FORGIVING

October 13, 2024   /   Westside Church

10-13-24

Forgiving

Matthew 18:21–35 (ESV)

21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Taking time to ponder…

  • Context: A conversation with the disciples
    • Who is the greatest?
      • The one who is humble
    • Temptations to sin
      • Woe to those who
      • Take drastic measures to avoid temptation
    • Parable of the lost sheep
      • Bringing the wandering member of the body back to the house
    • If your brother sins against you
      • Matthew 18 principle of conflict resolution
        • Go to your brother
        • If that doesn’t work, bring along
        • If that doesn’t work, bring the matter to the
        • If that doesn’t work they cannot be a part of the fellowship
  • Then Peter asks his question: “Lord, how often… As many as seven times?”
  • Jesus’ setup: “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Genesis 4:24 (ESV)

24If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”

  • The parable lends us some perspective
    • The comparison of debts:
      • Denarii = 1 day labor
      • 6000 Denarii = 1 Talent
      • 100 Denarii = 20 weeks of labor (5 day workweek) a little less than 5 months
      • 1 Talent = A little over 23 years of labor (5 day workweek)
      • 10,000 Talents ~ 230,000 years of labor (5 day workweek)
    • The 2nd servant was in the wrong towards the first, but it was possible to make it right.
    • The 1st servant was in the wrong towards the Lord, but could never have paid his debt.
    • Jesus is quite clear, that we are the first servant
      • Our salvation is somehow linked to our

35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 6:9–15 (ESV)
9
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread, 12and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  • A posture of the
    • Legalism…
      • Just wait for mistake 78 my friend!

Romans 12:19–21 (ESV)
19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

      • They must seek my forgiveness, otherwise I can , be resentful, be , and malign them for their ill deeds to anyone who asks!

Ephesians 4:31–32 (ESV)
31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

      • They must be … and I will decide what that looks like…

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

    • Don’t read what wasn’t written…
      • Forgive and Forget
        • Drop the debt and make every effort to Matt 18: 15 – 17, 35
        • your brother into temptation Matt 18: 7
        • Take to ensure you are not tempted again Matthew 18: 8 – 9
    • The key was found at the beginning of the conversation:

Matthew 18:4 (ESV)
4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

1 Peter 3:8–12 (ESV)

8Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.10For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;11let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

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