Freeing Forgiveness

Noah Tyler

Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Matthew 18:23–35

Forgiveness

Servant with Forgiven Debt

The Two Debtors

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Peter is not just concerned with how to deal with the sins in a church- Jesus just talked about the corporate side of discipline.

But what about me? people have hurt my feelings, caused me pain, I have been the victim of someone else’s sin

So, Peter throws a reasonable guess out there: 7 times seems compassionate.

Most of us would lose a lot of patience with a friend or brother or sister on their 8th offense against us.

Jesus is making a point, it is NOT 49 strikes and your out.

This is hyperbole, exaggeration, making the point that when you hit 50 you’ve probably lost count.

Your forgiveness, like God’s, should be inexhaustible

Because it is actually God’s forgiveness that is what you are using to forgive others

Remember parables are always meant to explain something specific.

This is about how we are to act in forgiveness to one another, not as much about the technical details of how God’s forgiveness works in our lives.

(This story is more about how we should forgive others than about God’s forgiveness)

This parable is meant to explain how we should act with one another in forgiveness

The relationship of God and mankind sets the stage

How that relationship effects our life with others is really a main point

What all of those relationships looks like

This relationship in the parable has a basis of debt, imbalance

The King= God

Being a King meant making decisions and in this story the King needed to get some capital to do move forward with his plans.— He needs money.

The King was intending to collect from the one who owed him the most money first.

10,000 talents= 12 Billion dollars in today’s currency

Average american salary is about 60k or $166/day

$153/day

$167x 6000= 1.2 mil (Talent)

1.2 mil x 10,000= 12 Bil

So in modern speak, this guy owes the King 12 billion dollars

Obviously this guy did not have this money. Jesus is speaking in ridiculous terms

Going into debtors prison would get rid of this guy, but it wouldn’t get any money back for the king. Not really, not in perspective of the 12 billlion$ he is owed.

The claim to repay is silly, but what other claim does he have? He is guilty of owing this much. He falls down in guilt. He said empty words that could never, ever earn him the right to stand back up

Great definition of forgiveness: to let go of what someone owes to you

Great definition of forgiveness: In compassion, you release what is owed

The compassion of this King means that the servant would never have to earn it.

The King’s release means that both the servant and the King move on

The Kings forgiveness means that life can press forward, relationships can be productive, and the Kingdom can go back to it’s highest priority

Great definition of forgiveness: In compassion, you release what is owed

We all owe God for our debt

If God was patient with you, could you pay back that debt?

Get baptised, keep the rules, go to church

You can’t unguiltify yourself

God choose to forgive us, paid the debt, release us, take the loss

Forgiveness isn’t making them pay, forgiveness is looking at the debt owed, calculating the cost, and letting go.

(This story is more about how we should forgive others than about God’s forgiveness)

The King makes a wise choice to forgive because the offense was in the past.

The past is always permanent, but doesn’t have to paralyzing.

That is one reason why we are told to leave vengeance to God. He can rightly punish, restore, condemn, apply consequences in a way that Justice is served. But, we don’t have this power.

Forgiveness is an act of faith- it shows that we trust God to act as the judge

The other slave would have owed him $17,000 in modern day.

Just imagine: walking away from a 12 billion dollar payday

How bright the colors are and how pretty the music is

Unless, the colors aren’t bright. And the music is dreary

And instead of considering all the bad things you deserve you begin to immediately consider all the good things that you think you deserve.

This elation should be our relationship with God. This high point of understanding all that you have been forgiven- that joy that you have, the peace, the rest, the warmness, the good things you see in the world--- all of these and more remind you of how good God is, how precious Jesus is, how you don’t deserve a second of it.

This servant doesn’t see the sunshine that way though. His first concern is to get what is owed to him. So, he finds a guy that does have a debt with him.

The other slave would have owed him 100 laborer’s day’s wages

one silver roman coin= $8 USD

$800 in modern day.

He stands with a position of absolute authority: grabbing and choking and demanding.

These are the verbs of unforgiveness

Compare to “compassion, released, forgave”

In a similar turn of events this second servant began to beg, asking for patience. Offering the promise of payment, a reasonable promise

The will was not there though.

The resources were. The occasion was. The ability was. The need was there. The opportunity and knowledge and responsibility --- all of these were present.

But the will to forgive was not there.

Instead, he did everything he could to ruin this other guys life.

Being unforgiving is obviously a bad plan. Even the other servants who aren’t Christians in this story, see that this is wrong. This needs to be helped.

They were greatly distressed by the hypocrisy. The imbalance. They could see how this first servant experienced something wonderful and undeserved, yet acted in the opposite way.

