And When You Pray | And Forgive Us As We Forgive (Part 8.7) Embracing God's Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness - The Proof - 06/27/2021

June 27, 2021 repeat "...And When You Pray" And Forgive Us As We Forgive Matthew 6:12; 14 & 15 Embracing God's Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness The Proof Matthew 18:21-35 Matthew 18:21-35 which reads: 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." START HERE: GM GP This morning's message takes us into a little deeper territory on the principle of forgiveness. Over the past several weeks we have been addressing God's requirements for forgiveness as instructed in the Lord's Prayer where Jesus told us to: Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Today's we'll witness on side of a two sided forgiveness vs. unforgiveness coin. [Part 1] Our Lord will show us two people who sought forgiveness in two very similar situations. One received it, and the other was denied it in a very unfair way. Our select parable speaks for itself. It is so rich with colorful contrast that it answers a lot of the questions and concerns many of us have about forgiveness. [SLIDE] Today's Message Title THE PROOF of the Principled Forgiveness [Part A] It is a continuation of our ongoing mini-series: Embracing God's Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness The Proof Please turn with me to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 18, Verses 21-35. There you'll find a parable that will challenge your emotions and undoubtedly cause you to examine our own willingness or unwillingness to forgive. In this passage, Jesus covers all the bases to help get us to a place of understanding the importance of us forgiving one another - especially as sisters and brothers. He gives us a parable of the kingdom of heaven to warn against the consequences of harboring an unforgiving spirit specifically by those who themselves have been freely forgiven. Each verse shows us a principle we ourselves must come to grips with. [SLIDE] Let's take a look . . . Matthew 18: 21-35 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." Our lesson begins with Peter asking our Lord a serious question about how much should he should tolerate from a brother who constantly sins against him. [Now, we don't know what the sin is. But what we do know is Brother Peter is keeping score. Let's to the conversation, Matthew 18, verses 21 & 22. 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?" How many thinks Seven Times is reasonable? I Do! I only ask this because Peter isn't alone in his inquiry. A few of us here have wondered how many times we must put up with someone [and vice versa] who keeps repeating the same infraction. What we are hearing here is more than just a parable limited to Brother Peter, it's an indictment upon all of us. [We're all Brother Peter]. Peter's question is a fair one, but Jesus wants to elevate Peter and every Believer to a new, higher practice of forgiveness that is backed by His Name and His Blood. 22 Jesus said to [Peter/him], "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 490 When it came to extending biblical forgiveness in Peter's Day, Jesus knew the people needed a paradigm shift. A shift from old customs condemning thinking to a new, life-liberating thinking centered on Jesus' brand of forgiveness. Jesus knew the people weren't familiar with extending complete forgiveness - only partial or limited forgiveness. Judicial forgiveness which was approved by law. Complete forgiveness is experiencing God's forgiveness of sins and being fully restored in your relationship to the Lord, showing forgiveness toward others who have wronged you, and forgiveness of yourself - time after time in the power of the Holy Spirit, and obedience and submission to God's truth. Peter, in verses 21 and 22 displayed an old way of dealing with others when it came to forgiveness. He had apparently learned the SEVEN TIMES rule from religious leaders. Evidently, by common law, seven times was considered enough forgiveness to extend to any wayward person who sinned against you. The rule was also thought to have come from the rabbis in the Book of Amos, who taught that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times, it was presumptuous and unnecessary to forgive anyone more than 3 times. Either way, Peter came to Jesus feeling proud that he was willing to forgive up to seven times. Here he questioned the Lord on how many times he must forgive his brother who sinned against him. Peter concluded SEVEN. But Jesus said up to 490 -- which means an innumerable number of times. Or as many times as necessary. In saying this, Jesus had just introduced to His early followers a new standard of forgiveness. That standard stands today. Nothing in the life of a man is unforgivable. God forgave us, we should forgive others - even if it takes time and process. Jesus can require this of us, not