17 Forgiveness In The Family

Chapter 17 – mount of transfiguration = Jesus with Peter, James, John go up the mountain. Transfigured is changed – his face shone like the sun, his clothes like light, Moses and Elijah stood with them representing the law and the prophets.

Not long after, the disciples ask who is the greatest in the kingdom – possibly because it was only the 3 closest that went with Jesus.

Matthew 18

Forgiveness in the Family = Family of God, Kingdom, Church...

Jesus teaches here on the topics of humility, temptation and sin, grace and forgiveness. He uses several exaggerations for effect.

Start with Big Idea

True disciples forgive humbly and freely.

The progression in this passage is gripping. Through parables and examples, Jesus walks the disciples from humble entrance into the Kingdom, through removing influences to sin and seeking the wandering brother, to restoring and forgiving.

Forgive Freely and Frequently

Restore A Brother

Pursue the Wandering

Eliminate Sin’s Causes

Start With Humility

Read Matthew 18:1-5

Matthew 18:1–5 NIV

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Start With Humility

Matthew 18:1-5

1-5 Who is greatest? The child. Become like the child. Humble. Low status, humbly follows.

Come humbly (base, no status, shed it all) to the King and enter the Kingdom

Receive the humble, welcome them to the Kingdom

Start with humility

Read Matthew 18:6-9

Matthew 18:6–10 NIV

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:6–9 NIV

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Little ones (humble) who believe in me - References to the little children, then, are references to humble believers.

v. 6-7 don’t cause another to sin. great sorrow to the one who does.

Exaggerated for effect.

Do not cause/influence a humble brother to sin or you’ll wish you were dead

Jesus talks about removing the temptations to sin. Remove the tempter. Remove the cause of sin.

v.8-9 Jesus talks about removing the temptations to sin. Remove the tempter. Remove the cause of sin.

Another exaggeration to illustrate a point

Just as you would be better to physically remove an offending part, (refer to v.6-7) remove and distance yourself from the one tempting you - the enemy and his tricks, another person who leads you away from God, etc.

vv. 6-10 Don’t cause sin. Remove all influences to sin from your life. - ongoing practice.

Do not cause/influence a humble brother to sin or you’ll wish you were dead

vv. 6-10 Don’t cause sin. Remove all influences to sin from your life. - ongoing practice.

Start with humility

Eliminate sin’s causes, influence

6-10 Don’t cause sin. Remove all influences to sin from your life. - ongoing practice.

Read

Matthew 18:10–14 NIV

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11 12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

10-14 lost sheep – return of a lost sheep is celebrated. Father wants none to perish.

v.10 transitions from receiving the humble seeker and not causing sin, to not looking down on them.

They have an advocate with the Father - He sees them in their situation.

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. also

99 are not abandoned. but the rescue of that one wandering is important

lost sheep – return of a lost sheep is celebrated. Father wants none to perish.

In the same way… as pursuing the lost sheep, the Father pursues “little ones” the humble, the least, the wandering.

The Father’s pursuit is not only His Spirit alone, it is His Spirit in us. We are His pursuers.

Start with humility

Evil servant – frequent in upcoming parables.

Forgiveness – if a brother doesn’t listen go to the church = the assembly or community of faith.

Eliminate sin’s causes, influence

If he doesn’t listen, consider as one outside the circle of faith, unbeliever, one who rejects God’s Word and way. But not to hate or for permanent separation, but to cause dependence on God. How do you treat a pagan? Considering them a pagan means they need God’s grace and salvation. ,

Pursue the brother who wanders away

Pursue the wandering

Quote for with pursuing a brother - Our attitude(purpose) should not be that of a policeman out to arrest a criminal, but rather that of a physician seeking to heal a wound in the body of Christ, a wound that will spread sickness and death if left alone. Wiersbe, Warren

Matthew 18:15–20 NIV

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Pursue the brother who wanders away. Process for restoring.

Humbly address the potential sin.

Quote for with restoring a brother - Our attitude(purpose) should not be that of a policeman out to arrest a criminal, but rather that of a physician seeking to heal a wound in the body of Christ, a wound that will spread sickness and death if left alone. Wiersbe, Warren

Get the help and input of several others.

Forgiveness – if a brother doesn’t listen go to the church = the assembly or community of faith.

