Unlimited

Matthew 18:21-35 Unlimited

We discovered last time in 18:15-20, that there is a great heart of forgiveness even in the church discipline that Jesus gave us in the confrontation of a believer who is in sin. The goal is the purity of the Church, not to punish but to restore that brother or sister to fellowship with the body.

Let me ask you…

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Forgiveness, Results Of

We all have seen and used those little electronic calculators. What happens if you get your information confused or make an error? You press the “clear” button and automatically all of the information is eliminated from the calculator. Then you begin again, without trying to sort out the previous mistake. In fact, there is no record of your mistake! It is lost forever!

That’s what happens to our sins when God forgives us. The consequences may remain, but the guilt—the legal condemnation for the offense—is gone.

A psychiatrist, says that if he could convince the patients in his psychiatric hospitals that their sins are forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day. So often we do not take God at his word!

So why wont we accept Unlimited forgiveness?

Beginning of Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21–22 

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Peter addresses Jesus as Lord.

Peter uses a biblical number, the number of completion, the number that often represents God. Trying to show better than Rabbis who said only 3 times.

It’s hyperbole, but its not. Though Jesus is not saying you only have to forgive a person 490 times then its done so it is an exaggeration in that respect. But the immensity of forgiveness is in light of what we would do. This really looks forward to the cross.

We think of each individual offense, especially when we read the law, the Ten, etc. But a sin against an eternal God carries an eternal punishment. Ro 6:23a says the wages of sin is death. Separation from Yahweh. Jesus here say we can forgive.

Now, it can be implied that to forgiven someone of something they need to repent. But Jesus nor Peter here says, excuse. They say forgiveness. Aphieso (I forgive) from Aphiemi (leave, pardon, permit, forgive) it is eradicating the offense that affects the relationship between an offender and the one offended.

Jesus uses a parable to explain the depth of this forgiveness and the expense of ignoring it. Of not accepting it and what it looks like to receive it.

Matthew 18:23–24 

23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 

24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

Now Jesus doesn't say in general or everyone requires, etc. He says the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the certain king. He has come to His people, to bring them to settle the debt of sin. To be baptized eventually by the Holy Spirit.

settling an account with his slaves. they are His to do with as He would.

Ten thousand talents. 10K talents is like is a lot more than 490. Its like 80 pounds of gold, over 4 million dollars. An impossible number for almost anyone. But certainly to a servant.

Matthew 18:25 

25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

Nothing is free, everything costs. The word tells us that the Proverbs 22:7  “ The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.”

The entirety of this mans life, is what is required. The cost for our sin debt, is everything. And the possibility of paying back becomes moot when all is lost, and even the life that could redeem, is put away.

Matthew 18:26–27 

26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 

27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (daneion: loan - important later)

Fell down, pressed his forehead to the ground, showing complete surrender. No excuses and an un-fillable promise.

The master wasn't convinced of the repayment, Jesus plainly says he was moved with compassion to forgive the debt. compassion: splankisthesis. The guts twisted he cared so much it physically got him and changed his heart.

An Unforgiving Heart

Matthew 18:28–30 

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 

29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 

30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

The comparison is obvious, the guy who owed millions, destroyed the life of a man who owed a fraction of what he did.

This is us. Often times, I will hold a grudge. I will not exact the same forgiveness given to me, for those that harm me.

Not just a demanding of the settling of grievances, but angry, violent, and incarcerating them in my own hate and bitter heartedness. It can make me act against them but when it doesn't, it affects me as much if not worse.

Matthew 18:31–34 

31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. (diesaphesan: every detail)

32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt (opheilen: obligation; debt - no longer a loan) because you begged me. 

33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

Torturers were those who pressed the individual and all involved to help absolve the debt.

THIS IS NOT A DOCTRINAL STATEMENT. You will not be able to earn your way out of this. This is the point of Jesus’ statement, its done. There is no possibility this man would ever pay his debt. But we learn from it at the same time.

Your sin, will find you out. Here we see this man was dishonest about his repentance over his own debt. Anyone truly forgiven, forgives. This man loved the world, not God. 1 John 2:15  “ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

He needs more splanknon. More heart, more guts.

Matthew 18:35 

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Proverbs 21:13  “ Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.”, Matthew 6:12  “ And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”, Mark 11:26  “ But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”” and finally

To live in this bitter un-forgiveness may display that you have not experience the incredible freedom from guilt in Christ - having died to the law and its letter. I say this not to scare you or control you. But to encourage you to examine your self. To know where you stand with your savior. Acting like you forgive someone is going to save you but when it comes natural, it may be a heart that has been forgiven.

James 2:8–13  “ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Our sin cost us such an astronomical number, we are without ability to pay. The one cast into prison as we saw, has zero chance of paying the debt. But the one who called us, the one who offers perfect mercy, perfect peace, perfect forgiveness, he takes the debt of all of us, on Himself. On that cross. And there, the work is finished. Freely received, freely give.

CS Lewis said, “It is not your business to succeed, but to do right. When you have done so the rest lies with god.”

Lets live as a Church, with Unlimited Forgiveness - from the core of your being, as we have been given the same. His mercy, grace, love and forgiveness, is Unlimited.