The Unforgiving Servant
The Parables of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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· 30 viewsWe should forgive because God has forgiven us so much
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The Unforgiving Servant
The Unforgiving Servant
Recap
What is a parable?
greek word “parabole”
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Literally means “cast alongside”, “putting things side by side”, with the purpose to compare.
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
Jesus’ parables were stories “cast alongside” truth in order to illustrate that truth
The truth was hidden mysteries
The truth was hidden mysteries
Why did Jesus speak in Parables?
Why did Jesus speak in Parables?
The reason Jesus spoke in parables was not so that they could understand more, it was to hide the truth
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurt
The message of Jesus blinds, deafens, and hardens because the truth hurts
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
Speaking in parables was a judgement on the people that were rejecting His teachings
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Last session
Last session
Parable of the Talents
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Break into small groups
Read
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’
So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.
Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Mathe
Context
We have Peter asking Jesus a question.
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?”
Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
Why was Peter asking Jesus about forgiving his brother?
The verses right before
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew
This leads up to Peters question
Which is logical
How many times do I forgive him?
Is there a limit on forgiveness?
Jesus responds with a parable about forgiveness
In this parable the main characters are a king and his servant
The king has come to settle accounts
A familiar theme
Accountability
God calls all men to give an account of their lives and what they have done with it
We are stewards. We are carers of the things God owns
The difference in this parable. This isn’t an account of final judgment
This isn’t an account of final judgment
“Therefore” in v23 links it to the passages before this
The passages before this are all about a christian forgiving another christian
v21 Peter says “how often will my BROTHER sin against me”
So its clear that the servant in the parable is a believer. A brother.
We will answer these questions as we go through the parable
The Unforgiving Servant
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Peters “7 times”
Question makes perfect sense (already touched on this)
Peter throws out “7 times”???
Why did Peter throw out a number to begin with?
Jewish rabbis at that time taught that forgiving someone more than three times was unnecessary
Jews had put a limit on forgiveness
They get this from Amos
They get this from Amos
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron.
Amos 1:
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border.
And so
Repeats in v11& 13
From this the Jews concluded that you are only to forgive 3 times
With that in mind, Peter’s saying “7 times” was him thinking he was being generous
Peter’s saying “7 times” was him thinking he was being generous
Jesus’ response
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
matthew 18
What was the significance of Jesus’ number? What did He mean?
70 x 7 = 490
Who could keep count of 490 offenses? No one! The number is so large you would lose count
Thats the point! We are not called to count how many times our brother offends us. We are called to forgive
The bible says in “Love keeps no record of wrong”
You cant put a number. You cant put a limit on forgiveness.
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
luke
In Luke he says
7 times in a day
Lukes account is even crazier
In a day after one time of my kids annoying me I’m ready to go off
You see the point. Not about the number
If that is the case then the question is why? Why I do I have to forgive someone who continuously offends me?
Jesus goes to explain
Let’s keep going
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
matthew 18:23
We already touched on the similarities with this parable and the parable of the talents
The talents in both parables have different meanings
Parable of the talents = Responsibility, gifts, family.
Here talents represent SIN
10,000 talents some ppl have estimated any where from 16 million to a billion dollars
The talent was the highest unit of currency, and ten thousand was the highest Greek numeral.
the talent was the highest unit of currency, and ten thousand the highest Greek numeral
It would be like saying “a gazillion dollars”
ten thousand the highest Greek numeral
So the point really is that the amount owed is SO BIG it cannot be paid
Isn't that true of our sin (remember talents represent sin) before Christ saved us?
Isn't that true of our sin before Christ saved us?
Before Christ
We stood before God condemned. With a debt owed that we could not pay.
He comes to settle accounts
Where he has come to settle accounts with us
Our sin requires death
We see that we are imperfect people
And what our debt requires is death
That is the only payment that can be made. “For the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23”
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The debt was too big
And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
math 18:25
Sin will cost you everything
This is a picture of hell
Where else do people go as punishment for the debt they owed God?
What has sin cost you?
a wife, severed relationships with children, broken families, lost jobs and business, health....
We can all relate with this servant
We can all relate with this servant
How does the servant respond?
When faced with a debt we could not pay
So like many of us what did this servant do?
Fell on his knees
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
matthew 18:26-2
He begged, pleaded for mercy. Have patience
Overwhelmed with his sinfulness, crushed by the debt he could not pay
He humbled himself. Dropped to his knees and worshiped him (imploring Him)
This signifies someone who would kiss the hand, the knee, the foot of the king who they were pleading mercy from
and worshiped him (imploring Him)
He’s not denying it. He’s admitting his sin. He’s broken.
