the secret of forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-22 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?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18:23-27 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:28-30 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. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

Matthew 18:31-35 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

I. What was the Situation? - v21-22

I. What was the Situation? A. Asking for forgiveness is implied here. Matthew 18:21-22 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?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

I. What was the Situation? A. Asking for forgiveness is implied here. 1. This question may have been in response to . . . So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 17:3-4

I. What was the Situation? A. Asking for forgiveness is implied here. 2. What did Peter have in mind? 7 times a day.

I. What was the Situation? A. Asking for forgiveness is implied here. 2. What did Peter have in mind? 3 times a day. (The Talmud)

(Literally 70 X 7 = 490 times a day) Unlimited forgiveness! I. What was the Situation? A. Asking for forgiveness is implied here. 2. What did Peter have in mind? “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. - v22 (Literally 70 X 7 = 490 times a day) Unlimited forgiveness!

I. What was the Situation? B. Is unconditional forgiveness emotionally possible?

I. What was the Situation? B. Is unconditional forgiveness emotionally possible? Yes! - through the power of the Holy Spirit!

I. What was the Situation? C. The secret is related to the Pride vs. Humbleness issue.

I. What was the Situation? C. The secret is related to the Pride vs. Humbleness issue. 1. Peter’s question was legalistic.

I. What was the Situation? C. The secret is related to the Pride vs. Humbleness issue. 2. This question rose from self righteousness. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? - v21

I. What was the Situation? C. The secret is related to the Pride vs. Humbleness issue. 2. This question rose from self righteousness. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? - v21 Luke 18:9-14

I. What was the Situation? C. The secret is related to the Pride vs. Humbleness issue. 2. This question rose from self righteousness. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? - v21 How can I be reconciled to a brother I have sinned against!

I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? The Golden Rule!

I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? 1. We all fall short of God’s standards. Romans 3:23 - . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .

How often would you want God to forgive you? 7 times? - 490 times? I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? 1. We all fall short of God’s standards. Romans 3:23 - . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . How often would you want God to forgive you? 7 times? - 490 times?

I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? 2. What are the consequences of this type of forgiveness?

I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? 2. What are the consequences of this type of forgiveness? Matthew 6:14-15 - For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

I. What was the Situation? D. What is the Lord’s answer? 2. What are the consequences of this type of forgiveness? Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

I. What was the Situation. - v21-22 II I. What was the Situation? - v21-22 II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? - v23-27

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. - v23-25

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. - v23-25 1. These servants were the king’s stewards.

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. - v23-25 2. Amount owed = 60 million denarii.

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 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. - v23-25 3. Sold (πιπράσκω) = carried across the sea to sell (slaves).

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? B. The Reaction. The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ - v26

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. . . v27

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go . . . v27 1. Took pity (σπλαγχνίζομαι) = compassion, he was so overcome it made him sick.

II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go . . . v27 2. The final decision: the king suspended the sentence & pardoned the debt in full.

I. What was the Situation. - v21-22 II I. What was the Situation? - v21-22 II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? - v23-27 III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? - v28-35

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. 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. - v28

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. 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. - v28 1. The king commanded - the steward grabbed by the throat.

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? A. The Reckoning. 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. - v28 2. Amount owed = 100 denarii.

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? B. The Reaction. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ - v29

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? B. The Reaction. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ - v29 1. An identical response except the word “all” was not used.

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? B. The Reaction. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ - v29 1. An identical response except the word “all” was not used. 2. This servant didn’t promised what he couldn’t deliver!

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go . . . But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. - v27 & 30

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go . . . But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. - v27 & 30 1. 1st response: suspended the sentence & pardoned his debt.

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go . . . But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. - v27 & 30 2. 2nd response: dragged him by the throat & threw him into debtor’s prison.

III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? C. The Response. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 3. 3rd response: notice how the king felt!

I. What was the Situation. - v21-22 II I. What was the Situation? - v21-22 II. What is the Right Attitude About Forgiveness? - v23-27 III. What is the Wrong Attitude About Forgiveness? - v28-35 IV. The Message of This Parable.

IV. The Message of This Parable. A. God wants you to be like the king.

IV. The Message of This Parable. B. One of God’s purposes for you is to be a carbon copy of Him! Genesis 1:26-27 - Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

IV. The Message of This Parable. C. God wants His light to shine through your attitudes so He can be honored through you! Matthew 5:16 - . . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Honor God by forgiving others as He was willing to forgive you!