36: Thankful for Forgiveness (Mt 18:15-35)

What are YOU thankful for? Health, family, friends, food, financial provision - the list goes on and on.

But what about being Thankful For Forgiveness, an invaluable kindness that extends from this life into eternal life. Today we are reminded of the incredible forgiveness that has been offered to us.

2 weeks ago we were reminded that followers of Jesus are commanded

to demonstrate humility & appreciate the Responsibility we are been tasked with.

We also heard the stern warning from Jesus that we are not to cause others to STUMBLE away from Jesus, but help point others TO Jesus.

Our lives ought not to cause CONFUSION, but out lives should bring CLARITY to who Jesus is and what Jesus says.

We concluded the teaching with this powerful illustration from Jesus regarding His heart to forgive sinners like us.

Matthew 18:12–14 (NIV)

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

And so it is, that the GOOD SHEPHERD came to look for the 1 - willing to forgive, WANTING to forgive and bring a lost sheep home.

With that CONTEXT, let’s launch today’s teaching.

Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

If your Christian brother or sister is living in sin, then Jesus COMMANDS us to approach and point out their fault, to tell them “What you are doing is wrong.”

Some might say “that’s judging” and they’d be right. Yet this IS exactly what Jesus tells us to do. As we learned way back in Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus didn’t say we should never judge, but that we should judge WITH mercy and judge WITHOUT hypocrisy.

So it is that the believer is to approach in obedience to Jesus in hopes to confront, correct, & comfort the one who turns from sin.

That’s the whole goal - to be right with the Lord Jesus and to be in right relationship with others,so that the one once living in sin is genuinely forgiven and restored, and THANKFUL FOR FORGIVENESS!

But…that isn’t always the outcome, so…if that doesn’t work then Jesus says…

Matthew 18:16–17 (NIV)

But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

What’s it mean to treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector? Does it simply mean, treat them like a LOST SHEEP? Nope. We show tons of grace towards LOST SHEEP. We seek them out and make time for them.

But this is NOT what we are told to do with those who claim Christ yet refuse to repent of ongoing sin.

If need be…kick out the ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ who refuses to repent of sin, and have nothing to do with them.

We actually see how this played out in 1 Cor 5 (remember our series on 1 Corinthians called, “A Beautiful Mess”?) when a man was to be kicked out of church gatherings for not being willing to turn away from his sexual relationship with his step-mother. Since he won’t repent, Paul writes……

1 Corinthians 5:5 (NIV)

hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Handing this man over to Satan means no longer allowing him to be under the covering of the protection of God’s people. He can longer sit on the fence.

The destruction of the flesh is referring to the dismantling of his sinful desires.

The Church is to respond like parents who must kick out their disobedient teenagers who refuse to respond to discipline, in hopes that they will one day see the emptiness of their lives and come home.

With this punishment, the hope is that this man will finally feel the weight of his sin, his need to repent, and that he be made right with the Lord and His people and on the day of the Lord - when Jesus returns - that man’s spirit may be saved.

It’s often hard to do what’s right in the SHORT TERM with our hope fixed on the LONG TERM result. THIS is why the Church should bring discipline to the person who claims Christ, but refuses to follow Him.

Paul writes the same thing about others who used to be considered brothers.

1 Timothy 1:19–20 (NIV)

…holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Maybe Paul had someone in mind when he wrote this next letter - to Titus.

Titus 3:10–11 (NIV)

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

I know what many people think about that. “That doesn’t sound like a very ‘Christian’ thing to do…does it?” Well, I guess that depends on what CHRIST says, huh?

So if that’s what CHRIST tells us to do, then it IS very CHRISTian.

To NOT do that is actually ‘not very CHRISTian’.

Remember - it is the Lord Jesus who commanded these things…(Mt 18:16-17)

Finally, look at what Paul writes about how we are to treat that false follower.

1 Corinthians 5:9–11 (NIV)

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

And then, as if to counter those who say it’s wrong to judge another Christian like this, Paul finishes with…

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 (NIV)

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Expel the wicked person from among you? Paul is quoting from numerous Old Testament texts that say the same thing (Deut. 13:5; 17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21, 24; 24:7). Those Israelites who disobeyed God and refused to repent would be cast out from the family.

So too, New Covenant followers of Jesus are not to associate with these who claim Christ but live in disobedience to Him…UNTIL they turn from their sin. That doesn’t sound like many people’s cuddly & soft build-a-bear Jesus does it?

The desire is for reconciliation, to see this man come back to obedience. As a parent what is the most loving thing you can do…let your kids get away with disobedience OR discipline them and train them to obey?

The goal of discipline, according to Jesus, is to

Call the brother or sister back to right relationship with God and God’s people.

