THE LORD’S PRAYER PART 6
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
MATTHEW 6:12 FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
MATTHEW 6:14–15 FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU.
15BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
INTRODUCTION: WELL WITH THIS MESSAGE TODAY, WE WILL NEED TO TAKE A SMALL BREAK IN ORDER TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT AT THANKSGIVING. AFTER ALL, WE ARE QUICKLY APPROACHING THE HOLIDAY WHERE WE ARE PAUSE, BEFORE A FEAST TO PONDER, THANK AND CONCLUDE WHAT WE ARE TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN OUR PAST, AND HOPEFUL FOR IN OUR FUTURE.
BUT THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THE CONCEPT OF FORGIVENESS AS PRESENTED BY JESUS IN HIS MODEL SERMON FOR HIS DISCIPLES.
OPENING ILLUSTRATION: THE WHOLE TOWN HAD GATHERED IN THE COURTHOUSE FOR THE TRIAL. THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CALLED HIS FIRST WITNESS, AN ELDERLY WOMAN, TO THE STAND. HE APPROACHED HER AND ASKED, “MRS. JONES, DO YOU KNOW ME?” SHE RESPONDED, “WHY, YES, I DO KNOW YOU, MR. WILLIAMS. I’VE KNOWN YOU SINCE YOU WERE A YOUNG BOY. AND, FRANKLY, YOU’VE BEEN A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME. YOU LIE, YOU CHEAT ON YOUR WIFE, YOU MANIPULATE PEOPLE AND TALK ABOUT THEM BEHIND THEIR BACKS. YOU THINK YOU’RE A RISING BIG SHOT, BUT YOU HAVEN’T THE BRAINS TO REALIZE YOU WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING MORE THAN A TWO-BIT PAPER PUSHER. YES, I KNOW YOU.”
THE LAWYER WAS STUNNED. NOT KNOWING WHAT ELSE TO DO, HE POINTED ACROSS THE ROOM AND ASKED, “MRS. JONES, DO YOU KNOW THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY?” SHE REPLIED, “WHY, OF COURSE I DO. I’VE KNOWN MR. BRADLEY SINCE HE WAS A YOUNGSTER, TOO. I USED TO BABY-SIT HIM. AND HE, TOO, HAS BEEN A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT TO ME. HE’S LAZY, BIGOTED, AND HAS A DRINKING PROBLEM. THE MAN CAN’T BUILD A NORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE, AND HIS LAW PRACTICE IS ONE OF THE SHODDIEST IN THE ENTIRE STATE. YES, I KNOW HIM.”
AT THIS POINT, THE JUDGE RAPPED THE COURTROOM TO SILENCE AND CALLED BOTH COUNSELORS TO THE BENCH. IN A VERY QUIET VOICE, HE SAID WITH MENACE, “IF EITHER OF YOU ASK HER IF SHE KNOWS ME, I’LL HOLD YOU BOTH IN CONTEMPT OF COURT!”
TRANSITION: GOD NOT ONLY KNOWS WHAT WE THINK, HE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR HEARTS. OUR HEARTS ARE THE PLACE WHERE WE PROCESS OUR THOUGHTS AND THEY THEN AND UP SPILLING OUT INTO OUR ACTIONS.
SO, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA TO GET A FULL PICTURE OF SIN IN THE SCRIPTURE. THIS WILL HELP US TO DEFINE SIN A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY, UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF FORGIVENESS AND SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF MODELING JESUS IN FORGIVENESS.
I. GETTING THE BIG PICTURE ABOUT SIN
a. WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME TO SCAN THROUGH OUR BIBLES, WE WILL FIND THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE WORDS THAT ARE USED TO DESCRIBE SIN IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS AND ATTRIBUTES
b. SIN – HAMARTIA
i. THIS IS THE MOST COMON WORD FOR SIN
ii. MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS IS S SHOOTING WORD MEANING TO MISS THE MARK
1. TO FAIL TO HIT THE TARGET WAS A HARMARTIA
iii. SO IN THIS CASE, SIN IS A FAILURE TO BE WHAT MIGHT OR COULD HAVE BEEN IF WE HAD HIT THE TARGET
iv. THE TARGET THOUGH IS GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. REDEMPTIVELY, ORIGINAL SIN KEEPS US BY OUR NATURE FROM HITTING THE TARGET
2. BUT EVEN AFTER WE ARE SAVED, WE HAVE A HARD TIME HITTING THE TARGET
v. HOW DO WE MISS THE TARGET
1. WE GET OUR EYES OFF THE LORD
2. WE PUT OUR EYES ON OTHER THINGS
3. WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY PRACTICE OUR DAILY WALK WITH THE LORD
HEBREWS 12:2 LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.
