10,000 REASONS TO FORGIVE
Matt. 18:21-35
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. Two judges got speeding tickets and decided to try each other’s cases. The first judge came before his friend and received a fine of $5.
2. The second judge came before the first and received a fine of $500! In consternation, the second judge asked why he was fined so large an amount. The first judge answered, “Because we’re having too much of this lately; this is the second case today!”
3. Often this is the kind of way we treat others, not showing them the same grace we’ve been shown.
B. TEXT
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 10,000 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 100 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.” NKJV
C. THESIS
1. Today we’re looking at what forgiveness is, the consequences of unforgiveness, and four things to do to forgive those who’ve offended you.
2. The title of this message is “10,000 Reasons to Forgive.”
I. WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?
A. TERMS OF THE PARABLE
1. King – represents God; the servant represents us.
2. “Take account” – called into Judgment, all recorded.
3. 10,000 talents ($52,800,000) = our sins, an enormous debt that can never be repaid.
4. 100 denarii ($17) = our daily offenses against each other.
B. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FORGIVE?
1. DEFINED: “To stop feeling resentment against an offender; pardon. To give up claim for revenge; to grant relief from payment.
2. C.S. Lewis says, “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”
C. ARE THERE CONDITIONS FOR FORGIVENESS?
1. Repentance appears to be one. “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” Lk. 17:3. IT SEEMS LIKE repentance is a condition.
2. What if you’re pretty sure they’re going to do it again; should you forgive them? The Lord says “Yes.” “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” Lk. 17:4.
3. What if they’re NOT SORRY about what they did – must we forgive them? What did Jesus do? On the Cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” JESUS PRACTICED UNILATERAL FORGIVENESS! “Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath” Eph. 4:26. In many instances, we will need to forgive people even if they haven’t told us they’re sorry. Why? Because if we don’t, it will hurt US!
D. IS IT POSSIBLE TO FORGIVE WITHOUT FORGETTING?
1. HUMOR.
a. A man was telling a friend about an argument with his wife. “I can’t stand it; every time we get into an argument, she gets historical!”
b. His friend replied, “Do you mean ‘hysterical?’” “No, I mean historical; she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me!” [Michael Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, p. 153]
2. A LADY TOLD A MINISTER. “Well, I forgive her but I don’t ever want anything to do with her again.” The minster replied, “Is that how you want God to forgive you? To forgive you but never have anything to do with you again? Of course not!”
3. GOD’S FORGIVENESS
a. Isa. 43:25, “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” God not only forgives, but chooses not to remember any more!
b. “You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” Micah 7:19. In ancient times the depths of the sea were completely inaccessible.
4. When it comes to others’ wrongs, we must cultivate a forgetful mind.
II. CONSEQUENCES OF UNFORGIVENESS
A. HOW DOES UNFORGIVENESS AFFECT US?
1. How can people gossip and be unkind in the church? Isn’t it easy to get condemning and judgmental? And yet that’s the equivalent of drawing attention to $17 worth of dirt, when we have $52 million of dirt! Such a small grievances should be forgiven since we ourselves have such great debts in the sight of God.
2. EFFECTS OF UNFORGIVENESS
a. PHYSICAL. Unforgiveness creates a chemical imbalance in our bodies that causes ulcers, mental anguish, high blood pressure, stress, etc. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones” Prov. 14:30 (NIV).
b. PSYCHOLOGICAL. Any unresolved conflict drains you & uses up your emotional energy (like Elijah when Jezebel threatened him).
c. SPIRITUAL. The root of bitterness takes hold in our spiritual natures. We become like the person we’re bitter toward.
B. LOSS OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS (vss. 32-35)
1. The first servant showed no mercy, though the second servant prayed the identical prayer he had prayed!
2. The unforgiving debtor was put to torture (worse than at first meted out), because that is reserved for those who have no mercy on their fellow men/ women.
III. FOUR KEYS TO FORGIVE
A. LOOK BEYOND THE OFFENSE
1. Try not to take it personally. People who are mean-spirited are usually reacting badly because they have suffered at the hands of others. If we respond ‘in kind’ (the same way), then we perpetuate their cycle of aggression. If we show love despite their hate, there is the chance that our different response will startle them out of their cycle and open the way to healing.
2. When Jesus was wronged, He assigned their evil behavior to spiritual blindness; “Forgive them, for they KNOW NOT what they do.” Wow! That’s amazing since the Jewish leaders had been trained in the Scriptures all their lives. But Jesus saw they were slaves to sin & Satan.
3. In 2 Sam. 16:10, David categorized the abuse of Shimei as God’s justice toward him, and that it was a test of humbling. If he endured it, God’s anger at him might be assuaged. Maybe we’re being tested in our Christianity; will we show the example of Jesus to others? Will they experience a new way?
B. GO TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM, IF POSSIBLE
1. Matt. 5:23; “...and there remember that your brother has ought against you...go your way, first be reconciled.” Mt. 18:15; If your “brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault...”
2. If we can, we should try to be reconciled with the offended person or the offender. Sometimes, like after a bitter divorce or other terrible feuds, trying to apologize will only stir up another round of trouble. So this step should only be taken if you believe they will accept your efforts to set things right.
C. PRAY FOR THEM
1. In Matt. 5:44, Jesus said, “Love your enemies...pray for them...” Each person is one of God’s beloved creatures and is valuable to Him; each soul is worth more than all the world. Even if we can’t see another person’s worth, God does, and God said to pray for them.
2. Jesus said, “If you love them that love you, how are you any different? Even the pagans do that. And if you do good to them that do good to you, how are you any different?” Luke 6:32-35. MANIFEST THE LOVE OF GOD – A LOVE NOT FROM THIS WORLD!
D. GO THE EXTRA MILE
1. STORY OF THE HEBREW BOY & ROMAN SOLDIER. There was once a Hebrew Christian boy who was compelled to carry a Roman soldier’s possessions. [This was a common practice of conquerors. The term used in Matt. 5:41, “forces you,” came from the Persian language, and means “pressed into service.” The same word is used in Matt. 27:32 where the Romans forced Simon to carry Jesus’ cross.] The Hebrew boy remembered Jesus’ teaching and after carrying the Roman’s belongings one mile, he volunteered to carry them a second mile. His positive attitude got the attention of the Roman, who began to view him in a different way. The boy later said, “I walked one mile and discharged my duty; I walked 2 miles and gained a friend!”
2. Principle: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If you give your treasure (2nd mile effort) to a person, your heart will remain with that person.
3. TO CONQUER BITTERNESS, YOU MUST GIVE MORE THAN THE REQUIRED AMOUNT. “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” Mt. 5:40. “...DO GOOD to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:” Mt. 5:44-45, KJV.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. I had a brother who was 6 years older than me and had a twisted pleasure in being violent toward me. When I was 14, I finally got big enough to fight him back successfully. I became a Christian when I was 20, yet I struggled for many years to forgive his brutality. My confronting him about it only drove him away from me for 10 years.
2. But I finally got the perspective that he himself was a victim of Satan’s abuse, and could look past his offenses and put it all behind me. I continued to reach out to him in love and saw him born again in our church. Three months later he died in an auto accident. I thank God that God helped me forgive him and reach him before it was too late.
B. THE CALL
1. Are you here today and you have a problem with unforgiveness? God will give you the power to forgive them, if you will ask Him. God never asks us to do something He doesn’t also give us the power to accomplish it. Ask Him to help you!
2. PRAYER.
