S211 Seeing Forgiveness Clearly
Matthew 18-Seeing My Brethren Clearly • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsPeter thinks he's got it figured out...but Jesus instructs a deeper view of the brethren.
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INTRODUCTION
A. Have you heard of the “Minimalist Movement”?
A. Have you heard of the “Minimalist Movement”?
1. It is a movement focused on minimizing the “stuff” in our lives
1. It is a movement focused on minimizing the “stuff” in our lives
The work. The things.
2. While focused on consumerism, it permeates all aspects of life
2. While focused on consumerism, it permeates all aspects of life
It is trying to overcome the consumerism of our culture…the “buy, buy, buy” mentality we have.
3. Have we become “minimalists” in our forgiveness?
3. Have we become “minimalists” in our forgiveness?
B. Forgiveness has to do with greatness and our brethren
B. Forgiveness has to do with greatness and our brethren
1. The subject of our passage in Matthew 18
1. The subject of our passage in Matthew 18
2. “Seeing My Brethren Clearly”
2. “Seeing My Brethren Clearly”
How I see my Christian brothers.
Are they important to me? Are they MORE important to me than myself?
How far am I willing to go for them?
3. Jesus saw a problem and has taught on how to address the problem
3. Jesus saw a problem and has taught on how to address the problem
A desire to be GREATER than a brother. (Matthew 18.1-4)
A temptation to introduce sin to my brother’s life. (Matthew 18.5-10)
A need to help remove sin from my brother’s life (Matthew 18.12-20)
4. Jesus takes it one step further when Peter asks a question about forgiveness
4. Jesus takes it one step further when Peter asks a question about forgiveness
C. Jesus’ instructions prompt Peter’s question
C. Jesus’ instructions prompt Peter’s question
1. Peter asks a question, based on what Jesus has been teaching (Matthew 18.21)
1. Peter asks a question, based on what Jesus has been teaching (Matthew 18.21)
2. Jesus gives an answer and a parable (Matthew 18.22-34)
2. Jesus gives an answer and a parable (Matthew 18.22-34)
3. Jesus gives the application, by revealing how this applies to God and our own salvation (Matthew 18.35)
3. Jesus gives the application, by revealing how this applies to God and our own salvation (Matthew 18.35)
BODY
I. Peter’s Insight (Matthew 18.21)
I. Peter’s Insight (Matthew 18.21)
A. Peter Speaks Up
A. Peter Speaks Up
1. Peter is known for his forthcoming speaking
1. Peter is known for his forthcoming speaking
2. Why did he speak up, here?
2. Why did he speak up, here?
Could it be because he wants to show off? Could it because he genuinely has a question?
I imagine, Peter still doesn’t quite have it right in his mind. He is trying to show how great he is by showing how much he understands Jesus’ teaching on greatness.
3. But Peter, as is often the case, misses the mark a bit
3. But Peter, as is often the case, misses the mark a bit
He has a track record of getting things wrong.
To be fair, though, he has also been correct on a few times, and his boldness has been rewarded and commended.
B. What Peter Says
B. What Peter Says
1. Forgiveness of a brother when he sins against me
1. Forgiveness of a brother when he sins against me
A more personal progression moving from helping the brother repent in general, to repentance
2. Forgiveness up to seven times
2. Forgiveness up to seven times
Pretty generous.
Seems to be (contextually) the same sin and same person…would you be willing to give seven chances to be forgiven?
3. Even better than the “norm” in culture
3. Even better than the “norm” in culture
Jewish law was said to give forgiveness for up to 3 times.
This was more than twice the normal expectation.
[Lenski, see N001]
C. Why Peter Says This
C. Why Peter Says This
1. Trying to apply what Jesus has taught
1. Trying to apply what Jesus has taught
2. Trying to reveal how he has “got it”?
2. Trying to reveal how he has “got it”?
3. Trying to show how “great” he is?
3. Trying to show how “great” he is?
More than the other disciples?
More than the accepted religious standard?
To impress Jesus?
4. Peter HAS grown in his faith, but not quite far enough
4. Peter HAS grown in his faith, but not quite far enough
Obstacles in his growth.
Cultural and personal difficulties to get through.
D. When Would We Speak Up?
D. When Would We Speak Up?
1. Do we think we have greatness in the kingdom “figured out”?
1. Do we think we have greatness in the kingdom “figured out”?
2. Would we think we are being gracious in our forgiveness?
2. Would we think we are being gracious in our forgiveness?
E. Peter doesn’t have it quite figured out, yet
E. Peter doesn’t have it quite figured out, yet
II. Jesus’ Instruction (Matthew 18.22-35)
II. Jesus’ Instruction (Matthew 18.22-35)
A. It’s Not About Keeping Record (Mt 18.22)
A. It’s Not About Keeping Record (Mt 18.22)
1. Not the seven times
1. Not the seven times
This is Peter’s answer.