a. WHEN WE CONSIDER JESUS WE WILL NATURALLY FOLLOW THE PATTERN OF JESUS
b. RIGHT MODEL = RIGHT RESULT
c. TRANSGRESSION – PARABASIS
i. ALTHOUGH NOT USED AS MANY TIMES AS HAMARTIA, IT IS STILL SIGNIFICANT
ii. IT MEANS TO STEP ACROSS
1. TO STEP ACROSS A LINE THAT HAS BEEN DRAWN BETWEEN RIGHT OR WRONG
2. GOING OUT OF BOUNDS IN A BALL GAME, OR COMMITTING AN INFRACTION
3. GAIN PLAY IS HALTED AND PENALTIES ARE ACCESSED
1 TIMOTHY 2:14 AND ADAM WAS NOT THE ONE DECEIVED; IT WAS THE WOMAN WHO WAS DECEIVED AND BECAME A SINNER.
iii. IT IS A MORE CONSCIOUS AND INTENTIONAL ACT
iv. HAMARTIA INCLUDES THE ACCIDENTAL SIN OR THE UNCONSCIOUS SIN
v. WE LIVE IN A SINFUL WORLD WITH THE PRESSURES OF THAT SIN AROUND US ALL THE TIME AND EXERCISING INFLUENCE ON US AS WELL
1. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE CEASE TO GO FORWARD
2. DO WE ALWAYS STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HONESTY AND DISHONESTY
3. TRUTH AND DECEPTION
4. KINDNESS/LOVE AND SELFISHNESS/HATRED
vi. WHEN WE TAKE THIS INTO ACCOUNT, IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT WE ARE TRANSGRESSORS – WE HAVE WILLFULLY CROSSED THE LINE. WE HAVE TRANSGRESSED THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY – THE WORD OF GOD
d. TRESPASS – PARAPTOMA
i. THIS WORD MEANS TO SLIP ACROSS OR TO FAIL
ii. IT IS TRANSLATED TRESPASS OR FAULT
iii. IT IS LIKE SLIPPING ON AN ICY ROAD
1. NOT DELIBERATE
2. MORE CARELESSNESS
3. NOT INTENTIONAL DISOBEDIENCE
iv. GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT
1. SWEPT AWAY BY AN IMPULSE OR PASSION
a. OUR ENVIRONMENT GAINS CONTROL OF US AND WE LOSE OUR SELF-CONTROL
2. WHEN WE DROP OUR GUARD, OUR FLESH IS VERY POWERFUL
ILLUSTRATION: ON ONE OF MY TRIPS TO HAITI, WE HAD A DOCTOR WITH US. SHE WAS VERY ARTICULATE, BUT IN MY OPINION LACKED COMON SENSE AND COULD BE IMPULSIVE. TWO SUCH INCIDENTS COME TO MIND
FIRST, SHE BROUGHT HE IPHONE TO HAITI. I BELIEVE BACK THEN IT WAS THE IPHONE 13 AND IT HAD JUST COME OUT. I AM SURE YOU CAN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED, IT GOT STOLEN. BEFORE THE TRIP, I HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AND NOT DO IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES. FOR WHATEVER REASON, SOMETHING CAUGHT HER UP AND SHE USED HER PHONE, WITH SOMEONE SEEING IT AND IT WAS STOLEN.
SECOND, THIS SAME DOCTOR HAD RECENTLY COME BACK FROM A CRUISE VACATION AND WHILE SHOPPING, SHE SAW A RUG THAT SHE LIKED AND PAID THE MERCHANT SOME $600 FOR IT. SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A GORGEOUS RUG AND HAD TO HAVE IT. HER HUSBAND, NOT SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY AT $600. AFTER THE PURCHASE, THEY CONTINUED TO SHOP, AND IN ANOTHER STORE, SAW THE EXACT SAME RUG FOR 1/3 THE PRICE. ONE AGAIN CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT AND SLIPPED
GALATIANS 6:1—BRETHREN, IF A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT, YE WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL, RESTORE SUCH AN ONE IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS; CONSIDERING THYSELF, LEST THOU ALSO BE TEMPTED.
