Disciples of Jesus Forgive Others based on Matthew 18:21-35

I. Broken windows and “the lecture.”

II. Jesus calls His disciples to forgive others.

III. Third sermon of series called Developing Passionate Disciples of Jesus. Definition and selection in first two sermons.

IV. Matthew 6:14-15 and forgiveness. Matthew and forgiveness: Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” After the Savior gives us the Lord’s Prayer, he says, “For if you forgive people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14–15)

V. Matthew 18: 10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii.

VI. Peter and forgiving seven times in Matthew 18:21 “Then Peter came up and said to (Jesus), “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

VII. In Matthew 18:22 Jesus told Peter to forgive 77 times or 70 times 7 times. “Jesus said to (Peter), ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times or in some translations seventy times seven, and that equals 490 times.’” (Matthew 18:22)

VIII. God has forgiven us through Jesus. No more angry memories needed.

IX. Four untrue statements about forgiveness: Number 1. Forgiveness is the result of my emotional healing.

X. Number 2. Forgiveness means I forget that the pain ever happened.

XI. Number 3. If I have a difficult time forgiving then I haven not really forgiven.

XII. Number 4. I’ll forgive when they ask for forgiveness and deserve forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

XIII. God has forgiven us through Jesus. We forgive others through Jesus.

XIV. Conclusion. What does this all mean for disciples of Jesus? The forgiven forgive. The forgiven forgive—every single time! Why do that? Do the math! 77 times or 70 times 7. We are forgiven thanks to Jesus who died and rose again to bring us God’s forgiveness. We are free so we free others. Amen.