Make sure God’s people don’t put up with disobedience in their own lives and influence others to do the same thing.

Back to the words of Jesus…

Matthew 18:15–17 (NIV)

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

It’s then that Jesus says something that many Christians have quoted, but never understood or appreciated in context.

Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV)

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My Name, there am I with them.

This passage is super popular at church gatherings, but it is rarely used in its proper context.

To bind and loose has nothing to do with demons, but discipline.

This isn’t about praying against the devil or demons. Instead...

To bind is to proclaim that the person is still a slave to their sin.

To loose is to proclaim that the person has been set free from their sin.

To agree about anything they ask for isn’t a blank check for every prayer to be answered the way they want.

In context, as the believers agree about expelling one who disobeys and embracing the one who obeys, the decision is recognized in heaven (by God).

Finally, there’s the often quoted where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Of course the Presence of Jesus is among those who follow Him and meet together. But this context is all about reinforcing the reality that it is Jesus who judges through His people.

I know that none of us would be excited as we look forward to this last meeting where we confront this ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ who is in sin. We might even pause and ask, “Who are WE to judge him/her? After all, we have sinned too!” But that’s when the words of Jesus should stampede our thoughts of inadequacy because…Jesus is WITH us and Jesus commands us to do this.

And if Jesus commands it and we don’t do it, then we are being disobedient.

So, the hope really is to see the Christian who hasn’t been living for Christ to turn back to him and away from their sin.

And when they do, we are to receive them back. We even see the result of the Corinthian church expelling the disobedient man from them in the next letter we call 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 2:5–10a (NIV)

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.

HOW GOOD IS THAT!!! The one that had to discipline; the one they had hurt over and prayed for, the one they loved enough to tell the truth, the one they pushed out of the house…had come back! And as the Father welcomed back the prodigal son, the Church is to forgive, comfort, and love the repentant brother/sister!

So, we ARE to forgive our brothers and sisters who sin against us and repent, but how many times?

Matthew 18:21–22 (NIV)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

If you grew up reading the King Jimmy Version or New King Jimmy Version or NAS, like I did, then you have heard 70x7. The CSB translates it the same. but many contemporary translations translate this as seventy-seven times (NIV, NET, ESV). Either way…it’s a bunch of times!

Surely Jesus’ point is not that we keep count, but that we forgive the one who seeks forgiveness…just as the Father does.

FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE PEOPLE.

And Jesus speaks to that in a story He tells.

Matthew 18:23–25 (NIV)

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold [6,000 talents] was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

The Greek term translated by the NIV as ten thousand bags of gold is literally 10,000 talents. A talent was a weight (75 lbs) and the term for the highest known denomination of money in the ancient Roman Empire. [1]

and 1 talent (75 lbs) of silver was equal to 6,000 denarius.

1 denarius amounts to about 1 day’s wage of the average worker.

So……1 Talent = 6,000 days wages = that’s about 20 years worth of work (minus Sabbath days off)

10,000 talents = 200,000 years worth of work! In other words…he will NEVER be able to pay it back!!!

Josephus (ancient Jewish historian) wrote that the combined annual collections of taxes from all of Israel including Galilee, Judea, Samaria, and also just south of Judea (Idumea) and East of Judea (Perea) came to 800 talents (Jos. Ant. 17.318; 320). [2]

It would have taken 12.5 years to collect that amount of money annually from all of those regions!

The audience of Jesus would have immediately understood the impossibility of one man getting this far in debt. It would be like me saying, “He owed his creditor trillions of dollars.” he will NEVER be able to pay it back!!!

Matthew 18:26–27 (NIV)

At this the servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.” The servant’s Master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Remember, this is a story about the kingdom of heaven, and how the KING of the kingdom settles accounts that others can’t pay back.

The servant owes more than he could ever pay. Rather than give the servant more time, the Master decided to fully cancel the debt and set him free! That’s IT! No more need to pay anything back! Incredible! A reason to celebrate & go tell your friends!

But this man had a different plan.

Matthew 18:28–29 (NIV)

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins [100 denarii]. He grabbed him and began to choke him. “Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.”

Note that this man didn’t owe the servant anything close to the amount the previous servant had already been forgiven for. 10,000 bags of gold vs. 100 silver coins, or in Greek 10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii.

The ultimate point is not for us to try to determine an exchange rate, but that we - like the ancient audience Jesus was speaking to - would see the absolute ABSURDITY of demanding such a small amount back after being forgiven SO MUCH MORE!

This is the same scenario as before - a person pleading for patience. But rather than this man more time to pay it back, and rather than forgive it all together - like what had been done for him…this man demanded pay-back.

