Road Signs: Yellow Light

INTRODUCTION:

What is the purpose of the yellow light?

A yellow signal light warns you that the red signal is about to appear.

When you see the yellow light, you should stop, if you can do so safely.

If you can't stop, look out for vehicles that may enter the intersection when the light changes.

Today, we are going to look at forgiveness.

Slowing down to consider being more forgiving.

Not speeding towards revenge.

I. THE PROPOSAL & PROBLEM.

The proposal—How often do I need to forgive?

Peter wanted justification.

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Forgiveness and restorations are the main points of verses 15-20.

Matthew 18:15-20

According to the Talmud, forgiveness was limited to 3 times.

So what had Peter done? He had taken that 3, doubled it to 6 and even added one to make it 7. This is significant because 7 is considered a perfect number in Jewish understanding and customs. Peter wanted to know the limit of forgiveness.

If he was being generous, that is wonderful.

He still missed the point. True forgiveness cannot be limited to a numeric amount. If we want to be treated as we wish to, we must treat others that way.

Matthew 7:12 Peter had heard Jesus make this claim and still asked the question.

The problem—Is there a correct amount of forgiveness?

Yes, forgive seven times.

Matthew 18:22

Jesus did not deny that 7 times was a working number.

You and I should forgive someone 7 times if they ask for forgiveness. But do I keep a tally of how many times each person has wronged me to be able to say, “Ah! You reached 7, so that means you do not gain forgiveness anymore!” each time a person hits the “quota”? Yes, forgive beyond 490 times.

Matthew 18:22

Jesus took the number that Peter supplied and made it a complete number.

The number 10 was considered a complete number in the Jewish culture. For Him to make Peter’s number 7 turn to 70 and say multiply it by that 70 was to illustrate just how forgiving they needed to be. Yet again, the question shifts to whether we keep a tally on how many times one has “wronged” us to state, “Well, that is 490. Any more than that and we have a problem.” as Peter seemed to indicate? Also, would Peter not have had a problem with his own proposal?

He was once called Satan (Matthew 16:21-23). He denied knowing Jesus 3 times (Matthew 26:69-75). He denied Jesus’ cleansing 3 times (Acts 10:9-16). He was withstood to the face by Paul (Galatians 2:11). He himself would have failed if 7 times was the only working number of forgiveness.

II. THE PARABLE.

Jesus shows forgiveness through a king.

The King wants to collect his debts.

Matthew 18:23-24

The New American Standard Version’s footnote says this is about $10 million in silver content, but more in buying power. In today’s economy the debt would be more like $16 million.

With inflation, that debt would now be $21,398,868.14. According to Matthew 20:2 the pay for a days work was a “denarii” which was equivalent to 18 cents a day.

With inflation, that living wage would now be $6.52.

Of course, that is a number calculated from 1635-2023.

That is as far back as the inflation calculator would let me go.

A debt of $16,000,000 would take about 200,000 years to repay.

According to the United Federal Credit Union’s “Loan Payoff Calculator” It would take 126,232 months.

That is if you pay 169.52 a month.

That is 26 days a month of work.

Minus 4 days to account for the Sabbath when you could not work.

This means that it would have taken 10,000+ years to repay.

Better than the 200,000 but still an insurmountable debt.

The point is, this poor man has an unbelievable debt that he can never pay.

The servant could not pay and begged for mercy and patience.

Matthew 18:25-27

A servant who was unwilling to forgive.

This servant demanded payment!

Matthew 18:28

Fellow slave = a peer, an equal who owes him about 18 dollars. This really shows the magnitude; $16,000,000.00 versus $18.00.

Again accounting for inflation from 2005-2022 this amount would also have to be updated. 18.00=24.07. His servant begged the same way he had begged.

Matthew 18:29

He had not learned from the King.

Matthew 18:30

Jesus showed the consequence of not granting forgiveness.

Our actions are always seen.

Matthew 18:31

The Master reserves the right to punish.

Matthew 18:32-34

Forgive with sincerity and not as a formality.

Matthew 18:35

III. TEXT TAKEAWAYS.

There is no limit to the amount of forgiveness that should be shown.

Jesus did not set a limit. (Philippians 2:1-11)

We are to imitate Him (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1).

Christ forgave us, so we should be willing to forgive others.

He stated that He wanted forgiveness for us (Luke 23:34).

He took care of His enemies (John 13:1-5).

If we do not forgive we will not be forgiven.

We must handle problems correctly (Acts 15:36-41).

Paul was willing to forgive (2 Timothy 4:9-11).

CONCLUSION:

Forgiveness is necessary.

We all want it.

Why should we not give it to someone else?