Forgive From the Heart - Matthew 18:21-35
When the child of God
Looks into the word of God
And sees the Son of God,
They are transformed by the Spirit of God
Into the image of God
For the glory of God!
-Warren Wiersbe
Receiving and giving forgiveness does for Christians what oil does for a car, it lubricates our relationships, reduces friction, prevents overheating by cooling us off, prevents harmful deposits from building up in us.
Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness goes beyond relational ‘score keeping’ - V. 21-22
Peter had already learned that Rabbi Jesus was more loving than other rabbis. Peter probably thought he was being generous by suggesting the new number of 7 times!
In saying forgive seventy-seven times, Jesus wants His followers to go beyond keeping track of offenses to cultivating a spirit of forgiveness based on the forgiveness they have received from God.
Believers have been forgiven an incalculable sin debt - V. 23-27
“On the Day I settle accounts, I will hold them accountable for their sin.” - Exodus 32:34
Just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrew 9:27
A denarius (v. 28) was a coin worth a day’s pay; 100 denarii would be worth about 3 months pay; A talent was a huge sum of money, worth about 6,000 denarii; 10,000 talents would be worth about 60,000,000 denarii.
“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” - Tim Keller
Those who have been forgiven so much go on to forgive others - V. 28-35
Jesus’ point is crystal clear: He expects those who have become Christians by receiving His forgiveness to forgive others from their heart.
Practical Pastoral advice to those struggling to forgive others:
Remember that there are two realms of forgiveness, the vertical (before God), and the Horizontal (before men). Before God forgiveness must always happen, readying us to act before men when asked (Luke 17:3-4).
Forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone what they did.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean there are no consequences for their actions.
Forgiveness doesn’t always mean you will have ongoing relationship.
Motivations for the Christian to forgive:
Christians extend forgiveness because of how much God has forgiven us.
Christians forgive as an act of obedience for the glory of God.
Christians forgive to keep themselves from the effects of unforgiveness.