Matthew 18:30–31 (NIV)

But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

Matthew 18:32–33 (NIV)

Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”

The answer is, “Of course!” This guy had been forgiven more than he could ever be able to pay back! What the other man owed him was nothing in comparison to all that HE had owed the Master!

Matthew 18:34–35 (NIV)

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

DANG!!!! According to Jesus, our heavenly Father is super GRACIOUS - willing to extend forgiveness to those who could never repay it, BUT…super JUST - withholding forgiveness from those who withhold forgiveness to their brothers and sisters in Christ.

If Jesus is telling the truth, and of course He is,

then can you imagine being the person who is EXPECTING the ultimate forgiveness of eternity, yet finding out that YOU are NOT FORGIVEN, because you haven’t forgiven!?!?

This is the EXPECTATION and COMMAND from the Lord: Those who are THANKFUL FOR FORGIVENESS are to extend forgiveness to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Those who refuse to forgive others have forfeited the eternal forgiveness that God offers us.

Forgiving others isn’t a good work to earn forgiveness, but a grace poured into your life that overflows to others.

FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE PEOPLE.

WHO do YOU need to forgive?

Choose:

Will you hold on to that HATE?

Or…will you offer forgiveness from your heart?

Leeches Drop Off During a Wam Bath

William Arnot once told the story is told of a traveler in Burma, after crossing a river, discovered that his body was covered with small leeches, busily sucking his blood. His first impulse was to pull them off, but his servant warned him against it, explaining that to do that would leave part of the leeches buried in the skin and cause serious infection.

The native prepared a warm bath for the man and added certain herbs to the water that irritated but did not kill the leeches. One by one the leeches began to let go and drop off.

Arnott linked the story to our unwillingness to forgive others, like leeches sucking out the life-blood of our souls.

Arnott concludes the story with these words, “Mere human determination to have done with it will not cast the evil thing away. You must bathe your whole being in God’s pardoning mercy; and those venomous creatures will instantly let go their hold.” [3]

Have YOU received God’s forgiveness? Are you THANKFUL FOR FORGIVENESS?

If so, you should be extending that forgiveness to others, especially to brothers and sisters in Christ.

Colossians 3:12–13 (NIV)

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.

What has the Lord forgiven YOU for? How many times has He forgiven YOU? So too, I am called - you are called, to forgive as the Lord forgave you - no longer holding that over the other person’s head, no longer bringing it up, treating that person as a part of your FAITH FAMILY.

Colossians 3:13b–15 (NIV)

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Thankful for WHAT?

THANKFUL FOR FORGIVENESS

Are You ForgivEN?

Are you ForgivING? Maybe this is the week to write that letter, or make that phone call, or set up a time to talk, a time to SEEK or OFFER the FORGIVENESS that God has extended to you.

Need to Talk?

Staff

Deacons/Wives

REMINDER

We need your nominations for DEACONS and for COUNCIL by next Sunday.

Also, we will vote on proposed 2024 Budget and the ByLaw Revision regarding Deacon Service Term

If you have ANY QUESTIONS, you can discuss this with your STAFF, COUNCIL, DEACONS, or FINANCE TEAM. We have sent out the names for each of those this week via email and Facebook Fellowship Group.

_____________

Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 283.

Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), 458–459.

John F. MacArthur Jr., Matthew, vol. 3, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1985), 157.

Discussion Questions

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching?

Read Matthew 18:15-17. Why are churches so reluctant to practice church discipline even though Jesus commanded us to? What is the GOAL of this discipline? What attitude must believers take in confronting sinful brothers/sisters (Mt 7:1-6 might be helpful here)?

Read Matthew 18:18-20. How have you heard these terms used - “bind, loose, agree, two or three gather in my name” - IN or OUT of context? Explain your answer. How does reading these in context help you to appreciate the responsibility Jesus has given to judge with mercy?

Read what Paul wrote in 1 Cor 5:4-5, 1 Tim 1:19-20, Titus 3:10-11, and 1 Cor 5:9-13. Talk about the ultimate outcomes of not allowing professing Christians to live in sin without being confronted with the truth.

Read 2 Cor 2:5-10. What did the discipline of the man in 1 Cor 5 result in? Take a few minutes to discuss the beauty of the verbs Paul uses in commanding the church to welcome him back.

Read Matthew 18:23-35. Discuss the significance of why followers of Jesus must extend His forgiveness to those who have harmed us. What might it say about a person’s spiritual condition who is unwilling to forgive others?

Read Colossians 3:12-15. What should a Church who loves Jesus look like in how they treat one another? Take a moment and share some ways God has forgiven YOU.

Our BIG TRUTH from the Biblical text was: Forgiven People Forgive People. How might our willingness to forgive others point people to Jesus?

What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.