MATTHEW 18:15-35
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
RESTORING A BROTHER Matthew18:15-20
RESTORING A BROTHER Matthew18:15-20
15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
What are the steps outlined in Matthew 18:15-20 for addressing a brother who has sinned against you?
15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
We normally gossip=wildfire
This should be stopped dead in its tracks by ALL believers
Explicit Instructions
Reconciliation
16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.
What should you do if someone refuses to listen to you after you confront them about their sin, according to Matthew 18:16?
Witness help ensure not a squabble
Ensure repentance
15 “One witness cannot establish any iniquity or sin against a person, whatever that person has done. A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Trouble WILL PLAGUE the church when church's fail to follow this!
17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.
Church not civil court
Refusal=Heathen & Tax Collector>outside the church; aka non member
Outsider until repentance is evident
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.
How does the concept of binding and loosing in Matthew 18:18 relate to church authority?
It is honored in heaven and loose/ restoration is ratified by GOD
19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”
What does Matthew 18:20 reveal about the presence of Christ in community prayer?
In context this is about church disciple.
2or3 mentioned from 16.
Restoration, not punishment, is the goal of church discipline
Restoration, not punishment, is the goal of church discipline
THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT Matthew 18:21-35
THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.
23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’
29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
What does the illustration of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35 teach us about God's perspective on forgiveness?
21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.
Stingy?
Rabbis require 3 times
=Indefinitely
Be like GOD with our forgiveness
23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him.
ALLLLLLLOT of $
Impossible to pay
Just like our sin debt=unpayable
25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
thought he had time and ability=grace
28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’
small compared to his debt
29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.
Unwilling
We do this too
31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.
unwilling=despicable
returned to the jailer
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
What does it mean to forgive someone from your heart, as mentioned in Matthew 18:35?
GOD is the king!
Our debt to GOD is way bigger than our bro & sis debt to us. Knowing this puts us in position to know that we are to have mercy.
FORGIVE AS YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
FORGIVE AS YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
Stop counting how many times you’ve forgiven someone
Compare what God has forgiven you to what others owe you
Understand that unforgiveness imprisons your own soul
Recognize that your willingness to forgive reflects your grasp of God’s forgiveness toward you
RESTORE THROUGH DISCIPLE & FORGIVE WITHOUT LIMIT
RESTORE THROUGH DISCIPLE & FORGIVE WITHOUT LIMIT
Evaluate whether you’re currently holding onto grudges or unforgiveness
Remember that you have been forgiven infinitely more than anyone owes you
Your church’s health is measured by how generously you forgive one another
Choose to
Can you think of a situation where you might have been reluctant to forgive someone? How can this sermon help you in that situation?
