Forgiveness

Forgiveness

I did something I don't usually do. When reading the bible I usually have a plan on what I'm reading for the day. Today I went to the bible and opened it to a random page just not even thinking. I had opened up to Matthew 18 and tucked into that page were sermon notes on forgiveness. Forgiving your brother who sins against you. Man, what an answer to prayer. After reading this I understand how people get so puffed up, and how their hearts get so hardened (including my own heart) that a snowball effect occurs. Is it coincidence that after the parable of the unforgiving servant comes chapter 19, which concerns divorce? I think not. There is a reason why God calls us to forgive eachother, not only because he commands it, but because it is for our own good! Now bust out your bible and let's go over these notes on forgiveness.

Read Matthew 18:21-35

The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

How many times should we forgive someone? (Mat. 18:21-22)
- Peter asks how many times should we forgive someone? Seven times?
   * Think about this, seven times is way more than the normal amount of forgiveness in those days
   * Jesus responds with forgive 77 times more than that
     - Jesus is simply making a point, there should be no artificial limit on forgiveness

- V. 23-35 Jesus gives us a parable
  * The parable challenges us against our bitterness against others
  * The parable also shows us God's forgiveness he demonstrates on us (v. 23-27)

-V. 23-27
  * Talks about talents... Talent- greek word for weight- so 10,000 talents is a lot of debt.
  * 1 talent = 15 years of wages for the average workers pay
  * So Jesus here is portraying an impossible amount of debt to pay off
    - This is Jesus's picture of the sin debt we have accumulated in God's sight

-V. 26- The servant begs for patience

-V. 27- The master forgives the servant of his debt out of compassion for him
   * Reflect here... This servant had an eternity worth of debt, and the master forgave it... done
   ** Like this servant, we have accumulated debt every waking moment that we could never pay off without forgiveness - Colossians 2:12-14

-V. 28-35
   * v. 28-29 This story is identical to what the first slave did
   * v. 30 instead of forgiving, the first slave threw slave #2 in prison
   * Jesus is portraying that it is not acceptable to receive forgiveness and not forgive others
   * v. 34 the first slave would be tortured in prison until all the debt was payed (like us in hell)
     - However the first slaves debt was not payable just like our debt that we have before a perfect God

3 Lessons we can take away from the parable:

1. We must forgive under ANY circumstance
2. We must have full and complete restoration of a relationship after repentance
3. If a Christian who can't forgive is holding a grudge, then perhaps they have never experienced forgiveness from God

** Think about the debt we owe God if we struggle with forgiving others**

Today's song is Forgiveness by Toby Mac (<--- Click the song title)... "we all need forgiveness"