(Even people who aren’t Christians can smell a fake. But, Christians can and should have the discernment to see when there is an imbalance in the lives of those around them.

Everyone will see the master when He summons them.

The time in between the forgiveness being offered and the second meeting will show the world and the King what you thought of His offer.

No chance to plea ignorant.

Only the obligation to do the right thing is levied— Forgiveness is GIVEN not EARNED

He had a legal right to expect his $800- but not a moral right.

The question is HOW. HOW could I forgive someone who did this to me or my family??God’s mercy to you is the HOW in forgiveness

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you (REF)

“Well you don’t know what that person did, you don’t know the hurt, the deep pain, the terror, the anger I feel, the sadness that they forced on me. You don’t know the scars I have to carry now because of them.”

And you’re right, I don’t. But God knows

I’ll tell you something else, God also knows the pain you have caused Him. He is so intimately aware of the cost of your sin against him.

The King’s anger is deserved and just.

But, the payment still wouldn’t come about. Simply torture forever. You don’t make any money getting tortured and sitting in prison.

The rubber meets the road really suddenly here and Jesus doesn’t hold back

There are a lot of people that try to wiggle around this last verse, but I think it is pretty clear: If you won’t forgive that is proof that you are not forgiven.

You are choking and grabbing and trying to squeeze out of that person what you think you are deserved

It might be money, hurt, keeping them in a prison of some sort

You can’t though. The only prisoner is you.

**Sibling Upset**

For years they sat in anger against me and it poisoned everything that happened in between us. After I was made aware of it I apologized and they did forgive me

But the big gasp of fresh air was not experienced by me. I didn’t really know to be honest. The bars they put up were only around themselves.

Sin is Against God

We have to remember that we are obligated to forgive because sins are first against God, then against us

If God can forgive a sin that is against Him first and then against you secondarily, then He can and does expect you to forgive the same way.

Yours, mine, anyone’s relationship with God needs to be......................

You mean that what that person did in my life is a sin against God over me??

Yes, I learned that in the Bible.

At the conclusion to one of the Bible’s greatest stories about forgiveness David writes these words “Against you and only you I have sinned and done this evil in your sight ”-

David saw a naked woman bathing and he wanted her, so he took her. He was the king and so he took her and he made her pregnant. This is a pretty big problem since her husband is out on the battle field where David was supposed to be. So its going to be pretty obvious the baby isn’t her husbands especially when it looks a whole lot like David. He is scared so David has the husband killed, murdered.

God tells Nathan to go confront David about it. Nathan quotes God to David and says “Why have you despised me?” ().

“Me”?? Naked lady, Naked ladies husband, David— God wasn’t really in the picture here. But wasn’t he?

The Creator was dishonored and sinned against.

Listen to what says “David responded to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Then Nathan replied to David “and the Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die”

Just like that: forgiveness.

Where is the justice? Where is the horrific punishment? Where is the pain inflicted on David that he cause others to feel? --- Forgiven

Raped a girl, murdered her husband, made his commander to the dirty work, caused a precious baby to die. --- Forgiven

Imagine Bathsheba was your daughter.

What kind of justice is this? Only against God?? You raped my daughter! You killed my son in law! You brought disgrace and so much pain! And God just passes over your sin like it was nothing??

Only against God??

That is the difference between 12 Billion dollars and 800 dollars

The worst that this world has to offer, God knows already. So much more than anything we do. But, we struggle to make the jump from furious to forgiving.

, The very next verse begins with the word “however...” Because sin will always be judged- if not in this life, then in the next.

Many of us feel like Bathshebas parents as we watch those we are upset with walk through life: They hurt me!

“If God was just then that person wouldn’t have that life, or their lives would be harder. But since God is giving them more than they deserve I will do my best to choke them with my bitterness”

Jesus doesn’t deny that we have been sinned against or hurt. But it must be kept in perspective: the difference between them hurting you and you hurting God is the difference between $800 and $12 Billion dollars

Case in point: You didn’t feel that way about the sun shining on you this morning. You didn’t feel really broken hearted about the sin in your life that God has passed over. All the days where you gave 0-2% of your passion and love and energy toward God, but he is still giving you a full life.

Thats because we don’t naturally think about the 12 billion dollars of forgiveness we have. But so quickly we think about how sweet it would taste to watch that person hand me their last $800.

You see, God passes over sins (which seems like he is letting them “get away with it”) as a way to show his righteousness to everyone- to show his justice to everyone- to declare how righteous He is and to give everyone the opportunity to know His forgiveness

He did this for you too! You were the sinner with no hope, and Jesus waited for your heart.

You were the one with the debt that could never be repaid. You were the guilty one. And now, you are the forgiven one.

