Forgiven People Forgive

Title: “forgiven people forgive” October 3, 2021

Text: Matt 18:21-35

Subject: Why do we forgive?

Complement: because we too are forgiven.

Big idea: Forgiven people forgive.

21 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?”22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Introduction –

September 30, 2021 (Thursday) marks the first “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” in Canada.

The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

Public commemoration is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by Parliament on June 3, 2021. Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day honours the children who survived residential schools and remembers those who did not.

“Wear orange”

The Mission of the “TRC” is to preserve the record of these human rights abuses, to promote research and enhance education around the legacy of residential schools.

**Our goal is to honour Survivors and to foster reconciliation and healing on the foundation of truth telling.

• Why did such abuse happen?

• Where did the arrogance come from?

It proves once again that there is something fundamentally flawed in humanity.

Bible calls it sin...

As for democracy itself – yes, it's also flawed.

(theologian/pastor) (Detroit)

R Niebuhr once said, "Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary." - Reinhold Niebuhr.

Fallenness/sinful nature means... We can't get away from the need for forgiveness in a fallen world.

***to enjoy healthy, Rewarding relationships will require forgiveness!

...this “discipline of forgiveness” touches everything:

• from our jobs

• to our friendships,

• from our marriages,

• self - to our own conscience.

We know that we do wrong and that we need forgiveness from others.

Unpacking the parable :

Peter comes to Jesus with a question...I assume someone had offended or wronged Peter!

Jewish thought said forgive someone up to 3X’s - after that you could seek revenge.

Peter suggested 7X’s!!!

The question prompts a story from Jesus - a parable…powerful stories which leave us with a High-def message.

Situation: A Man Has A Debt That He Cannot Possibly Pay.

23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. `Be patient with me,' he begged, `and I will pay back everything.'

27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. (!)

*** notice – Jesus is talking about the nature of the kingdom!

Huge debt – $10,000,000 (or more)