Forgiveness

Introduction

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Two cars were involved in a accident. One of the drivers had insurance; the other didn’t. The driver without insurance also did not have a job, and his license was expired. The insured driver had a choice after he left the scene of the accident. He could live for the rest of his life sour about his messed-up bumper, or he could use his insurance to get it fixed rather than be held hostage by someone else’s lack of insurance.

Message

When we sin, we must lay it before God and admit our sin. If someone has sinned against us, we relieve them of the sin so that we can move on.

God is Good

Tonight we will see how Jesus expects us to Forgive.

The meaning of forgiveness

The method of forgiveness

The meekness of forgiveness

Forgiveness = Freeing a person from guilt and its consequences.

Isaiah 6:3

Isaiah 6:3 ESV

And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

How did Jesus Forgive us?

How do we Forgive ourselves?

How do we Forgive others?

Matthew 5:38–48 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-48

Out Line

52 Simple Sermon Outlines 35. Forgiveness (Matthew 5:38–48)

FORGIVENESS (Matthew 5:38–48)

The Old Testament was, “an eye for an eye.” Jesus taught that we should be forgiving. The Lord’s prayer teaches us to be forgiving. Unless we are forgiving, He will not forgive us

I. THE MEANING OF FORGIVENESS

A. The Old Testament law was to get even—v. 38

(We are not under the law, but under grace)

B. Turning the cheek—v. 39

(This is the acid test of Christianity)

C. Do more than what is expected—vv. 40–41

(Give more than what is asked of you. Go the second mile)

If you follow Christ closely, you will be forgiving

II. THE METHOD OF FORGIVENESS

A. Giving—v. 42

(Give more than you receive)

B. The Old Testament was get even and hatred

The New Testament is love

1. Love your enemies

2. Bless them that curse you

3. Do good to them that curse you

4. Pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you

The real test of Christianity—being good to those that are against you

III. THE MEEKNESS OF FORGIVENESS

A. Children of the Father—v. 45

(God our father. Brothers and sisters in the Lord)

B. Easy to love the lovely—v. 46

(Need God’s help to love the unlovely)

C. Easy to salute

(respect) your brethren, but what does this prove? (Real meekness is when you love your enemies)

D. The secret of forgiveness—v. 48

(If you are striving to be perfect, you will be forgiving)

Christ is the best example of forgiveness. Upon the cross He forgave those who were killing Him. No bitterness or grudge in his heart

OUTLINE

FORGIVENESS ()

The Old Testament was, “an eye for an eye.” Jesus taught that we should be forgiving. The Lord’s prayer teaches us to be forgiving. Unless we are forgiving, He will not forgive us

I. THE MEANING OF FORGIVENESS

A. The Old Testament law was to get even—v. 38

(We are not under the law, but under grace)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

An eye for an eye This principle, often referred to as lex talionis or the “law of retaliation” (see Exod 21–24) contrasts with the unexpected generosity that a member of the kingdom of heaven should display.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

do not resist the evildoer Jesus is speaking of someone who does wrong to another person. He encourages His followers to return good when someone else intends evil.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

In other words, Jesus was simply telling the his disciples that we don't live under the law anymore, as believers in Christ we live under grace. Back then if someone killed another, they would be killed also. If someone cut another’s eye out then their eye would be cut out. Jesus is not asking us to be fair, He is asking us to go above and beyond fair.

B. Turning the cheek—v. 39

(This is the acid test of Christianity)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

do not resist the evildoer Jesus is speaking of someone who does wrong to another person. He encourages His followers to return good when someone else intends evil.

C. Do more than what is expected—vv. 40–41

“ As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well.”

coat = outer garment

the outer and more costly garment. This overcoat was not allowed to be retained over night as a pledge from the poor because they used it for a bed covering.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 24). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

This verse gives rise to the familiar saying of “the shirt off your back” in such contexts as one person giving him the “shirt off of his back.” In Jesus’ day it was literally possible to sue someone for the very shirt on their back. When a person had no money or other possessions, the court often would require the fine or judgement be paid by clothing. Now, the coat was another story and was to be one’s permanent twenty-four-hour-a-day possession. In short, if you were sued and lost your shirt and your coat, by Jewish civil law your adversary had to return your coat before the sun set so you could sleep in it.

