The Meaning of Forgiveness

Our Theme for 2025 is “Live Like Jesus”

It comes out of a simple desire to follow Jesus - and to learn better what that means.

We are spending the entire year in the Gospel of Matthew.

We began by going very slowly through the beatitudes.

We skipped ahead to chapter 25 and moved through Jesus’ Passion, leading up to His death and resurrection.

Then we went back to chapter five to pick up where we left off.

Most of the rest of our time in Matthew will be spent examining the way that Jesus describes the renewed life that we have in Christ.

We talked about being salt and light - a demonstration to the world of who God is.

We also talked about living as a changed person.

And we talked about bearing “good fruit.”

Over the last two weeks we talked about divine healing and deliverance.

The renewed life is not just that God will heal you and restore you; but that God will also deliver you from the evil that is trying to oppress you.

God’s plan is to restore all things and healing demonstrates that His plan is already begun.

Not only is it God’s plan to restore what is good; He has also declared war on the forces of evil.

We continue this week in Matthew chapter 9.

Forgiveness is another essential part of the renewed life.

In this chapter, Jesus heals a man by telling him that His sins are forgiven.

Then Matthew interjects his own story of Jesus calling him, a most unlikely candidate - this demonstrates the change that forgiveness can make.

And them Jesus tells some parables about cloth and wineskins to illustrate just how important forgiveness and change are to the renewed life.

What does forgiveness mean to you?

Does forgiving mean forgetting?

Are you sure?

What if you cant forget? Does that mean that you can’t forgive?

Does forgiveness depend on what the other person does?

Does a person need to apologize or ask for forgiveness before you can forgive them?

Does forgiveness depend on your ability to forgive?

What do you say to a person who says that they can’t forgive?

Do you want to know what I say?

I say , congratulations! Realizing that you can’t do it in yourself is a first step to letting God do it.

That’s right, we need God’s help to really forgive.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that the only reason we can truly forgive is because of what Jesus did for us.

True forgiveness is a miracle, which enables a change in perspective and causes a total change of heart.

How’s that for a definition? - That is also our outline for today’s text.

We are going to see that forgiveness is just like healing or deliverance.

It is Jesus that makes the difference.

And it is part of God’s plan of restoration which has already begun to make a difference in our lives.

Forgiveness is a miracle.

Matthew 9:1–2 ESV

1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

This is the story of Jesus healing the paralytic.

Mark and Luke add the detail that the man was lowered through the roof by friends because the house was crowded.

Most of the time this story is told, that is the aspect of the story that is highlighted - the faithfulness of friends who bring a paralyzed man to Jesus.

But Matthew doesn’t even mention how he got there. He focuses instead, on what Jesus said to the man.

Your sins are forgiven!

If you come forward for prayer during worship or at the end of a service. I or one of the elders come up to you and ask, “how can I pray for you?”

If you were literally carried to the altar, we probably don’t even need to ask.

The problem is obvious - you can’t move without help.

What if I were to say to you, “your sins are forgiven!”

You might say, “What are you implying?”

“Are you saying that I’m a sinner? And that my condition is my own fault?”

No Jesus isn’t saying that, but that’s what everyone was thinking.

In Bible times, as in many cultures of the world today - having a physical ailment is considered a kind of curse.

Someone had to do something to deserve the bad things that happen to us.

We have an example of this in the blind man that John tells us Jesus healed:

John 9:1–2 NLT

1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

We can easily make the connection between human suffering and living in a sinful world - but it is not always a direct connection.

Sometimes we suffer from our own bad choices.

Sometimes we suffer because of other people’s bad choices.

And sometimes we suffer because someone, somewhere, made a choice that impacted us so randomly and indirectly that it is impossible to connect the dots.

Sickness and disease can be from lifestyle choices such as stress or diet.

It can be from exposure, either directly or indirectly.

It can be because of a genetic predisposition.

And then there are also accidents, natural disasters and random events.

Something like cancer can have so many different factors that it may be impossible to determine a cause.

The question we all tend to ask when something bad happens is “Why me?”

To which Jesus replies, “ You are forgiven!”