He’s exactly where God wants him
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
So like many of us, the servant didn't understand everything
“Lord give me more time and I’ll promise I’ll do this or do that”
He knows he couldn’t pay it back
But when your overcome with guilt because you’ve been confronted with your sin
You’re like “I have to turn my life around. I have to do better”
He sees how lost he is
The Kings response
And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Matthew: An Introduction and Commentary v. Forgiving Personal Offences (18:21–35)
the talent was the highest unit of currency, and ten thousand the highest Greek numeral
This is a picture of salvation. When you stand broken before God
And He rushes in with the forgiveness that is only made available in Jesus Christ who already paid the debt Himself.
The king absorbs the loss on His account
We could spend all night here but this is not the main point of the parable (this is the foundation)
The Servants response
But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’
So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’
He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.
mat 18:28-
We have this same servant who has a situation with his fellow servant (more clues to this being a believer)
a hundred denarii (a few hundred dollars)
And this servant who was forgiven seizes his fellow servant and demands payment
look how his fellow servant responds “Have patience with me, and I will pay you”
Instead of remembering those same words, which he spoke once in his life, he orders the man to prison
He was unwilling to forgive him
The King finds out
matthew 18:
Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
What was the kings point? Why was he so angry?
The main point of this parable is right here
The king is saying, after all I have forgiven you how dare you not forgive someone else???
If anyone should be so ready to forgive should be the one who was forgiven so much
What a question “
He should the most grateful and the most merciful
but instead he forgets what the king did for him
Because we’ve been forgiven we have to forgive
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Forgiven people must be forgiving people
Let the reason you forgive not be what the other person did against you, but what Jesus did for you
His punishment
And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
What kind of punishment do you believe Jesus is speaking of here?
The prison Jesus is speaking of is the prison of unforgiveness
The word jailer literally means “Tormentor”
NLT says he was sent off to be tormented
The world’s worst prison is not Alcatraz or Devil’s Island, because those places can only confine our bodies. The prison that Jesus is describing shackles our souls, and the saddest part is that we put ourselves in this prison.
Pastor Louis said in one of his sermons “The world’s worst prison is not Alcatraz or Rikers Island, because those places can only confine our bodies. The prison that Jesus is describing shackles our souls, and the saddest part is that we put ourselves in this prison.”
Pastor Louis said in one of his sermons“The world’s worst prison is not Alcatraz or Rikers Island, because those places can only confine our bodies. The prison that Jesus is describing shackles our souls, and the saddest part is that we put ourselves in this prison.”
The world’s worst prison is not Alcatraz or Devil’s Island, because those places can only confine our bodies. The prison that Jesus is describing shackles our souls, and the saddest part is that we put ourselves in this prison.
We don’t have anyone to blame but ourselves for our punishment
and maybe your saying to yourself now, “but how could God punish believers? I thought that was only for unbelievers”
But what about the debt he’s ordered to pay?
Wasn’t he forgiven of all his debt?
The bible is clear that the Lord disciplines those He loves
The Lord disciplines those He loves
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Heb 12:
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Any good father will discipline his son when they do something wrong
Unforgiveness in our hearts will bring punishment and torment in our lives
And you will not be freed from the prison of unforgiveness until you learn to forgive
That is the debt that needs to be paid in verse 34
He’s not referring to the debt back in the beginning of the parable. That has already been forgiven
And how do we know that........ verse 35
Matthew
So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The debt is forgiveness. Jesus says when you learn to forgive then you will be forgiven.
Then you will be free from the prison of unforgiveness
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
Unforgiveness in your heart disrupts your relationship with God
How could you ever really know the forgiveness of God when you harbour unforgiviness in your heart?
How could you ever walk in the fullness of salvation when there is unrepentant sin in your life?
How could you truly ever be free?
Then we wonder why as believers we seem to always have trouble in our loves.
Why are we always struggling?
Why does it seem like nothing goes right?
The tormentors of our lives
But understand God doesn’t punish his children just to punish us
He does it with the idea of refinment
We don’t just spank our children just to spank them
You do it so you can change their behavior right? It’s the same with God
What can we learn from this parable? How can we apply this to our lives?
Unforgiveness towards our children
Unforgiveness in past relationships (wife, parents, in laws)
Do we allow God forgiveness to change us?
We have to rid our lives of bitterness and grudges
Unforgiveness angers God
Unforgiveness makes us prisoners
Unforgiveness does not display Gods character
We’ve been forgiven so much. We have to forgive.
The greatest example of forgiveness
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Forgiveness is the centerpiece of the gospel