I would Forgive but.....

Matthew 18:21

Matthew 18:21 NIV84

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

How would you describe Peter’s Question in 21?

What does that question reveal about Peter’s understanding of forgiveness

Read Matthew 18:22

Matthew 18:22 NIV84

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

What do you think was Jesus’ point?

Read Matthew 18:23-25

Matthew 18:21–25 NIV84

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

10,000 talents, by today’s standard would be equal to several million dollars? How would you feel after the king forgave the entire debt?

Read Matthew 18:26-27

Matthew 18:26–27 NIV84

“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.

The man’s reaction was to beg for something that was impossible to accomplish. What would be your reaction?

The King didn’t put him on a payment plan or reduce the amount but forgave the entire amount. What would Jesus point be here?

Read Matthew 18:28

Matthew 18:28 NIV84

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

A few thousand denarii would be about $5,000 dollars.

What lesson do you think Christ intends by such drastic differences in these sums?

How should the comparison affect our view of the sins of others? Can you think of other lessons Jesus gave that would support your thoughts?

Read Matthew 18:29-30

Matthew 18:29–30 NIV84

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

Compare the man’s interaction with his fellow servant to the interaction he had just had with the king.

How does that make you feel? Have you ever been either the King or the servant?

Read Matthew 18:31-34

Matthew 18:31–34 NIV84

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. “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?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

What do you think was the lesson Jesus was giving to us about the change of heart by the king? Can you think of some other lessons Jesus gave which supports this?

Read Matthew 18:35

Matthew 18:35 NIV84

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Go back to Peter’s original question. What would you say is at the heart of Jesus’ answer?

What happens to our spiritual freedom and spiritual relation with God when we are critical and unforgiving?