A Forgiving People
The Gospel of Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsForgiveness experienced leads to forgiveness extended.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Matthew 18:21-35
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We have finally made it back to our series in the Gospel of Matthew! We took a seven week detour and I hope you were blessed and encouraged by that series. It was awesome to hear from Trent lacing up the Nike’s with his sermon One Hope - helping us see that our evangelism problem is a joy problem not a courage problem.
But now we turn our attention back to the gospel - climbing the different mountain ranges of the book and looking at the beauty of each vista. Just to refresh our memory let me remind you of some recent terrain we’ve tracked:
In Matthew 16 - the Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus - “perform; show us what you can do” - and Jesus tells them, in the way only Jesus could, they are good weathermen and bad Bible students and the only sign they would get is the sign of Jonah…and after speaking with His disciples about the influence of the Pharisees Jesus asks them the question of questions, “who do you say that I am?”
In response Peter, acting as the spokesman of the twelve, confesses in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Church, Jesus is the still reigning Messiah, the anointed of God. And it was at that moment in history that the ministry of Jesus turns toward Calvary’s Hill. Jesus sets His face to the cross.
We know that because on the heels of Peter’s confession Jesus predicts His death and resurrection for the first time and calls the disciples to follow Him by taking up their cross - a daily death to our sinful flesh.
In Matthew 17 - Jesus, proving His divine nature, rips back the curtain of humanity that He wears, to show the disciples His divine glory on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Which leads to Matthew 18. Here Jesus reveals how the community of His people do life together.
Greatness in His kingdom looks like childlike faith.
Temptations will come to us, but don’t be the vehicle of temptation to another believer - that’s real bad. Like millstone around your neck on the way to the bottom of the ocean bad.
AND from Matthew 18 we learn Jesus pursues His straying children and keeps them - and He does this many times through the process of church discipline and restoration.
And all of that leads to Matthew 18:21-35 the parable of the unforgiving servant. Jesus’ here is teaching about how His people are A Forgiving People. That’s how we are to do life in the church - as believers. I mean what could be more basic for us to know and live than a life of forgiveness? It’s discipleship 101. But here’s the problem. Sin. Forgiveness is hard. It’s of God, not of our flesh. Which means many of us are walking around - praising God - answering open-ended questions during Sunday morning groups with great insight but we are holding on to grudges against fellow believers. Withholding forgiveness and growing friendly with bitterness.
It’s like we are back in JH - no offense to my pre-teens in the room - I love you, your silly-passion for all things - it helps crusty old people, like me, because you remind me of the zest of life - so no offense - but many of us are walking around like we are back in JH and we didn’t get invited to the party. And so we take out our member directory - the churches yearbook - and we give people fantastic uni-brows and curly moo-staches. And right in the middle of our sinful lean toward getting even and holding grudges - Jesus shines gospel light upon us. He helps us see that we are to be A Forgiving People.
For those taking notes here is the sermon in a sentence:
Forgiveness experienced leads to forgiveness extended
Pray
21 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?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Peter’s question is about The Extent of Forgiveness. That’s our first point. The Extent of Forgiveness.
1. The Extent of Forgiveness
1. The Extent of Forgiveness
You have to love Peter. He asks questions that we want to ask, but are either too naive to ask or we want to be seen as “extra” holy so we don’t ask - we quietly save face. But it is precisely because Peter is inquisitive that we have this insight into extent of forgiveness and how we shouldn’t act in relation to others.
Peter, most likely thinking about Jesus’ teaching on church discipline and removing the unrepentant believer from the membership of the local church body (v.15-20) asks: Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Peter is curious about the extent of forgiveness. Like how far does it stretch? How many times do we give it out to someone? Is there a cap here? In the Rabbinic thought of the day three times was the standard of forgiveness - a “four strikes you are out” type of policy. If someone wronged you - forgive them once, then twice, then three times but on the fourth you are out. No more grace.
We like to give Peter a hard time - and there are some face palm Peter moments in the gospels - but I don’t think this is one of them. Peter has been walking with Jesus and growing with Jesus and I believe that in this question about extending forgiveness (which we all know can be extremely hard) Peter is demonstrating transformation. “Jesus do we forgive up to seven times?” Seven is the number of completion and double plus one what was required in Israel - I believe it shows transformation in Peter, the youthfulness of his faith - no doubt - but we are seeing growth in Peter. So what does Jesus say in response? Great question church!
