How Many Time Do I Forgive?

Intro

How much is too much?

Lying, cheating, stealing, hurting each other, murder?

When do we cut people off?

Main Point

Forgive us as we forgive those

We need to forgive as much as God has forgiven.

What has he forgiven?

List it starting from genesis.

Why it matters

The Word “AS”. How do we often do we pray this

Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies. – Saint Augustine

This is a dangerous thing to pray if we don’t mean it.

We are literally asking God to measure us using the same stick we use to measure others.

THIS MATTERS

What does scripture have to say about this.

Scripture

Matthew 6:12 NIV

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 18:21–22 NIV

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?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew E. Humbly and Mercifully Forgiving the Sinning Brother (18:21–35)

Peter again spoke for the Twelve. His question could easily have sprung out of Jesus’ teaching on church discipline (18:15–20). Peter may have wondered how long he should forgive his sinning brother before casting him out of the church, especially when the sin was against him personally. According to some Jewish tradition, a brother was forgiven three times for the same offense. The fourth offense, however, need not be forgiven, because it would be evidence that the brother had not repented. Peter thought he was being generous in forgiving up to seven times.

But the king showed that Peter, even in his “generosity,” was thinking human thoughts, not the thoughts of God (16:23). There is some debate over whether Jesus’ response should read “seventy times seven” (490) or seventy-seven, but the exact number is not important. The numbers involved are presented for emphasis only. “Keep on forgiving endlessly; don’t carry a grudge” is what Jesus was saying.

There is no limit. How many times should God forgive us? And what is too much?

Luke 7:36–50 NIV

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

36 - Jesus came to dinner

37 - A sinful woman heard he was there and stopped by

38 - She was over come and met Jesus with complete humility

39 - What a joke. He should know who this is. He is letting a sinner touch him!

What was this guy’s motive? Was he sizing Jesus up? Was he only using Jesus to increase his owe reputation? Was he trying to humiliate Jesus? We don’t know.

40 - Jesus knows what’s happening and he says Listen up

41 - Two guys borrowed money one borrowed 500 Denarii and the other borrowed 50 Denarii

42 - They couldn't pay it back so he forgave their debts

43 - The one with the bigger debt

43 - Yes

44 - You didn't give me the basic civility of even washing my feet. Yet she used her own tears.

45 - You don't follow your own rules and greet me with a kiss yet she hasn't stopped respecting me.

46 - No anointing. If you thought I was a rabbi that is the basics. She covered me in oil. She gave me everything and you didn't even give me the basics.

47 - She is fogiven and she knows it. She shows it because she knows how much she has been forgiven.

48 - He affirmed her forgivness

49 - Jesus and ONLY Jesus can judge and he chooses forgiveness.

50 - She is Saved.

Everyone in town knew this woman and they thought she was a sinner and not worthy of Jesus.

This Pharisee tried to trap Jesus he insulted Jesus. He judged that poor woman. He couldn’t see her brokenness. He repentance. Her genuineness. His heart was not where it should have been.

The Bible is clear on this. If we don’t show compassion and forgiveness God will judge us based on this.

We literally ask him to do that every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer.

The Bible is clear!

Ephesians 4:32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Matthew 6:14 NIV

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Luke 6:37 NIV

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Mark 11:25 NIV

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Hebrews 8:12 NIV

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Colossians 1:13–14 NIV

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Again and again and again and again!

Application

We need to remember this quote Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies. – Saint Augustine

Anger and resentment are not what God wants for us. He wants freedom. How can we love God and hate his creation?

Talk about action steps to forgiveness.

Closing

This isn’t just a good idea it will save your live. Stop drinking poison. God wants more for you than that.