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Read: Matthew 18:21-35
I. HOW TO FORGIVE?
Jesus taught Peter about how many times he should forgive someone who sinned against him (v.21). He explained to Peter through a parable that what He said about forgiving seventy-seven times doesn’t refer to the number of times that Peter should forgive. Jesus referred to the extent of forgiving beyond the point of someone’s ability to repay or make up for whatever wrong he has done to him (v.v.22-24). In the parable, it was clear that the slave didn't have any means to repay, so there should have been a matching punishment for what he owed (v.25). Instead of asking for forgiveness, the slave begged for time so that he could make it up for what he owed (v.26). Even though the slave didn’t ask for forgiveness, the master had compassion for him that he was forgiven and released, his debts including the consequences and his right of receiving apology from him being canceled. All was because of His compassion for his slave (v.27).Colossians 2:13-14
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
II. THE PROBLEM IN FORGIVENESS
The freed slave found one of his fellow slaves who owes him (a very little amount compared to what he owed from his master) then began to seize and choke him (v.28). Just as he pleaded from his master, his fellow servant fell on the ground to plead from him as well so he could have more time to repay for his debt. The freed slave continued to throw his fellow slave in prison (v.v.29-30). The master heard about the matter through the other slaves (v.31). Knowing what happened, He became angry with the freed slave for not having the same compassion that He had towards him before (v.32-33). Because of His anger, the Master handed him over to the torturers until he could repay all that he owed Him. The Problem of Forgiveness is that we all want to be forgiven, but it's very difficult for us to forgive (v.34).Matthew 18:35
“My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
III. WHY IS IT HARD TO FORGIVE?
It's because of our sinful nature.Romans 7:18-20
“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”
IV. WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THIS?
We should admit & confess.1 John 1:8-9
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins; he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
V. ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS.
Luke 15:17-18“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”
When we are sinning, we are not only sinning against the person that we offended but against God as well.
VI. HOW SHOULD WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?
Luke 15:19-21“'I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. ’So he got up and went to his father.' But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’"
True repentance is acknowledging that we are unworthy and at the mercy of the person we have offended.
VII. HOW DID GOD FORGIVE?
Colossians 2:13-14“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Romans 5:10
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
God forgave ALL our sins, cancelling them by nailing them to the cross. So it is not an issue. If it's someone that has offended us, the issue is that we need to forgive because God did the same way towards us. He forgave us even though we shouldn’t have been forgiven because of our sinfulness.
VIII. HOW DO WE RESPOND TO GOD'S FORGIVENESS?
Colossians 3:12-13“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
God is amazingly showing His love and mercy towards us through Jesus Christ, therefore we should also do the same towards our brothers and sisters.
Photo by: Jaime Legaspino
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