The Freedom of Holiness
Notes
Transcript
21 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.
23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he began to settle accounts, they brought to him a servant who owed him ten thousand bags of gold.
25 Because the servant didn’t have enough to pay it back, the master ordered that he should be sold, along with his wife and children and everything he had, and that the proceeds should be used as payment.
26 But the servant fell down, kneeled before him, and said, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’
27 The master had compassion on that servant, released him, and forgave the loan.
28 “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred coins. He grabbed him around the throat and said, ‘Pay me back what you owe me.’
29 “Then his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back.’
30 But he refused. Instead, he threw him into prison until he paid back his debt.
31 “When his fellow servants saw what happened, they were deeply offended. They came and told their master all that happened.
32 His master called the first servant and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you appealed to me.
33 Shouldn’t you also have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
34 His master was furious and handed him over to the guard responsible for punishing prisoners, until he had paid the whole debt.
35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you if you don’t forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
The Freedom of Holiness
Once upon a time, in a tiny village, there lived two women named Sarah and Emma. They had been best friends from childhood, sharing their hopes, secrets, and joys. Their friendship was strong until an unfortunate misunderstanding tore it apart.
It all started when Sarah, who was stressed and dealing with personal issues, mistakenly snapped at Emma during a heated argument. Emma was upset and insulted by Sarah's harsh words, and she chose to distance herself from Sarah, believing that their friendship was no longer worth the effort.
Months moved into years, and Sarah and Emma went about their lives, nursing their wounds and missing each other terribly. They both felt empty without each other's friendship, but pride and hurt kept them from reconciling.
A mutual friend named David decided to step in one day. He invited both Sarah and Emma to attend a gathering he had prepared in the hopes of reuniting them. Both women hesitated but eventually agreed to go.
The mood was strained as they found themselves in the same room after so many years. Awkward quiet hung in the air until David, a devoted Christian, shared a Bible verse about forgiveness, prompting Sarah and Emma to have a heartfelt conversation.
Tears flowed as they expressed their feelings, their regrets, and the pain that they had carried for years. Sarah accepted her mistake and honestly apologized, while Emma acknowledged her hurt and forgave Sarah with an open heart. They embraced, tears of delight replacing tears of grief, and completely forgave each other.
Something remarkable happened in that moment of forgiveness. It was as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Sarah and Emma felt thrilled that as if they had been freed from years of emotional captivity. The power of forgiveness not only restored but also revitalized and enhanced their friendship.
Sarah and Emma's friendship developed once more over time, and they became even closer than before. They understood that forgiveness had not only liberated them from the agony of the past, but had also expanded their understanding of love, grace, and the holiness of reconciliation.
Their story became a testimony to their community, demonstrating that forgiveness is, in fact, a pathway to freedom; a freedom that not only repairs damaged relationships but also gives healing and a profound feeling of holiness to the human spirit.
Last week we looked at the prior verses to this parable. Jesus provided the disciples instructions on what to do if someone sins against us.
Peter must have thought about what Jesus had just taught them and he asks there in verse 21:
21 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”
The Rabbi’s of Jesus’ time taught that 3 times was the appropriate number of times to forgive someone. Peter more than doubles that numbers and he asks Jesus there if he should forgive as many as seven times. He’s more than doubling the rabbinical understanding of forgiveness.
In his commentary on this passage, Ulrich Lutz wrote that sense of Peter’s question was:
Matthew 8–20: A Commentary on Matthew 8–20 2.1 Unlimited Forgiveness (18:21–22)
Is perfect forgiveness expected of me?
Jesus in essence says yes. He said there in verse 22: Matthew 18:22 “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times.” or some translations has it as seventy times seven.
The idea that forgiveness ought to be stopped after the seventy-eighth transgression is certainly not the result of a simple calculation or a straightforward application of mathematical principles. In its place, it communicates the fundamental notion that the concept of forgiveness is limitless for those who follow Jesus. It's not something you do once in a while; it's how you live your life every day. Keeping in mind the tremendous amount of forgiveness that has been extended to them, they discover that they are unable to withhold forgiveness from anyone who has wronged them.
Jesus as he often does tells a story, a parable to illustrate what he has been trying to convey to the disciples.
He says Matthew 18:23 “23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.”
So he calls all of his servants to settle their accounts with him. One of the servants owed him ten thousand bags of gold. That was equivalent to the wages for 60 million days. Somewhere over Ten Million dollars was owed to the king by this servant. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have that much in my bank account.
The person didn’t have that amount to pay back the king so the king ordered that everything that the servant had to be sold to make a payment towards what was owed.
The king in the story encountered one of his debtors who, no matter how many lifetimes he lived, would never have been able to repay the tremendous amount of money he owed. This gets to the heart of the situation since the debt was pretty tremendous. When the debtor earnestly pleaded with the king for mercy, against all odds, the king decided to grant an unmerited forgiveness to the individual. It was an unbelievable act of grace, reflecting the character of God toward us, His broken children, who have no chance of ever being able to pay back the enormous debt that we owe.