Address an offense at the level it is committed, personally or small group or whole church.

v.17 If he doesn’t listen, still unrepentant, still unwilling to turn from that sin and turn back to God.

consider as one outside the circle of faith, unbeliever, one who rejects God’s Word and way.

But purpose is not to hate or for permanent separation, but to cause dependence on God.

How do you treat a pagan? How did Jesus? Considering them a pagan means they need God’s grace and salvation.

You have the authority through the King to receive or to remove, loose/allow(legitimate), or to bind/forbid(illegitimate) authority is based on legitimacy.

Help turn the brother back from sin and restore him, but let him wander if he will not come humbly.

Sense of fellowship in the community of faith – agree, harmony, unity. Gathered in My name – for the fellowship/purpose of the Kingdom, Jesus among/with

vv.15-20 restoring a brother, grace. Binding and loosing guilt, offence, forgiveness.

Start with humility

Sense of fellowship in the community of faith – agree, harmony, unity. Gathered in My name – for the fellowship/purpose of the Kingdom, Jesus among/with

Eliminate sin’s causes, influence

Pursue the wandering

Restore a brother

Read Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 NIV

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 18:21–22 NIV

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18:21–35 NIV

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

vv. 21-35 unforgiving servant – in response to restoring a brother. How often to forgive?

Matthew 18:21-35

vv. 21-35 unforgiving servant – in response to restoring a brother. How often to forgive?

v.21 Peter changes the traditional forgive 3 times to 7

vv. 21-35 unforgiving servant – in response to restoring a brother. How often to forgive?

v.22 Jesus again uses exaggeration - 70 times 7 ongoing attitude of forgiveness.

vv. 23-27 King collecting on debt. servant owed lifetime of debt - literally billions of dollars.

begging for mercy - mercy given, King forgives.

Picture here is “little ones” humbly coming in to the kingdom -

vv. 28-31 Same scenario, far less debt/offense - fellow servant - begging for mercy

No mercy given.

Matthew 18:32–33 NIV

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

Matthew 18:

wicked servant - we will continue to see this judgment in future parables

all that debt -

Exaggerated story for effect of variance in debt/transgression. Receive grace but not give it.

Forgiveness as it is with God, a constant attitude.

Forgive others as God forgives you. Lord’s prayer

forgive us our debts/trespasses as we forgive =

Matthew 6:14–15 NIV

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

You have been forgiven an insurmountable debt, you can at least forgive your brother his small infraction.

Matthew 18:35 NIV

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

You have been forgiven an insurmountable debt, you can at least forgive your brother his small infraction.

Conclusion

How is “forgive from the heart” different from other forgiveness? "I forgive you." Mental assent. Agreeing in principle. Saying/doing because God's Word says to.

Forgiving from the heart means it is over, not brought up again, released from the debt. Feelings toward the person are amicable rather than resentful. The heart accepts that the wrong is erased. Clean slate.

Difference between forgiveness and trust, but forgiveness is the basis of rebuilding trust.

Start with humility

Eliminate sin’s causes, influence

Forgiving from the heart means it is over, not brought up again, released from the debt. Feelings toward the person are amicable rather than resentful. The heart accepts that the wrong is erased. Clean slate.

Pursue the wandering

Difference between forgiveness and trust, but forgiveness is the basis of rebuilding trust.

Restore a brother

Forgive humbly, forgive freely, forgive frequently

come humbly to the Kingdom, receive others who come humbly

do not cause others to fall away and remove the influences to sin

do not neglect meeting together, but for the purpose of going out to reach the lost

address sin in fellow believers, humbly, personally, to help lift him up and restore

forgive and be forgiven

True disciples forgive humbly and freely.

Have you come in humility and asked for the Father’s forgiveness? entered the Kingdom?

We want to receive you in.

Will you join us in reaching out to the lost?

Are we addressing the sin among us? Let’s restore those who are wandering.

Is there someone you need to forgive? extend mercy. forgive.

17 Forgiveness In The Family

Introduction

Big Idea: True disciples forgive humbly and freely.

Start With Humility

Eliminate Sin’s Causes

Pursue the Wandering

Restore A Brother

Forgive Freely and Frequently

Conclusion

Big Idea: True disciples forgive humbly and freely.

What About You?