The Gospel According to Matthew
Introduction: In the process of studying the book of Matthew, Peter has become a favorite character of mine. He is so colorful. He is always getting into trouble so to speak, because of his eagerness, or maybe his passion. He reminds me almost of a child....wait didn't we just study how we must become like little children. Peter...quite the character.
Question of the Day: Since we are approaching Christmas, what is the funniest or best gift you have ever received?
READ: 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.[g]
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] 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.[i] 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.”
We are not going to delve into the theology of Forgiveness. Let's keep this simple.... don't be fooled sometimes keeping it simple makes it more difficult.
When Peter asked if he should forgive 7 times he was being very magnanimous in his offering of 7 times. At that time the culture or rule was you forgave someone 3 times. After that you didn't need to forgive them anymore. You know the 3 strikes and your out rule. So for him to say 7 was to more than double what was law. So he was being grand, offering a lot.
How many times do we "offer" Jesus something, our time, our service, our money, our devotion, our praise, and we think we are being magnanimous? We think we are being magnanimous but really it is just a drop.
Jesus's answer is what?
If we think way back to the Sermon on the Mount, is this message similar?
If you hate... murder. ETC.
Jesus asks not just for magnanimous he asks for everything! It is so much more that what we can even dream of.
Is there someone in your life that you know you need to forgive? Maybe it is for the 7th time or maybe it is the 70th time?
What are some things that keep us from forgiving?
Jesus knows all our excuses and reasons and yet he is pretty clear. Forgive, or you will not be forgiven.
Remember back in Matthew 6: 14-15 we read, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
I know there are lots of books out there about forgiving others is not excusing them. Or forgiving others is for you not them. There is a quote that is all over the place, "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."
There is some truth to these ideas but are we trying to make it more palatable. Are we trying to make this easy?
The fact is this, Jesus came to this earth gave up everything for you and me. He died, paying for our sins, and forgave us. There was nothing easy about it. Look, he left glory for us! That doesn't sound like "Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself."
We are asked to forgive because He has forgiven us. It may be painful and difficult, and scary, but we are to forgive. It doesn't feel like a gift to ourselves. It is simple, He forgave, we should forgive.
I realize that some of you are thinking of all the, yea buts... Yea but, forgiveness doesn't excuse. Forgiveness doesn't mean you forget. Forgiveness isn't....
Forgiveness is:
"Forgiveness is the economy of the heart. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the wastes of spirit."
"Forgiveness is not always easy. At times it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one who inflicted it, and yet there is no peace without forgiveness."
"We can forgive, because we have been forgiven."
I really believe that the key to forgiving others is in the daily realization and acceptance of forgiveness that Jesus has given you.
When was the last time you were on your knees asking and accepting forgiveness.
In this story Jesus lays out the order. 1. The king forgave the servant. 2. Then the servant should have forgiven the man.
If you are having a hard time with forgiveness, I suggest you go to your knees, not about the one who has hurt you, but go to your knees asking for forgiveness for your debt. When you experience your debt being forgiven, when you really experience his grace, then and only then will you be able to forgive those who have harmed you.
It is far easier to ask the Lord to help us to forgive. It is far easier for us to keep the focus on the harm that has been done to us, than to turn and look at the harm we have done to our Savior. When we can't forgive, stop looking for the forgiveness to give and start seeking the forgiveness you need!
So who am I?
I have a debt. A debt that needs forgiveness. Who am I? Forgiven. Forgiven. FORGIVEN! Who am I? One who can offer forgiveness!
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