Jesus and the Parables "Unforgiving Servant"
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Jesus and the Parables....
Week 1
Treasure
Treasure in Field & Merchant Pearl
“The Kingdom of Heaven has such great value that it is worth giving up everything for it”
Week 2
Talents
3 men were entrusted
2 men were faithful
1 man was wicked
Jesus was teaching that
He will return
and there is a call to live our lives in a way that Jesus will tell us
“well done good and faithful servant”
Week 3
Jesus gave us a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father.
Jesus tells a story of two lost sons
Youngest Son
Oldest Son
Perfect Father
Today we are going to unpack Jesus’ message about the importance of forgiveness in the Kingdom of God.
Ryan and Jon story (Funny now)
Stories that aren not funny but too painful
Jesus teaches us about the importance of forgiveness in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:21 (ESV)
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Peter’s question demonstrates that he is begging to understand a little bit more about the Kingdom of God.
Peter is starting to catch on that Jesus is setting a new standard in which we shall live by.
Because in Judaism at this time it was taught by Rabbis that forgiveness was to be given three times and that is it. (Keener 95)
So, Peter asking Jesus if he should forgive seven over doubling the standard 3 three times.
Jesus replies to Peter’s question by stating...
Matthew 18:22 (ESV)
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:22 (NLT)
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! (
(whole lot more then 3 or even 7 times)
Jesus then as he often does tells a story to make his point...
Matthew 18:23–35 (ESV)
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
I want to focus on the first servant in the story
1. Forgiven
The first servant in this story has a major problem.
The master is coming to settle his accounts with his servants and the this servant owes him ten thousand talents.
The new living translation states he owes millions of dollars.
The picture Jesus is giving is that the servant owes way more than he will ever be able to pay back in his lifetime.
When the master comes he knows that he is in deep trouble because there is no way that he can pay this impossible debt.
When the master finds out that this servant is in no way able to pay off this debt
The master orders the servant along with his wife and children to be sold to pay off the debt.
After the master says this the servant does the only thing that he is able to do...
That is he falls down on his knees and pleads with the master to have mercy on him.
The master responds to his plea....
Matthew 18:27 (ESV)
27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Have you ever had such an intense stress and then in a moment all the anxiety and fear is released? (Court, job, sports game)
Master says your forgiven....
In this life we owed a debt that was impossible to pay.
A debt that was certainly beyond our reach of paying.
In it was in that state that the Father sent is one and only son to pay the price in order for our debts to be paid.
14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
In this story Jesus gives us this picture of someone who is invited into a changed life.
He has been given a measure of grace that he could never have earned.
This servant is invited into a new life of knowing the power of forgiveness.
Klyne Snodgrass,
God’s mercy must not be treated cavalierly. Mercy is not effectively received unless it is shown, for God’s mercy transforms. If God’s mercy does not take root in the heart, it is not experienced. Forgiveness not shown is forgiveness not known. (75)
2. Forgiven but Forgotten
Matthew 18:28-29
28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, (few thousand dollars NLT) and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
When the second servant falls to his knees pleading for mercy you would think the first servant would be reminded that this very scene just played out only he was the one on his knees. (dajavu)
Tim Keller example
Black and White when it is others
When its ourselves well it’s complex
You would think the servant who has received so much grace and mercy would do the same.
After all, this scene takes place immediately after he was forgiven
But his response to his fellow servant was you are not going to be forgiven by me and has him thrown into prison.
When the other servants see what has happen they are very upset.
They go to the master and explain what has transpired and the master deals with the situation.
Matthew 18:32–35 (ESV)
32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The question the master poses to the servant saying “should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?
Shows how far off the servant missed the mark.
The master had to be thinking did you not learn anything from what just happened? Servant forgets so fast....
We have been forgiven
We must do the same
But like the servant it is easy to forget so fast what we have all been forgiven of?
Jesus tells this story about forgiveness to answer Peter’s question about forgiveness.
Peter’s question describes the mentality we often times have about forgiveness.
That is, what is the minimal requirements when it comes to forgiveness. (Loopholes)
N. T. Wright states,
Peter’s question and Jesus’ answer say it all (verses 21–22). If you’re still counting how many times you’ve forgiven someone, you’re not really forgiving them at all, but simply postponing revenge. ‘Seventy times seven’ is a typical bit of Jesus’ teasing. What he means, of course, is ‘don’t even think about counting; just do it’. (Wright 40)
Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Forgiven people forgive others.
it is certainly easier said than done.
Pastors kid.... Forgiveness is hard...
Bitterness will grow out of unforgiveness
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Bitterness destroys our relationships
whereas
Forgiveness grows our relationships
Story of Pastor Arizona
Jesus Gives the greatest example.
Father forgive them for they know not what they do
Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23–29 (ESV)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.