2 Pe 1:8-9 & Matthew 18:21-35
We need a major overhaul as to how we see forgiveness in the body of Christ. We wouldn’t disregard a part of our own body if it caused us pain would we? If part of the body affects the rest negatively, you don’t cut it OUT, you give it more attention to address and correct the problem – the same is true in the body of Christ. A major warning is needed to guarantee that the church as Christ’s body on earth continues in her mission – that warning is to beware of the dangers of unforgiveness. Nowhere is there allowed the petty greedy grudges we enjoy holding against one another. God has forgiven us, we are therefore called to forgive one another.
Unforgiveness: Your treasuring (keeping, protecting, sustaining, feeding, desiring, loving, maintaining, pridefully saluting) PAST offenses to hold against your brother (sister).
Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accountswith his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
vs. 21 – Rabbinical teaching stated that a brother might be forgiven for a repeated sin 3x, but on the 4th there is NO forgiveness!
vs. 24 – 10,000 talents! – “could be over a billion dollars in today’s currency”
vs. 26 – “be patient with me, I will pay back everything”
vs. 28 – 100 denarii – 100 days wages (a couple grand)
vs. 29 – “be patient with me, I will pay back everything”
#1 – Justice – God is the judge of the universe All wrongs will be set right, and debts must be paid.
vs 32 – the master called the servant back in / vs 35 – this is how God will treat each of you
#2 – True forgiveness leaves NOTHING owed
vs 26-27 – “canceled the debt”
#3 – The forgiven are the forgiving
vs 33 – shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?
You cannot give away that which you haven’t first received
#4 – There is NO LIMIT to personal forgiveness
vs 22 – 70 or 70×7 times!
#5 – Personal unforgiveness leads to hell
vs 34 – “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured”
– Mt 6:14-15
How to determine if you still have unforgiveness in your heart – 3 tests of the heart.
1st – Imagine something bad happens to them, how do you feel?
2nd – Imagine something good happens to them, how do you feel?
3rd – Imagine you have opportunity to help them, do you?