DONE 220227 Communion: When Forgiveness is Hard

Forgiveness is hard. It is hard to forgive one another, isn’t it? When we are injured by friends, loved ones, fellow Christians it is so hard to forgive. It is hard to forgive because they should know better shouldn’t they?

If we are honest about what their sin has done to us we know that we are hurt, angered and offended. Last week I mentioned it in the sermon on Noah that the sins of the world grieved the Lord to His very heart… He knows the feelings of betrayal, offense of being wounded by sin - only infinitely more than we ever could.

When forgiveness is hard, when I struggle with it and fight against my emotions I turn to what I know. I turn to God’s Word. It gives me an important perspective - I am forgiven far more than I know and God has graciously, freely, completely wiped all my sins away. When forgiveness is hard, I remember that I have been forgiven of all my sins and that changes my mind about forgiving others and makes it bearable.

Please open your Bibles to Matthew 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 | 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “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 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. IN TODAY’S CURRENCY THIS SLAVE OWED THE KING 260M IN SILVER - AN IMPOSSIBLE DEBT

25 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ LET ME ASK YOU IF YOU COULD WORK 5 LIFETIMES COULD YOU REPAY 260M IN SILVER - I KNOW I COULD NOT - THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE DEBT

27 “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; ABOUT 800.00

and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29 “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

READ SLOW 31 “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. PAUSE

GRAVE 32 “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Folks, forgiveness is difficult but we have to admit that we have been forgiven a far greater debt than we could ever repay. If we understand this forgiveness two things will happen, we will love the Lord more and we will find it far easier to grant forgiveness to others.

Let’s take a minute now to confess our sins to our Gracious King and thank Him for His complete forgiveness

WAIT FOR ONE WHOLE MINUTE.

Close in prayer.

Invitation for Communion Ushers

If I could have the communion ushers come up, we will distribute the elements and then ask the blessing over the elements.

Dad will you ask for the blessing on the bread?

(1 Co 11:23–26)

23 …the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

George will you ask for the blessing on the cup?

25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

PAUSE

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

LET’S PRAY