That same forgiveness that frees you to forgive others

So, are you really freed by God’s forgiveness if you can’t forgive others? Can we really trust Jesus to save us from our sins if we don’t trust Him to hold other accountable for theirs? Do we have the Spirit of God empowering our confessions and knowing the freedom of His forgiveness if we are unable or unwilling to forgiven to others?

Jesus says no.

- “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

- For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Clarify:

We don’t earn our forgiveness from forgiving other. We don’t lose our salvation.

But Jesus is clear: there are those who walk through life thinking they are saved because they come to church but don’t live life in the Spirit. And they can’t. Because they are not Christians

And people coddle each other and say “oh, you were hurt really bad and that is a good enough excuse for you to be unforgiving, to be bitter, to lash out and live the wrong way, to have bad habits.”

I refuse to coddle you and I hope you refuse to coddle me

You are not a Christian if your bitterness is worth more to you than Jesus is

Truth 1: Forgiveness is Sensible

We hold an unforgivable debt

What can someone do to replace a death by a drunk driver, or a marriage falling apart, or innocence being stolen

Misconception: We have to make them earn it or ask for it. Jesus told you to forgive them immediately.

You have the power to forgive it right it then and there. You don’t have to wait.

If you have to wait until they ask, then you are prisoner to that unforgiveness

The Bible never says that forgiveness has to come easily, but know that it does have to come.

It has to come before your relationship with God move anywhere

- And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

Truth 2: Forgiveness is Necessary

Even pagans understand that there is something wrong with the broken link

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

There is an inseparable link between receiving the forgiveness from God and giving to others.

.. It doesn’t get much more clear

Truth 3: Forgiveness is Sweet

We don’t forgive because they deserve it, or even because they ask for it. We forgive because the God of the universe is living in us, teaching us His ways, giving to us the sweet wonderful joy of God himself— and that is too precious to be smothered in hurt from another

The God of Light and absolute Truth won’t sit quietly while his children play in the self-centered mud of bitterness

They steal from themselves the opportunity of freedom, with chains of their own making.

They don’t have his joy. They don’t experience all the wonderful pleasures of God working out of them.

Forgiveness is logical, obligated, and so sweet (also given)

Pray

As I’ve talked there has probably been someone in your mind that you remember. You know they owe you something. Something very real even.

Maybe a friend, a spouse, an employer, or a family member.

You will not be free for God to use you in any significant way until you let that offense go

If that person is in your mind, I encourage you to pray like this:

“God you know what they did to me, you know that they deserve to be punished for what they did to me. But, today I am giving that over to you, that debt is yours is to collect. Right now I am letting go of that person and that offense because of the great forgiveness you given me in Jesus Christ. When that name or that face and that memory comes up again, and I know it will, help me to remember how I forgave because of the forgiveness that you have given me.

You can’t control what offenses come against you, but you can control what you do with them.

“how can I forgive those who hurt me? And what can I do with that hurt?”

This passage changes the hurt to me- a personal offense

Great definition of forgiveness: to let go of what someone owes to you

We all owe God for our debt

If God was patient with you, could you pay back that debt?

Get baptised, keep the rules, go to church

You can’t unguiltify yourself

God choose to forgive us, paid the debt, release us, take the loss

Forgiveness isn’t making them pay, forgiveness is looking at the debt owed, calculating the cost, and letting go.

This story is more about how we should forgive others than about God’s forgiveness

He had a legal right to expect his $800- but not a moral right.

We hold an unforgivable debt

What can someone do to replace a death by a drunk driver, or a marriage falling apart, or innocence being stolen

Misconception: We have to make them earn it or ask for it. Jesus told you to forgive them immediately.

Forgiveness isn’t making them pay, forgiveness is looking at the debt owed, calculating the cost, and letting go.

You have the power to forgive it right it then and there. You don’t have to wait.

If you have to wait until they ask, then you are prisoner to that unforgiveness

It is not earned it is given

Is God going to torture those who don’t give forgiveness? I don’t think that is right. I think God is describing what happens: Pent up anger is the leading cause of death in America. This will cause you to brood and boil and twist yourself around the bars of unforgiveness

Pent up anger is the leading cause of death in America. This will cause you to brood and boil and

Even pagans understand that there is something wrong with the broken link

There is an inseparable link between receiving the forgiveness from God and giving to others.

.. It doesn’t get much more clear

I refuse: you’re not a Christian if your bitterness is worth more to you than Jesus

We don’t forgive because they deserve it, or even because they ask for it. We forgive because of the great mercy that has been given to us.

Maybe a friend, a spouse, an employer, or a family member.

You will not be free for God to use you in any significant way until you let that offense go

Freeing Forgiveness

Concept Thoughts

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Sin is Against God

Pray