In Matthew 18:21 we see that Peter asks Jesus the question “Lord how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No not seven times”, Jesus replied, but seventy times seven!”
I can just see the thought bubble above Peters head “Oh great, not only do I have to forgive my brother, but I have to learn math too!”
As I begin to dig into God’s word on forgiveness, I was stunned by how many times we see it, especially in the NT. Anytime we see the same subject in the bible over and over, we need to be sure to pay special attention to learn and understand what God is telling us and why it is so important to Him.
Today’s key passage is Matthew 18:21-35
Stand with me as we honor God by reading his word together. Read 21-35
• Most of us here today know that Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.
• What I learned this past week, was that they never asked for forgiveness for their sin. In fact, what they did instead was put blame elsewhere.
• Eve said, “the serpent deceived me and I ate the fruit.”
• Adam said, “Lord, let me tell you about that woman you gave me”!
• Based on what I’ve learned this week, I can’t help but wonder how things might be different, if they had asked for forgiveness of their sin, against God.
The first account of seeking repentance of sin, is found in Exodus 9:27:
• This is after God has sent 10 plagues down on Egypt, and up until this point, Pharaoh had been defiant, and scripture tells us his heart hardened.
• v.7 This is after the 5th plague had been sent down.
o Pharaoh sent his officials to investigate, and they discovered that the Israelites had not lost a single animal. NKJV says this “but the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.” (Hold on to words about hardened heart)
• So God sends down the rest of the 10 plagues and v27 records this “Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. This time I have sinned, he confessed. The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong”.
• v.28 “Please beg the Lord to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go, you don’t need to stay any longer.”
Let’s go back and examine a few verses in the 18th chapter of Matthew.
v.23 Say amen when you are there!
Ask 2-3 people to read their bible v.23
“the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king…who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
How about this “the kingdom of heaven wants to settle accounts with its’ servants”.
Wow, that ought to make you sit up straight!
v.24 “and when he had begun to settle accounts, on was brought to him wo owed him ten thousand talents.”
NLT says “millions of dollars”. Kind of sounds like a debt he couldn’t pay. Sound familiar?
v.25-26 servant fell on his knees and begged
v.27 “then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
v.28-31 that same servant went to collect the debt owed him and he wouldn’t forgive the debt.
v.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. (now, don’t think of this as this master but remember Jesus is telling us this is how it is in the kingdom of heaven.)
read v33-35
“from his heart” there’s the caveat! We must do it with a soft heart. In others words, it must be real!
• There are so many more, but I’d like to look at one more scriptural reference on forgiveness.
• Matthew 6:9
o Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
o Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
o Give us this day our daily bread.
o And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
o And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
o V.13 For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
• Of all the things he could have gone into more detail after teaching the Lord’s Prayer, listen to v.14-15
o If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
o But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins!
• I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a little bit like Pharaoh right now! Lord please forgive me!!!
Let’s look at another aspect of forgiveness. This is crazy, but there is growing scientific evidence that:
• Forgiveness lowers blood pressure
• Fewer bouts with depression and anxiety
• Improved function of immune system
• Supports healthier relationships
• Improved sense of well-being
• Lower risk of substance abuse
• Reduction in chronic pain
• There is healing power in forgiveness
Who here today, could benefit from one or more of these conditions?
There is so much more on this, but let’s wrap it up for now.
Going back to Matthew 18:21
Then Peter came to him and asked “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?
What caused Peter to ask this question?
The answer is found beginning in v.15:
Read v.15-20 from my bible.
That will be part 2 of this 2-part series on Forgiveness.
Call Jimmy, KarolAnn and Crystal up. I’m not asking y’all to come up as the worship team, but rather as the prayer team.
Now we are going to do something a little different church!
• Came upon me about 9:30 last night, that we need to lay hands upon and pray over one another today.
• I know many of your situations, but we are going to lay hands and pray unspoken requests today.
• I could get a little funky, but that’s ok. Sometimes funky is good.
• I’m going to ask everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes as the 4 of us, walk around, lay hands and pray over you!