Matthew 18:22, “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Peter you were generous. Seven times is better than three no argument there, but you misunderstand what I’m doing. The new community of people Jesus has created, Christians - the church universal - are not accountants of grace and mercy. We are a forgiving people. That’s why Jesus said seventy-seven or seventy times seven. Why that number Jesus? Because by all accounts that is too high a number to keep track of. Jesus is saying that we are to extend forgiveness without measure. It has no cap or ceiling. When we forgive others we aren’t counting it up - “well that’s the fifth time this afternoon.” Writing it down in our journal or something. Christian’s don’t do that.
Textual Note: I tend to think the seventy-seven is a better translation and still accomplishes the same goal of seventy times seven because of the biblical comparison Jesus may be making. Back in Genesis 4, after Adam and Eve are removed from the garden because of their sin we see the dark, downward spiral of sin. The first murder in the history of our world takes place when Cain murders his brother Abel. And then man’s sin continues, the spiral turns, and Cain’s great great great great grandson Lamech who is a proud, vengeful womanizer says this:
Genesis 4:23-24, “Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah [just a stand up guy with two wives - that’s sarcasm fyi], hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. [24] If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
Our natural instinct - seperated from God’s transforming love - seeks revenge when wronged. Seventy-seven fold. Our sinful flesh desires retaliation. You punched me - I’ll choke slam you. You stole my girlfriend - I’ll date your sister. You shaved my goat before contest - I’ll poison your chicken - okay, I’m just trying to apply this to my FFA people. Our normal bend is to vent our rage and get ours. But not in the community Jesus is creating. Sinful man’s way is unbounded revenge - like Lamech seventy-seven times - Christ’s way is unbounded grace - unlimited forgiveness - seventy-seven times. Jesus is saying to Peter and He is saying to the church, to you Christian, there is no bottom to the forgiveness you are to extend.
Defining Forgiveness: Can we just have some real talk for a minute. Being recipients of the forgiveness of God for our sin is astounding. Forgiving others - in principle is beautiful but in real-life it can be gut wrenching. Especially, the closer it hits to home. Forgiveness is the onion of Christian love - it has a lot of layers and it’ll bring tears to your eyes.
What’s God Word say?
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
The basic principle of forgiveness is this: God in Christ has forgiven you - so you are commanded to forgive others. Seventy-seven times. No limits. Now at this point I know we all have some situations that are in our mind - let me lay a helpful grid over your heart as you process what forgiveness looks like in your particular circumstance.
Forgiveness is not forgetting.
God does not suffer from amnesia over your sin - rather He chooses not to condemn you for it since He condemned His Son for it. Sometimes we think if we do not completely forget the offense - like Men in Black mind eraser - then we have not forgiven it. That’s not true - because there are some hurts that we suffer that God expects us to use discernment regarding setting up boundaries with the people who have hurt us instead of continuing to get the same treatment. Which leads to our next thought...
Forgiveness isn’t the immediate restoration of trust in the relationship.
In fact, Scripture teaches that we should distrust people who have proven untrustworthy (Luke 12:10-12). In practice, it is wrong and unwise to think forgiving an abusive spouse this morning means letting them back in your home tonight. Or ever. For those who’ve experienced abuse verbal, physical, sexual or emotional - I do believe God expects us to let go of the bitterness and anger - but that is a far cry from restoring the relationship. Some relationships won’t be restored until eternity. Jesus told us to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).
Forgiveness is not the elimination of all consequences.
When someone sins against you and comes to you for forgiveness that doesn’t mean that there won’t be earthly consequences.
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?
Our choices have consequences. Like my mustache. I’ve seen a 92% decrease in kisses from my wife because of this work of art. Our choices have consequences - can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? No, he can’t. Forgiveness is not the elimination of all consequences.
There is more I could say - but there are three things that forgiveness is not.
Now here is what forgiveness is:
Forgiveness trusts God to settle the wrong.
1 Peter 2:23, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” Like Jesus, we are to take any sins or hurts against us and hand them over to the Great Accountant who will settle those accounts much better and more wisely than we can.
Forgiveness dwells on what is good.