It doesn’t matter if you did anything to cause it or not - You are forgiven.

It doesn’t matter if you were at the wrong place at the wrong time - You are forgiven.

It doesn’t matter if you are just a victim of circumstance - You are forgiven.

Why is Jesus forgiving me, if it’s not my fault?

Maybe because there is no such thing as a person who is never at fault?

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Maybe it is because Jesus knows we need forgiveness more than we need healing.

Sometimes we harbor guilt that is hidden, even to our own minds.

Maybe its because forgiveness can lead to healing? - That is true!

Those who teach about praying for the sick will tell you that sometimes forgiveness is can be the key to miraculous healing.

Maybe it is because we all need to know that we are forgiven so that we can be restored and participate in God’s plan to restore the world?

Forgiveness is that important! But, just like I said in the introduction, forgiveness is so often misunderstood.

It is not forgetting - thought it probably changes the way that we remember things.

Pushing things down and trying to forget them is called repression - and it’s not good!

It doesn’t not depend on your ability - it is only because Jesus forgave us that we can forgive others.

That is why I say that forgiveness is a miracle - because God accomplishes it.

We simply have to ask Him or at least allow Him to.

Forgiveness isn’t hard, it’s impossible!

Matthew 9:3–5 ESV

3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’

Blasphemy is speaking evil of God.

Jesus wasn’t saying anything bad about God.

But He was saying something that only God is allowed to say.

Which of course, is not a problem is you are God incarnate - but they were not ready to go there.

By that logic, healing the man would have been a problem too, because only God can heal - though He has been known to use people and their prayers.

It would take a miracle.

Isn’t it also a miracle that we can forgive and be forgiven?

After all, divine healing is impossible in the natural, but we still pray and hope for it.

We believe God can heal and He does!

What if we thought of forgiveness the same way?

We can ask for it, even knowing that we don’t deserve it - or they don’t deserve it.

We can pray for it, even if we are not feeling it.

We don’t make it happen - we just receive it when it does happen.

How did you get saved?

Did you make that happen?

You asked God to save you and you received it by faith?

Did you feel anything? - Some do, some don’t - it doesn’t really matter because it is a miracle that you receive by faith.

Forgiveness is the same way - you ask for it - but it is God who does it.

Sometimes you feel an immediate sense of relief.

Sometimes it takes a long time to actually feel it,

but you remind yourself that you have started the process and that the miracle is on its way.

Forgiveness works like that too.

Forgiveness is only possible with Jesus.

Matthew 9:6–8 ESV

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Jesus said what he said precisely to make a point about the importance of forgiveness is God’s restoration plan.

Sure, the man was also healed.

Bur Jesus wanted everyone to know that he was also forgiven.

And that for those of us who see ourselves as Jesus followers, forgiveness is also one of the ways in which we bring God’s Kingdom to earth.

Forgiveness is part of the renewed life and it is a mark of a true believer in Jesus.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, He also said this:

Matthew 6:14–15 ESV

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness is not optional, since it is now possible - because of Jesus.

We receive forgiveness, therefor we also must forgive.

Colossians 3:13 NLT

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

If you are worried about someone getting away with something, just consider that Jesus paid a very dear price for their forgiveness and for yours.

What Jesus did changes everything!

Jesus’ death provided atonement for sin.

Without atonement, there is only and endless cycle of retaliation and revenge.

Jesus put a stop to that - it stops with Him at the cross.

Because of the cross, we have a place to go with our fear, our pain, and our injustice.

Jesus took it all upon Himself when they nailed Him to the cross!

So when Jesus says, “your sins are forgiven” - He wants us to know that, not only do our problems go much deeper than what we can see, but He has already been there and resolved it.

Jesus changed everything; we Just need to receive it.

Which enables a change in perspective.

Matthew 9:9 ESV

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

The text goes from Jesus healing a man by forgiving his sin to the calling of Matthew.

Remember, Matthew is the one writing the book.

And we have already noticed that Matthew is very intentional in the way that he structures his narrative.

There is something about Jesus forgiving this man and healing him that Matthew relates to his own story.

Where was Matthew when Jesus called Him?