The lame promise made by the debtor, which read, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything" (Matthew 18:26), rang hollow, just as empty as our own excuses and attempts at redeeming ourselves: "I will try harder. I plan to go to church today. Is it going to be enough? But that was never going to happen. The debt was so astronomical. It was a number that was beyond comprehension to human beings. Despite this, the king decided to forgive the entire debt.
The similarity is plain to see. This is exactly what God has done for each disciple's sins. They accumulate throughout the years like unpayable bills, increasing with each passing day and hour as if they were accruing interest. They are debts that can never be satisfied in any way. And yet, God says, "I release you from the obligation of that debt."
What action did the man take? Did he treat others with the same kindness and generosity with which he had been treated? He didn't do that at all. Instead, he demanded the exact last penny from a coworker who owed him a relatively tiny sum of money. It appears that he had been irritated about the overdue obligation for a considerable amount of time. His wrath and resentment against his fellow servant had gained control of his attitude by this point.
The feeling of resentment is a terrible thing. It's not a positive thing; in fact, the report calls it "wicked," so you know it's bad. It's an attitude that has the power to hold us captive and make us feel as though we're helpless. It poses a significant risk. The moral of the story is that if we don't forgive other people, no one will forgive us for our own transgressions.
Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness and resentment. When we choose to forgive others, we release ourselves from the emotional bondage that unforgiveness brings. It allows us to experience inner peace and emotional healing.
Holiness is not just about following a set of rules or being morally upright. It is about imitating God in our ideas, behaviors, and attitudes. The character of God is defined by love, kindness, and forgiveness. When we seek holiness, we seek to reflect these divine traits in our own lives.
When we forgive others, we are modeling God's forgiveness and connecting ourselves with His holiness. Consider this: God forgives us when we sin, showing us love and mercy rather than condemnation. He cleanses us of our sins and provides us a new beginning. We do something similar when we forgive someone who has harmed us. Instead of harboring resentment or pursuing vengeance, we are giving compassion and mercy. We reflect God's character and holiness in this way.
The master's forgiveness of the servant in Matthew 18:21-35 exemplifies God's tremendous kindness and mercy. The servant owed an enormous debt that he would never be able to repay. However, out of compassion, the master elected to cancel the full amount. This act of forgiveness reveals God's love and willingness to forgive our faults, no matter how severe they appear.
When we forgive others, we not only imitate God's forgiveness, but we also demonstrate His transformative power at work in our lives. Forgiveness has the amazing power to heal wounds, mend broken relationships, and bring about reconciliation. It symbolizes God's holiness in seeking to heal and redeem His creation.
Furthermore, when others see our ability to forgive, they are drawn to the God we serve. They witness God's grace's great impact on our lives and are driven to seek the same forgiveness and transformation. Forgiveness becomes a powerful witness to the world, inviting others to experience God's love, mercy, and sanctity for themselves.
In essence, forgiveness is a concrete method for us to exemplify God's holiness. It is a lived experience that has the capacity to influence our lives and the lives of those around us, ultimately pulling them closer to the God whose holiness is distinguished by unbounded compassion and mercy.
Living a life that is truly connected to God's character is what holiness is all about, and forgiveness is a big part of it. When we choose to forgive others, we are experiencing a type of freedom rather than merely letting go of grudges or resentment. It's like breaking free from emotional or spiritual shackles.
Consider this: When we forgive, we are doing the same thing that God does when we make mistakes. We've all made mistakes, but God's forgiveness is like a blank slate, wiping away our transgressions. When we forgive people, we are mirroring the divine forgiveness, which is a powerful thing.
The story of Corrie ten Boom is one excellent example of this idea. She was a brave woman who lived during the Holocaust, a time of great suffering and cruelty. Corrie and her family assisted Jewish people to escape the Nazis, but they were finally apprehended and deported to a concentration camp. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, faced tremendous hardships while there.
What's astonishing is that Corrie found the strength to forgive despite her horrible circumstances. One of the guards who tortured her and her sister was a former Nazi. When the war ended and Corrie was released, she was presented with a difficult choice: whether to hold onto her hatred and fury or to forgive this guy.
Corrie made the decision to forgive. She knew that harboring hatred would only prolong her misery, and she desired to be free of that emotional load. As a result, she forgave the former Nazi guard who had caused her such anguish. Although it was difficult, her act of forgiveness was extremely powerful.
Corrie's forgiveness not only freed her from the burden of resentment, but it also had an unexpected effect on the guard. Her act of grace truly impacted him. Corrie's forgiveness began to transform him as well. He, too, began to confront his previous tragedies and sought forgiveness for his wartime crimes.
This real-life story demonstrates that forgiveness, as a component of holiness, brings liberty not just to the one who forgives but also to the one who is forgiven. It's like a healing and transformation chain reaction. Corrie's holy act, forgiveness, healed both her and the former guard, demonstrating the immense power of choosing forgiveness as a path to freedom and transformation.
