Spiritual Weight Loss (Forgiving Others)

Matthew 6:14–15 NKJV

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Psalm 103:1 NKJV

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Matthew 18:21–22 NKJV

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Un-Forgiveness is a weight; so when we carry it around our spirits are weighed down. therefore, when we forgive; we loose weight spiritually.

1. Bitterness is poison to the soul.

James 3:13–18 NKJV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

for the purposes of this sermon: bitterness is an emotional response to unrighteous Judgement.

you may have a reason to be hurt, but you choose to stay wounded. that choice to nurse the wound, and keep it festering denies the forgiveness we receive in Christ.

when we walk bitterness we walk in the flesh.

2. unforgiveness puts us above Christ.

Matthew 18:21–35 NKJV

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. Teaching about Relationships among Jesus’ Followers (18:1–35)

In the parable of the unforgiving slave (18:23–35) the first slave owes the king ten thousand talents (v. 24), that is, several million dollars. Given the enormity of his debt, the slave’s promise to repay everything is absurd (v. 26). The king does not merely postpone or reduce the debt—he cancels it. The second slave owes the first only a hundred denarii, that is, a few dollars; yet the latter responds in utter ruthlessness (vv. 28–30).

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. Teaching about Relationships among Jesus’ Followers (18:1–35)

In response to the first debtor’s hardness and ingratitude for the mercy shown him (v. 33), the king has him imprisoned for the rest of his life (the debt could not be repaid in the best of circumstances, how much less from prison).

3. As we forgive we release healing.

2 Corinthians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Don’t be ignorant of the enemies.

don’t let them be swallowed up with sorrowed.