This would probably seem too high, anyway, to the disciples.
Jesus is making a clear and odd point: far, far too low
2. Seventy TIMES seven times
2. Seventy TIMES seven times
Some debate: 70 x 7 or 77?
Doesn’t really matter…the point is clear:
Would you keep track of 77 incidents? Would you keep track of 490 incidents?
The point: a huge number you could not keep track of.
3. Jesus’ expectation: unlimited forgiveness
3. Jesus’ expectation: unlimited forgiveness
B. It’s About Keeping Perspective (Mt 18.23-34)
B. It’s About Keeping Perspective (Mt 18.23-34)
1. Jesus uses a parable
1. Jesus uses a parable
What were parables?
Why were parables used?
In this instance, it is a story that clearly and dramatically introduces the concept of how forgiving we ought to be toward one another.
2. The parable: two slaves
2. The parable: two slaves
Two slaves who owe money.
a. The Slave’s Debt (Mt 18.23-27)
a. The Slave’s Debt (Mt 18.23-27)
Slave owed 10,000 talents.
Unrealistic and insurmountable amount. (Maybe $150 million)
Not to be comprehended (governments didn’t transact with this type of funding).
The king’s forgiveness is so far beyond comprehension, it stifles the imagination. Further, the slave asked for TIME and the opportunity to REPAY. The king offers forgiveness from the debt.
The slave’s new situation:
Financial freedom
Immense gratitude
Basking in another’s generosity
b. The Slaves Unforgiving (Mt 18.28-30)
b. The Slaves Unforgiving (Mt 18.28-30)
New found freedom gives new found entitlement.
He wants what he sees is his…what he thinks he deserves.
He goes after another slave who owes 100 denarii.
A realistic, and payable amount. (maybe $15,000 or 1/100th of what the slave owed the king)
Notice the second slave asks for the SAME thing: TIME and opportunity to REPAY.
This slave not only refuses the request, but is strict and harsh (does not consider the forgiveness the king offered him).
c. The Slave’s Punishment (Mt 18.31-34)
c. The Slave’s Punishment (Mt 18.31-34)
Good thing they had heard about it and the king was informed.
The king was not happy due to his own kindness and generosity NOT affecting the slave in the same way.
Punishment: WORSE than the original (original: jail and slavery; new: torture and jail).
C. God Will Keep the Record Based on His Perspective (Mt 18.35)
C. God Will Keep the Record Based on His Perspective (Mt 18.35)
1. God has offered to forgive our debts of sin
1. God has offered to forgive our debts of sin
2. His expectation is our generous forgiveness toward others
2. His expectation is our generous forgiveness toward others
D. Who am I in this parable?
D. Who am I in this parable?
1. We can clearly understand our role in this parable as the slave who owes much
1. We can clearly understand our role in this parable as the slave who owes much
To whom do we owe? Of course, this is to God.
He is the great King to whom all debt for wrong doing is owed.
2. If we are the slave who owed much to God, then when we hurt one another, they are the slave who owed little
2. If we are the slave who owed much to God, then when we hurt one another, they are the slave who owed little
Do they owe? Sure, they have hurt us.
But when they ask for forgiveness, we cannot even begin to set an amount in their account.
3. Forgiveness is always offered…under these circumstances:
3. Forgiveness is always offered…under these circumstances:
They have wronged us personally (we cannot hold a grudge for something not done to us)
They repent (they must request to make things right, and try to make things right if possible, asking for forbearance and forgiveness
We offer mercy in the same way God offers us mercy (Mt 18.33): gladly, quickly, and thoroughly upon requesting repentance
CONCLUSION
A. Seeing My Brethren Clearly means I forgive them freely
A. Seeing My Brethren Clearly means I forgive them freely
1. No limit to my forgiveness
1. No limit to my forgiveness
2. I still have not given what I have received
2. I still have not given what I have received
3. If I am unwilling to forgive, so will God (Matthew 6.14-15)
3. If I am unwilling to forgive, so will God (Matthew 6.14-15)
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
B. Seeing My Brethren Clearly means I see their value
B. Seeing My Brethren Clearly means I see their value
1. Freedom from sin
1. Freedom from sin
2. Freedom from obligation to me
2. Freedom from obligation to me
C. This is easy to conceptualize, but sometimes difficult to live out
C. This is easy to conceptualize, but sometimes difficult to live out
1. How do we live this in our current lives and culture?
1. How do we live this in our current lives and culture?
2. How do we live this when we are frustrated, angry, and hurt?
2. How do we live this when we are frustrated, angry, and hurt?
3. We must internalize and constantly remind ourselves of this reality
3. We must internalize and constantly remind ourselves of this reality