The unforgiving servant's behavior in the story did not match the amazing mercy and grace he had just experienced. This is what happened: The servant owed his lord a fortune, which he would never be able to repay in a million lives. But something extraordinary happened when he requested forgiveness. Out of sheer compassion, the master canceled the full obligation! This was an astounding act of grace.
However, the servant's subsequent conduct was entirely contradictory to the mercy he had received. He exhibited no compassion when he could have extended even a quarter of that kindness to a fellow servant who owed him a much smaller sum. He demanded full payment and had his other servant imprisoned. This disparity between what he had received and how he treated others had serious consequences: he was punished and barred from the master's kingdom.
Now comes the powerful part: forgiveness is a way of life that is in accordance with God's kingdom principles. When we choose to forgive, we are committing to the fundamental ideals that constitute God's kingdom. Forgiveness and reconciliation are important in God's kingdom. It all comes down to grace, love, and mending shattered relationships.
So, when we forgive someone who has harmed us, we are not only following God's example, but also participating in the manner of life of His kingdom. Because we are letting go of grudges, anger, and the need for vengeance, we experience a sense of spiritual freedom. Instead, we're embracing the fundamental principles of love and reconciliation that underpin God's kingdom.
Furthermore, forgiveness binds us to God's family. It's like a key that unlocks our place in God's family. We become members of a community that values grace, mercy, and love when we forgive and reconcile. We have a strong sense of belonging because we are demonstrating God's kingdom principles in our interactions with others.
In essence, forgiveness is a way of life that aligns us with God's kingdom ideals, leading to spiritual liberation and a profound sense of belonging in God's family. It's a life-changing activity that not only affects our own lives but also reflects God's heart to the world around us.
We've looked at the significant relationship between holiness and forgiveness, and how that connection leads to a life of true freedom. It is critical to remember that holiness is more than just following a set of rules or living a morally pure life. It is about reflecting God's character, which is marked by love, kindness, and forgiveness.
As we've seen, forgiveness is a transformational act that brings us into alignment with God's holiness. When we forgive, we mirror God's forgiveness of our own sins, just as the story of the unforgiving servant demonstrated. It is not a one-time event; it is a way of life that grants release to both the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven. It's as if we've broken free from the bonds of bitterness and hatred, allowing us to enjoy inner calm and emotional healing.
As we come to a close, I'd like to invite each of you to reflect on your own life. Are there any situations in your life where you may be carrying a great burden of unforgiveness? Is there someone you need to forgive but have been putting it off? It could be a friend, family member, coworker, or even yourself.
Let us set a goal to take tangible measures toward forgiveness. It could start with a genuine prayer asking God to help us break free from the hold of bitterness and resentment. It could entail reaching out to someone we've been separated from. Or it could just be an act of grace and forgiveness extended to someone who has offended us.
Remember that forgiving people is a show of strength and connection with God's holiness, not a sign of weakness. It is a choice to break free from the shackles of unforgiveness and embrace the liberation that God provides.
As we depart today, let us take with us the strong message that forgiveness is a lived experience, a route to holiness, and a source of true freedom. Through forgiveness, may we as a congregation exemplify God's compassion, mercy, and grace, moving others closer to the One who is the ultimate source of liberty and inclusion in His family.
As we come to the end of our time together, I invite you to join me in prayer. Let's bow our heads and open our hearts to the divine presence that has guided our reflections today.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You with gratitude in our hearts. We thank You for the profound truths we've explored today about holiness and forgiveness. We've learned that forgiveness isn't just a one-time act but a way of life that reflects Your very nature. Your love, mercy, and forgiveness are boundless, and we are humbled by Your grace.
We acknowledge, O Lord, that forgiveness isn't always easy. There are hurts and wounds in our lives, both inflicted by us and upon us, that weigh us down. We carry burdens of unforgiveness that limit our freedom and hinder our connection with You. But we've also learned that forgiveness is the key to breaking these chains and embracing the freedom You offer.
So, we ask for Your grace, Lord. We recognize that it's Your unmerited favor that empowers us to forgive as You have forgiven us. Give us the strength to let go of bitterness, anger, and resentment. Help us to release the debts we hold against others, just as You have released the debts we owe You.
Grant us the courage to seek reconciliation where it's needed, to extend grace where it's lacking, and to love even in the face of pain. May the transformative power of forgiveness be evident in our lives, reflecting Your holiness to the world around us.
We pray not only for ourselves but for everyone in this congregation. We ask that You touch each heart, O Lord, and empower us all to embrace the freedom of holiness through forgiveness. May our lives become a living testimony to Your love and grace, drawing others closer to You.
In closing, we commit ourselves to this journey of forgiveness and holiness. We trust in Your guidance and strength as we walk this path, and we look forward to the freedom and belonging that come from living in alignment with Your kingdom values.
We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to forgive as He forgave us. Amen.