At the tax booth - collecting taxes.

That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it was to Matthew and to everyone else in his context.

Matthew is working for the Romans, taking money from his own people.

First of all, you don’t get a job like that unless you are well-connected.

So He's part of elite Jewish society - one reason why people might not like him.

He’s working for the Romans - a notoriously brutal and violent occupying force - another reason not to like him.

And everything in the Roman Empire operates on buying one’s favor - on other words - bribes.

Tax collectors had to make sure that they could collect enough to hold their position - are you not liking this guy yet? Yeah, neither did anyone else.

But Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me” - let’s see what difference Jesus makes.

Does sin disqualify a person?

Matthew 9:10 ESV

10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

What is wrong with this picture?

Jesus calls Matthew to follow him.

In the next scene, we see Jesus at Matthew’s house surrounded by numerous other “unsavory characters.”

Oh, and the disciples are there too, which now apparently included Matthew.

In the Biblical context, dining with a person - eating the same food and drink- is essentially expressing approval.

It’s like getting invited to the party.

It’s an invitation of friendship.

And going to the party is like saying, “I’m your friend now.”

By going to this party, Jesus is making a statement that is going to get him uninvited to a lot of other parties.

If you are a Rabbi - a teacher - a holy man- you are not supposed to hang out with sinners!

Why? Simple! People are going to think you are one of them.

But Jesus doesn’t seem worried.

I guess he knew that part of his purpose and destiny was going to be taking our sin.

That he was going to be identified and falsely accused as a criminal.

That He was going to bear the sin and shame of the world all the way to the cross.

Maybe He read Isaiah and knew it was about him:

Isaiah 53:3–4 CEV

3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, “He is a nobody!” 4 He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God.

Jesus knew that his purpose was to save sinners - so why not be with the sinners he is here to save?

Have you ever felt like an outcast?

The person who doesn’t get invited to the party.

The last one picked for the team.

The one who was conveniently forgotten.

You are not alone. - Jesus is right there with you.

Calling a person and outcast by using the word, “sinner” has a strange irony to it.

Why? Because the truth is, we are all sinners.

The difference is that some people know it,

And other people are seemingly able to deny it - pretend it isn’t so.

We have been saying for weeks now that God’s plan and purpose is for the ultimate restoration of the world - making everything right.

That includes healing, deliverance and setting people free from their sin.

And the funny thing is… until you admit that you are a sinner, you can never be free.

Matthew knew this … better than anyone.

Does sin disqualify a person...?

Or does it qualify them!?

Matthew 9:11–12 ESV

11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

“Jesus, why are you spending your time with sinners?”

You are a Rabbi - why do you corrupt yourself with “unsavory characters”?

You are a Jew - why to you associate with traitors?

You are a respectable person - why hang out with “losers”?

“Because”, Jesus says, “I am also healer- and I only attend to those who have some sort of disorder!”

The DSM-5 is the Diagnostic Psychological Manual, Fifth edition. I contains a fairly comprehensive list of know Psychological disorders and their diagnostic criteria. One criteria that is listed for virtually every ailment is that it causes personal or clinical distress. In other words, it has to interfere with your ability to function before it becomes a disorder.

That is one of the reason why so many ailments which would seem to be a disorder, in that they are at least somewhat abnormal, have not made it into the DSM. The argument is, “if it’s not causing distress, it’s not a disorder.” there are also many books that are written as commentaries to the DSM which claim that some studies have been suppressed to warrant that conclusion.

But it illustrates the point that the Bible makes about sin - until you realize that it is hurting you - you are not ready for Jesus to heal you. Until we are distressed over our sin, we are not ready for intervention. Until you admit that you are a sinner, you are not ready to receive salvation.

When you understand God’s forgiveness and the difference that Jesus makes, your entire perspective changes.

You go from acting like you have it all together to admitting that you don’t.

You go from trying to keep up a facade of religious perfection to being open and transparent about your faults and your failure so that you can learn from them.

You go from trying to live your life like you don’t have any problems, to resting in God’s grace and forgiveness and growing into the person God made you to be.

