God wants to forgive us

Forgiveness Must Be Two-Way

Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Lord’s Prayer God will forgive, but we must forgive as well

Story of the king and his two servants Matthew 18:21(NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Story of the king and his two servants Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22 (ESV)

Story of the king and his two servants 7 times? 70 times 7 = 490

Story of the king and his two servants 23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

Story of the king and his two servants 25Since 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.

Story of the king and his two servants 10,000 talents pounds of silver per talent

Story of the king and his two servants 10,000 talents pounds of silver per talent $35 an ounce in today’s market

Story of the king and his two servants Owes $3,840,000,000

Story of the king and his two servants 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Story of the king and his two servants 28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

Story of the king and his two servants 100 denarii Denarii = Day’s Wages

Story of the king and his two servants 100 denarii Denarii = Day’s Wages Today $ 8 an hour 8 Hour Day $64 a day

Story of the king and his two servants 100 denarii Denarii = Day’s Wages Today $ 8 an hour 8 Hour Day $64 a day Owes $6400

Story of the king and his two servants 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

Story of the king and his two servants 6000 Denarius equals 1 talent 60,000,000 denarii

Story of the king and his two servants 10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii 1 Denarius = 1 day’s wages 1 day’s wages compared to 16 years’ wages

Story of the king and his two servants 10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii $3,840,000,000 Compared to $ ,000 times

Story of the king and his two servants 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

Story of the king and his two servants 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. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Story of the king and his two servants 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness God expects us to forgive at least as well as He does

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness Death of a Christian Korean student “Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action.

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness Death of a Christian Korean student In order to give evidence of our sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are…

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness Death of a Christian Korean student We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins.”

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness Philip Yancey, author In his book What’s So Amazing About Grace?" p.93

1.Jesus expects us to imitate him in forgiveness "At last I understood: in the final analysis, forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. I leave in God’s hands the scales that must balance justice and mercy.

2.Jesus is expects us to be limitless in forgiveness

3.We can never out-forgive Him Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross

3.We can never out-forgive Him Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross "Don’t you remember it?" her friend asked.

3.We can never out-forgive Him Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross "Don’t you remember it?" her friend asked. "No," came Barton’s reply, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

Warren Wiersbe “The world’s worst prison is the prison of an unforgiving heart. If we refuse to forgive others, then we are only imprisoning ourselves and causing our own torment. Some of the most miserable people I have met in my ministry have been people who would not forgive others.

Warren Wiersbe They lived only to imagine ways to punish these people who had wronged them. But they were really only punishing themselves.”

Be a 490 Christian, not unforgiving one.