Called vs. Commanded
Week 3: Forgive
Matthew 18:15-35
15 "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18 I tell you this: Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in heaven. 19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" 22 "No!" Jesus replied, "seventy times seven! 23 "For this reason, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. 25 He couldn't pay, so the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. 26 But the man fell down before the king and begged him, 'Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' 27 Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 28 "But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. 29 His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. 'Be patient and I will pay it,' he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt could be paid in full. 31 "When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him what had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison until he had paid every penny. 35 "That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters in your heart."
- If a Brother comes to you be fast to listen and slow to speak!
Mark 11:25; But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too
Big Idea:
Forgiven people are commanded to FORGIVE people.
Forgiveness is choice, not a feeling.
1. Identify who has hurt you.
2. Identify what they owe you or what they have taken from you.
- What feelings do you associate with their actions?
3. Cancel the debt.
- Don't diminish the feelings you have toward others. Don't look at someone else's situation that's worse off than you and think you have nothing to complain about. You never have to apologize for the feelings you have in your heart.
Final Thought:
Ephesians 4:31-32; Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Reading Plan:
M: Matthew 18
T: Matthew 27:1-10
W: Matthew 27:11-26
TH: Matthew 27:27-44
F: Matthew 27:45-66
S: Ephesians 4
- 722 Service Joby Martin
Created 9 months ago