1 John 1:7 CEV

7 But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.

Forgiveness is a miracle which enables a changed perspective...

And causes a total change of heart.

Matthew the tax collector knew that he was a sinner that that is what qualified him to become a disciple of Jesus.

That is why he was willing to leave his tax collecting booth and follow Jesus.

Matthew turned his back on everything - money, power, influence - to join a small band of men who would eventually change the world.

That is why he wrote this gospel account and describes the renewed life and the difference that Jesus makes.

Jesus makes all the difference!

Matthew 9:14–15 ESV

14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew records John the Baptist’s disciples asking Jesus a question about fasting.

Fasting is a common religious practice for Christians, Jews and Muslims.

It is basically denying yourself physically to strengthen yourself spiritually.

Like I said, it is a common Christian practice today - but when John’s disciples asked, it was apparently not especially common with Jesus’ disciples.

Jesus’ answer was, it’s not time for that yet, because I’m still here.

My followers will fast when I’m gone.

He uses a wedding analogy - people don’t fast at a wedding - they feast!

He was probably referring to his own crucifixion when he said that a time for mourning would come.

That’s when people will fast - death makes people lose their appetite.

So what makes the difference?

Why do some people fast and some people feast?

When is it time to rejoice and when is it time to mourn?

When do we eat and when do we not eat?

Jesus makes the difference? What is Jesus saying? What is Jesus doing?

Let me make application to our lives?

When you sin, how long to you have to feel bad about it before you can feel good again?

It’s not a dumb question? Theologians, especially after the Reformation when contemplating the meaning of grace, actually argued about this.

How much does one have to suffer before repentance is complete?

When does grace come into effect?

To use a childhood analogy, how long do you have to sit in “time out” before you can come back and play with the others?

The answer depends on your relationship to Jesus.

Do you understand and appreciate what Jesus has done for you?

Are you preoccupied with the past, mulling over your own thoughts and your intentions, or is you heart and mind renewed to that of Christ?

Are you ready to leave it all behind and follow Jesus?

Are you still contemplating Christ’s death or are you ready to walk in His resurrection?

What is Jesus saying to you?

There is a time for both - I’m not telling you how you should answer - just asking the question.

And I’m asking in case you get stuck, thinking there can only be repentance and not also the absolution of forgiveness.

The renewed life requires a new start.

Matthew 9:16–17 ESV

16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

What is the point of forgiveness if we go right back to the way things were?

The purpose of forgiveness is to enable change.

And in order for change to be meaningful, it must continue.

Old ways are not compatible with the renewed life.

This is not a “band-aid”

If you are going to patch your jeans with new material, you are going to have a wrinkly patch.

Old wineskins are hard and crusty - they don’t have the flexibility to allow for the entire fermentation process.

In the same way, certain religious forms are going to be too rigid when it comes time for the Lord to send revival.

Forgiveness demands flexibility.

Forgiving and being forgiven has a way of stretching us beyond our perceived limits.

The Psalmist comprehended this:

Psalm 103:10–12 CSB

10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

God stretched so far as to become one of us, and then to die a cruel death on a cross.

I don’t think any of us will ever be able to stretch that far....

The point is that forgiveness necessitates a fresh start.

Real change requires new thoughts, new actions and new patterns.

Don’t even think of going back to the way things were...

Or if you do, make it your aim to do what you should have done in the first place.

True forgiveness is a miracle, which enables a change in perspective and causes a total change of heart.

Jesus is calling you - you are invited.

But the path He will take you on is the radical path of forgiveness.

Forgiving yourself and forgiving others - that is the renewed life.

Questions for reflection:

Have you ever felt disqualified? Is there anything about you that you don’t want other people to know? Are there things in your past that keep you from moving forward? Is it possible that God might use your weakness for His glory?

What have you been praying for? Healing? Deliverance? The ability to change? What if Jesus’ response to your request is to say, “your sins are forgiven!” What are you going to do with that? What if that’s the key to what you have been asking for?

Now that God has forgiven you, how does that change the way you see others? Can you see people through the eyes of Christ? What difference does Jesus make? What is Jesus doing in them? What does it mean for you to follow Him today?