirmation from Jesus regarding his generosity.
..B. Jesus responds.
....1. Jesus states “not seven, but seventy-seven times.”
......a. Before you get to excited, put away your abacus.
......b. This is not a formula, but a clear teaching that links the previous text to the parable that follows.
....2. Previous text explained:
......a. One must come as a little child. Mat. 18:1-10
.......1) Children quickly forget when someone wrongs them.
......b. The value of one lost sheep. Matthew 18:12-14
.......1) Jesus’ illustrated the value of just one sheep.
......c. How to deal with a brother who has sinned against you. Matthew 18:15-20
.......1) Restoration and healing are always the goal.
....3. The parable:
......a. We will take a look at it in a moment.

II. Forgiveness has many facets.
..A. Father God’s offer of forgiveness through Jesus.
....1. The offer was made while we were still lost in our sin.
......a. Romans 5:8
....2. The procurement of our forgiveness is Jesus’ blood.
......a. Hebrews 9:22
....3. The path of our forgiveness.
......a. Conviction, repentance, and then born-again.
........1) 1 Corinthians 7:10, John 16:8-11; 2 Peter 3:9
....4. The completeness of God’s forgiveness of our sins.
......a. Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19; Romans 4:7-8
..B. Man’s forgiveness.
....1. When we have sinned.
......a. Go and ask for forgiveness seeking to be reconciled.
........1) Matthew 5:23-24
....2. When we have been sinned against.
......a. We have three choices.
........1) We can execute the disciplinary process of Matthew 18:15-20
........2) We can forgive them and release them of their guilt towards us.
........3) We can hold on to the anger and hurt.
......b. There are two aspects regarding this when we choose to forgive.
........1) Forgive them immediately before Father God. Matthew 18:21-22
..........a) In this account there is no mention of them coming and asking for forgiveness.
..........b) The Bible is loaded with examples of this.
....1. Jesus on the cross.
......a. Luke 23:34
....2. Stephen being stoned.
......a. Acts 7:60
....3. The disciples’ instructions.
......a. John 20:23
....4. Paul’s example.
......a. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11
........2) Forgive them face-to-face. Luke 17:3-4
..........a) In this account we see the person coming and asking for forgiveness.
..........b) If we have turned it over to Father God it is a simple thing to extend forgiveness face-to-face.
............1. We can forgive because it has already been released.

III. Forgiveness is a command, not an option.
..A. Examining the parable.
....1. The man owed a debt he could not ever repay.
......a. Putting it into perspective.
........1) Talent weighs about 75 pounds.
........2) The man owed 750,000 pounds.
..........a) We are not told what he owed, just how much.
....2. This debtor was called before the king.
......a. He did not initiate the process.
....3. He begged for more time to be able to repay.
......a. Note: His actions are not a sign of repentance, but of a man trying to fix the problem on his own.
......b. He asked for more time to repay a debt he could never repay.
........1) The king showed grace and mercy and cancelled the debt.
....4. This man should be rejoicing and celebrating the great gift.
......a. But he is not … go figure.
....5. He goes out and finds a man that owes him a few denarii.
......a. A few dollars at most.
....6. He aggressively attacks this man and has him bound insisting that he be repaid in full.
......a. He could have shown grace and mercy, but did not.
....7. The king hears of this action and responds by reinstating the debt and having him imprisoned until he pays it all back.
......a. This is a life sentence.

IV. Lessons from the account
..A. We have been forgiven more that we can ever repay.
..B. We must not toy with God’s grace and mercy.
..C. We are expected (commanded) to forgive.
..D. Forgiveness must come from the heart.
....1. It cannot only be an intellectual forgiveness.
....2. The heart represents true forgiveness, true release.
..E. When you do not forgive you are held in bondage by not forgiving others.
..F. Opportunity:
....1. Who has wronged you? Have you forgiven them?
....2. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.