only because He knows how much we can bear, but also how sufficiently He has equipped us with a new heart along with an abundant supply of the gift of forgiveness. God never requires us to do something He has not equipped us to do. Moreover, we must keep in mind that all forgiveness we possess or extend to others is drawn from the forgiveness Jesus lavished upon us on Calvary Because the new principle Jesus established with Peter is a fresh truth, He uses a parable to further illustrate how heaven sees forgiveness and the need for Believers to avoid hypocrisy when faced with a need to forgive and be forgiven. The parable begins by stressing what kingdom forgiveness looks like. Let's read verses 23-27 [SLIDE] 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. Because forgiveness is parallel to settling an account or violation, Jesus uses a natural occurrence to illustrate a spiritual truth. This passage reflects the three elements of forgiveness we learned about in earlier messages. Those 3 elements of forgiveness are: [SLIDE] 1. An injury. ((violation or fault occurs); that is, a wrong is committed. Pain, hurt, suffering, or guilt is experienced (consciously or subconsciously). 2. A debt resulting from the injury. (Something is owing from the infraction, hurt, or offense ; There is a consequence that is always detrimental and puts someone into a deficit state of some kind. 3. A cancellation of the debt. Something given to pay for, mitigate, or relieve the injury. Here, in verses 23-27, the corresponding three elements of forgiveness are these: 1. The Injury was that of the servant borrowing a large sum of money from the king and not having the funds or means to pay it back. Verse 24 & 25a 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But he was not able to pay; The servant's inability to pay back the ten thousand talent loan he had borrowed was a damaging loss for the king. It was an insurmountable amount. Theoretically unpayable. It was a violation that put the king's treasury at a deficit [causing injury and pain. It hurt his profits. [Symbolically, this servant owed this amount to God. It is also representative of our own unpayable sin debt owed to God. 2. The Debt or consequence resulting from the injury was the impossible requirement to pay the king back every cent of the borrowed money or face hard labor imprisonment. The servant was broke; he didn't have it to pay back - he was doomed. Likewise, we are unable to pay our sin debt to God for violation of His law. The servant was hopeless. Verse 25 says: 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. The servant was required to pay with his life. Likewise, so are we also. 3. The Third Element of Forgiveness is the Need for a Cancellation of the Debt. The servant didn't have the means to cancel his debt. So, he pleaded for mercy to the only one who could forgive sin and debt -- God. Verses 26 & 27 illustrates how his debt was dealt with. [SLIDE] 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Can you feel the grief, desperation and anguish in his appeal? Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Now, here's the cancellation, verse 27 [SLIDE] 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Compassion paid his debt. Just like that, the servant was forgiven a multi-multi-billion-dollar debt. An unpayable amount. When the master saw the contrite, repentant attitude of his servant, he was moved with compassion and forgave him the entire 10,000 talents. It was an epic display of grace and NOT justice. [Let this scenario sink in.] We too have been forgiven an unpayable debt, but only because of Jesus' compassion. Listen to Romans 5:6, 8 & 9 6 For when we were still without strength, [d]in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Finally, I want to leave you with 5 specific takeaways from Jesus' new Forgiveness Principles as Illustrated in this parable: 1. Vv. 21 & 22 ~ We need a paradigm shift. Verse 21 Man's rule "Seven Times" = verse 22; Jesus' rule 70X70 = 490. See Chas Stanley's note on p 1 & 3 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. 2. V. 24 Debt (sin) must be paid or forgiven, not excused or rationalized away. v. 24 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. 3. Vv. 24 & 25 ~ All debt & sin can be forgiven by God Alone. 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. 4. V. 26. Repentance needed on behalf of the debtor to experience the weight Jesus' forgiveness lifted. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 5. V. 27 ~ Debt needs Jesus' compassion; vv 28 & 29 - forgiveness demands we see ourselves. 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Next week - deeper principles addressed. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%END%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% Embracing God's Heart on Forgiveness: Excuse-Proof Forgiveness The Proof of Principled Forgiveness 1 1 1