Forgiveness

Verses – Matthew 18:21-35

Subject – Forgiveness

Central Theme – Forgiving other

Objective Statement –

"Every Christian should forgive others because of three lessons found in Matthew 18."

Lesson #1 – The Response- Incomputable forgiveness (21-22)

Lesson #2 – The Example- Immeasurable forgiveness (23-27)

Lesson #3 – The Parable- Imitated forgiveness (28-35)

Introduction:

“I’m sorry!” Those two words carry worlds of meaning. When a waitress uses them over and over during the thirty minutes or so that you are at her table, they often lose any meaning. But when they come from someone who has hurt you and you can sense their anguish over that hurt, those words can be liberating to you—and to them. Forgiving others can be difficult but is essential for good spiritual and mental well-being. Jesus calls us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.

Discussion Question: Why do you think it is often hard to forgive someone who has offended you? 

News Story Summary

Jason and Laura Hughes knew they would be pranked because they both taught at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, which meant double points for students pulling off the prank. In fact, Jason was excited about catching the pranksters and causing them to lose points. As students strung toilet paper from the trees on a rainy night, Jason came out to catch them, but he slipped into the roadway. In their hurry to escape, the students accidentally ran over him. Jason later died at the hospital.

The driver and four other students were charged, but they were released on bond. Even though the district attorney has the case under review, Laura Hughes is not pressing charges. Instead, she thanked the community for their prayers and support. She also asked people to pray for the students and their families.

An online account has been established to help Laura and her two children with immediate expenses and a college fund.

Ask: Why do we have such a difficult time forgiving others?

Ask: How can Laura Hughes forgive these students? Affirm that forgiveness can be hard, but it reflects God’s character in a powerful way.

This session examines what Jesus taught about forgiving others and why it’s so important.

Every Christian should forgive others because of three lessons found in Matthew 18.

Lesson #1 – Incomputable forgiveness (v. 21-22)

Matthew 18:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Ask:What do you think is a reasonable number of times to forgive someone who hurts you?

Recap:Read this to provide more context for Peter’s question:

In verses 15-20, Jesus spoke about the situation where one believer sins against another. This raised a question in Peter’s mind. He asked: “how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” He wondered, what’s the limit on forgiving and restoring my brother, a fellow believer?

Ask:What kind of response do you think Peter expected from Jesus?

Object Lesson: Scoreboard

Prior to the session, find a photo of a scoreboard. You also could use a scorecard from a familiar board game. Show adults the scoreboard and discuss how scores are kept in different games. Ask: Why is it so important for us to keep score? Discuss responses. Point out that Peter was trying to “keep score” in forgiveness, but Jesus debunked that idea by emphasizing unlimited forgiveness among believers.

Lesson #2 – Immeasurable forgiveness (23-27)

Matthew 18:23–27 KJV 1900

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Examine:Draw a three-column chart on the board with the following headings: King, King’s Servant, and Other Servant. Encourage adults to work in teams of two or three to identify characteristics of the king and his servant in verses 23-27. After a few minutes, discuss their insights. Record their responses under the appropriate columns.

Inform:Emphasize the servant’s desperate situation:

As this king began to settle accounts with his servants, he came across a servant who owed him an enormous sum of money—ten thousand talents. . . . This would have been an inordinate amount of money in the Roman and Hebrew monetary system. While various scholars have sought to estimate the debt of this man as being in the millions of US dollars, Jesus was not attempting to set an exact amount. . . . Jesus’s point is that the man owed an enormous amount that he would never be able to repay. For the king, the only remedy was that the man, his family, and all his possessions be seized and sold to pay the debt. Such actions were not uncommon in that day and time. Keep in mind that Jesus was moving to a conclusion to Peter’s question, showing that those who follow Christ have a huge debt that we cannot pay—the debt of our sin against God.

Ask:How do you see grace at work in these verses?

Transition:Mercy and compassion are the only reasons the servant wasn’t punished; in no way did he earn it or deserve it. As humans, we deserve to suffer the consequences of our debt to God, but He made a way for us to find forgiveness through Jesus. As Jesus would soon show, that forgiveness should transform our lives.

Lesson #3 – Imitated forgiveness (28-35)

Matthew 18:28–34 KJV 1900

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

What are the dangers of failing to forgive? How does unforgiveness affect our relationship with God and others? Discuss responses.

Explain that no offense we suffer compares to our debt to God.

Because of that, forgiveness is not optional or superficial. Lead adults in praying for

the Hughes family and thanking God for their example of forgiveness. Pray that each adult will nurture a lifestyle of forgiveness that leads them toward healing and restoration.