So what Jesus is saying to citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, is that we should be willing to surrender even our valuable outer garment, our coat, even though the plaintiff could not legally take it. We should do this if necessary to meet the required debt rather than offend our adversary.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 5

the outer and more costly garment. This overcoat was not allowed to be retained over night as a pledge from the poor because they used it for a bed covering.

(Give more than what is asked of you. Go the second mile)

(Give more than what is asked of you. Go the second mile)

What really caught my attention here was that Jesus was talking to His disciples. These were the men that Jesus hand picked to follow Him. The men who left everything behind; their jobs, their families, and their friends all because they knew something was different about Him. Now understand that these men have been taught the “law” their entire life and now here comes this man telling them to do more than what the laws asks of them. They would have been justified in the worlds eyes by taking their coat if they had lost it in a law suit. But Jesus told them that He expects them to go above and beyond what the law says, just to make sure that they are characterizing overwhelming generosity. But Jesus does not stop there, not only does he expect His followers to show overwhelming generosity to the people we love but also to the evildoers, the ones who have done us wrong. In other words “go the extra mile.”

An interesting fact abut going the extra mile is:

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

whoever forces you to go one mile The Roman military occupied Israel during this time, and soldiers could require bystanders to carry a load for a mile.

Luke 6:30 ESV

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

Luke

Jesus is saying don't just do what is required, do more, walk another mile!!!

If you follow Christ closely, you will be forgiving

II. THE METHOD OF FORGIVENESS

A. Giving—v. 42

In other words: (Give more than you receive)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

Give to the one who asks you Members of God’s kingdom should be characterized by overwhelming generosity.

Luke 6:30 ESV

Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 24). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

B. The Old Testament was get even and hatred v. 43

The New Testament is love

1. Love your enemies

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 25. ἀγαπάω

agapaō

agapao = (noun) meaning love; show love; to love; take pleasure in

Luke

Luke 6:27–28 ESV

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Romans 12:20 ESV

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

2. Bless them that curse you

3. Do good to them that curse you

4. Pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you

The real test of Christianity—being good to those that are against you. Again this is the acid of Christianity!!!!!

III. THE MEEKNESS OF FORGIVENESS

A. Children of the Father—v. 45

(God our father. Brothers and sisters in the Lord)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

you may be sons of your Father Just as God gives the good gifts of sun and rain to all people without distinction, members of the kingdom should act with love, kindness, and generosity toward all. Jesus’ followers should reflect God’s character.

B. Easy to love the lovely—v. 46

(Need God’s help to love the unlovely)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

tax collectors These were some of the most hated people in Israel, due to the nature of their work and their association with the Roman government.

C. Easy to salute

(respect) your brethren, but what does this prove? (Real meekness is when you love your enemies)

D. The secret of forgiveness—v. 48

(If you are striving to be perfect, you will be forgiving) The only way you can strive to be perfect is to first know Christ!!!

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

you be perfect Those who demonstrate love in the manner attributed to God the Father will become perfect—complete or mature.

Christ is the best example of forgiveness. Upon the cross He forgave those who were killing Him. No bitterness or grudge in his heart[1]

Conclusion

One of the things i loved to do when I was in elementary school was to write on the blackboard (chalkboard). Whenever the teacher wanted a volunteer to write on the blackboard, I would regularly raise my hand. One of the beautiful things about the blackboard was if you made a mistake with the chalk, there was always the eraser to rid yourself of the error. FORGIVENESS works the same way.

FORGIVENESS is the cancellation of something. It is the deletion of an error. It is the ability to erase a mistake and start over again.

When you make a mistake do you want to be forgiven? Think about the people who have wronged you, do you think they want to be forgiven as well.? God has erased all of the mistakes you have made in this life time, it’s time for you to take the eraser and whip others mistakes against you clean.

Think about a chalkboard, when the teacher takes the eraser and whips that math wrong math answer that you gave off of the blackboard its no longer there. Sure the residue from the chalk is there but eventually that residue goes completely away. When you forgive someone the first step is to take that eraser and whip that mistake away. Sure there will be dome residue left for a while but that is where Jesus comes in and helps us completely whip it clean.

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