JAMES 5:16—CONFESS YOUR FAULTS ONE TO ANOTHER, AND PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.
e. INIQUITY – ANOMIA
i. THE WORD CAN ALSO MEAN LAWLESSNESS
ii. THIS IS THE SIN OF THE MAN WHO KNOWS THE RIGHT BUT DOES THE WRONG
iii. THIS IS THE SIN OF A MAN WHO KNOWS THE LAW AND YET BREAKS THE LAW
iv. INTENTIONAL AND FLAGRANT SIN
1. DONE IN THE OPEN
2. IT IS DIRECT AND OPEN REBELLION AGAINST GOD AND HIS WAYS
v. IT REFLECTS THE HUMAN INSTINCT TO DO WHAT WE WANT WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT
1. I AM DOING WHAT I WANT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
f. DEBTS – OPHEILEMA
i. THIS IS THE WORD WE HAVE IN OUR VERSE TODAY
ii. IT MEANS A FAILURE TO PAY THAT WHICH IS DUE
iii. A FAILURE IN DUTY
iv. NONE OF US CAN CLAIM THAT WE HAVE PERFECTLY FULFILLED OUR DUTY TO MAN AND TO GOD
1. THIS KIND OF PERFECTION DOES NOT EXIST IN MAN
2. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO PRAYER – FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS/SINS
v. CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR FORGIVENESS IS HUMBLING
1. SALVATION ALLUDES MANY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HUMBLE ENOUGH TO ADMIT THEY HAVE SINNED
2. PRIDE KEEPS THEM FROM CONFESSING – ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR FAILURE
3. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALL THAT IT LEFT IS:
PHILIPPIANS 2:10–11 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, 11AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
WHEN WE PUT EACH OF THESE WORDS TOGETHER, WE GET THE FULL PICTURE, SCOPE AND EFFECT OF SIN
II. THE PROPORTION OF FORGIVENESS
a. “FORGIVE AS WE FORGIVE
MATTHEW 6:12 FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
MATTHEW 6:14–15 FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU.
15BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
b. AS WE LOOK AT THESE VERSES, WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT EARNING GOD’S FORGIVENESS
i. THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD IS PROMISED IN SCRIPTURE
1. THE CROSS BROUGHT FORGIVENESS
a. IT IS FINISHED
2. SINCE WE CONFESS, HE FORGIVES
a. THIS IS AGREEMENT WITH GOD OVER OUR SINS DAILY; ACCEPTING THE FORGIVENESS ALREADY GIVEN
ii. FORGIVING OTHERS
1. DEMONSTRATES OUR NEED OF BEING FORGIVEN BY THE LORD
2. IT SHOWS WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN US
a. YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PARABLE OF JESUS CONCERNING FORGIVENESS IN MATTHEW 18
b. THE KING FORGAVE THE DEBT OF HIS SERVANT
c. THE SERVANT WOULD NOT FORGIVE THE DEBT OF ANOTHER SERVANT
d. THE FIRST SERVANT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF FORGIVENESS AND SO LOST THE VALUE OF FORGIVENESS. THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF GOD FORGIVING US SHOULD BE FORGIVING OTHERS
e. THERE IS A HARSH JUDGMENT WHEN WE HURT THE FELLOWSHIP BY BEING UNFORGIVING IN LIGHT OF ALL GOD HAS FORGIVEN IN EACH AND EVERY O ONE OF US.
III. WHY SHOULD I BE FORGIVING
a. MOST IMPORTANTLY BECAUSE JESUS TELLS US TO
b. FORGIVENESS IS A CHARACTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND CONFORMITY TO GOD HIMSELF
i. BE HOLY
ii. BE RIGHTEOUS
iii. BE PURE
iv. BE COMPLETE AS HE IS
c. IT IS THE MARK OF A HEART REGENERATED BY THE LORD
i. AT THE HEART OF A REGENERATE HEART IS THE FORGIVENESS WE RECEIVED WHEN WE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR
d. FORGIVENESS REFLECTS THE GRACE OF GOD
i. YOU DID NOT DESERVE IT
ii. I FORGAVE YOU ANYWAY
e. FORGIVENESS BENEFITS THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST
i. NOTHING HAS MORE TRACTION IN A CHURCH THAN UNRESOLVED CONFLICT.
ii. IT SHORT-CIRCUITS THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY MINISTER AS A CHURCH
iii. IN MATTHEW 5:24 JESUS TELLS US ABOUT COMING TO THE ALTAR WITH A GIFT AND HAVING SOMETHING AGAINST YOUR BROTHER. HE TELLS US TO LEAVE THE GIFT, MAKE IT RIGHT, AND THEN RETURN
f. FORGIVENESS AVOIDS GOD’S DISCIPLINE
i. WHERE THERE IS UNFORGIVENESS, THERE IS SIN
