The Importance of Christian Forgiveness

Review: Today we are returning to the Kingdom Parables in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Purpose of the Parables: Judgment and Blessing.

Today: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant - aimed at disciples to emphasis the importance of Christian Forgiveness.

Read Text

Introduction: Unwilling to Forgive.

Homiletical Idea: Dear Christian, just as God in Christ has forgiven you of your sins, so should you forgive those who sin against you.

(Transition: )

I.

Context:

(ESV) — 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

The Goal: To work it out and be restored to one another.

Peter’s Question (21).

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew 4. Life in the Messianic Community, 18:1–35

There was a rabbinic view that one need forgive only three times: “If a man commits a transgression, the first, second and third time he is forgiven, the fourth time he is not forgiven” (Yoma 86b). Peter more than doubled this quota of forgivenesses.

But Jesus raises the bar…this translation say, “not 7 times but 77 times.” Other translations say 70 x 7…The point is not to give a maximum number for how many times to forgive but to say you are always supposed to forgive. And that comes to light in the parable Jesus uses to illustrate his point.

(Transition: Begins this parable by saying…)

A. Explanation: A Kings Forgiveness (23-27).

1. Ten Thousand Talents (1 Talent = 20 yrs wage for a Laborer)

$10/hr. x 8 hrs/day x 5 days/wk = $400/wk.

$400/wk x 52 wk/yr = $20,800/yr.

$20,800/yr x 20yrs = $416,000 (1 Talent).

$416,000 x 10,000 = $4,160,000,000.

There is no way he is ever paying off this enormous debt.

2. The Servant Humbled Himself and the King Had Mercy.

No expectation to repay.

He Forgave him the debt - wrote it off.

B. Argument: God’s Forgiveness is Like This.

(ESV) — 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

I. God Completely Forgives the Enormous Debt of Sin Owed by His Children.

C. Application: Christian, do you want to learn how to forgive? Start by Grasping the Enormous Debt of Sin from which God has Forgiven You.

Every Action, Every Word, and Every Thought contrary to God’s Will is a Debt of Sin.

And God Has Forgiven You of All of It…And He Has Forgiven You at a High Price to Himself.

(ESV) — 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

(Transition: In Christ, God Completely Forgives the Enormous Debt of Sin We Owe. As the parable continues, we see that we have a tenancy to not be so forgiving.)

A. Explanation: The Servant’s Wickedness.

1. One Hundred Denarii (One Denarii = 1 Days Wage for a Laborer).

$10/hr x 8hr/day = $80 (1 Denarii).

$80 x 100 = $8,000 (100 Denarii) - a payable amount.

$8,000 compared to $4.1 billion.

2. The Servant was Unwilling to Forgive.

B. This Reveals Something About Our Nature: We have a tendency to be Unforgiving.

C. Illustration: Holding Grudges for a lifetime:

An ex-boyfriend or girlfriend from high school (or one of your spouses ex’s.)

Holding unto resentment for a former employer.

Transition: But the point Jesus is making here is this...

II. All the Sin Committed Against Us is Minor Compared to the Enormity of Our Sins Against God.

In fact, every sin committed against us is a sin committed against God.

David after confronted by Nathan the Prophet concerning Bathsheba.

(ESV) — 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

D. Application: Whatever Grudge You Are Holding Onto, In the Greater Skeam of Things is a Minor Thing. Let it Go. Forgive the Minor Offense Even As God has Forgiven You of Great Offense.