It suffocates bitterness and revenge. Forgiveness is taking our thoughts captive for Christ. We can’t keep dwelling on a past sin against us and “forgive” that person. We have to look at what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).
And finally...
Forgiveness believes’ God’s power in you is greater than sins grip around you.
Forgiveness trusts God to provide the ability to overcome evil with good - to love and feed an enemy. To seek their good. A think the tangible sign that you have forgiven someone is that you seek their good. Which is the opposite of punishing them.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Application: So how are you relating to those who sin against you? Are you harboring bitterness and anger toward someone because of a wound? Have you dug your heels in unwilling to grant forgiveness to someone who hurt you? I know it’s hard - but if you are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ you are a forgiving person. And holding on unwilling to let go - that’s sin in you - that is the way of the world - not the way of Jesus. Here in (v.21-22) Jesus says if someone sins against you forgive them and the if they do it again forgive them and if they do it again forgive them and if they do it again forgive. We dare not keep track of how many times we grant forgiveness. For God is not keeping track of how many times He grants us forgiveness for our repetitive sins. We are a new community of people, with new hearts and new affections - so we extend forgiveness.
Transition: And the reason we extend forgiveness - as we are about to see - is because we’ve experienced forgiveness. In (v.23-35) Jesus tells a parable about forgiveness from the negative point of view in which He says, “forgive without the ledger…don’t be like this guy. This guy is bad. This is not how I want you to “forgive”.” He tells A Parable on Forgiveness. Which is our second point.
2. A Parable on Forgiveness
2. A Parable on Forgiveness
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 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.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 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. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Jesus uses this parable of the kingdom of heaven to unpack what it would be like for a follower of Christ to be unable to forgive - like Lamech - revenge seventy-seven times. Church this is a warning to each of us.
And it begins with a king. This king is ready to settle accounts with His servants. They owe Him money and the debt is due. So the King calls in his servant who owes ten thousand talents but the servant can’t pay the debt. He doesn’t have the wherewithal to see it fulfilled. So the king orders that the servant and family be sold into slavery to make up some of the gap. On hearing the news the servant drops to his knees and pleads for pardon. Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything (v.26). Which moves the King to compassion. The King forgives the debt and sets the man and his family free.
So the man leaves the Kings company and lives the rest of his days gracious and merciful to all he meets. Not a chance. In fact, horror of horrors the servant does the opposite.
The servant decides that it is his turn to call those to account who owe him a debt. And when his servant comes in who owes one hundred denarii the pardoned servant takes him by the neck and chokes him and declares, “pay what you owe.” And the abused servant drops to his knees and cries out just like the pardoned servant did to the king have patience with me, and I will pay you. But the pardoned servant refused and threw his servant into the prison until he would pay the debt.
But this is where the story gets good. Matthew 18:31, “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.” The onlookers couldn’t believe it - how could that pardoned servant act so unmerciful? So they told the king.
So the King summoned the pardoned sinner and rebuked him. He pointed out the hypocrisy of being pardoned but not pardoning. The servant should have had mercy on his servant just as the King had mercy on him. So the King did what must be done - he delivered his servant over to the jailers until his debt be paid.
A Note on Understanding Parables: Parables aren’t epistles or proverbs and so we must read them according to their genre. Not every word or image is meant to be pressed to it’s logical conclusion. So take the king’s forgiveness of the servant - later he retracts it and throws him in prison. If we squeezed that image what we would get is God gives us forgiveness but then if we don’t forgive he takes it back. That is works based salvation. That is not what Jesus is teaching in this parable. Remember we need to set this parable in the context of the whole of the Bible, including the centerpiece - the gospel.
Gospel Application: This parable drips with gospel implications. The servant owes a great debt to the King - ten thousand talents. That’s a lot of money. If you have a study Bible it probably says that ten thousand talents was, conservatively, about six billion dollars worth of debt in today’s terms. The actual word for ten thousand in the original language here was the largest numerical term in Greek and because of that it was often used figuratively to represent a number which is impossible to count - like our word “infinity.” The point is the man’s debt was un-payable. Ten thousands talents if taken literally would be the equivalent of 200,000 years of wages. Like some of you in our congregation you’ve aged well - well done Pruett, but not 200,000 years well.
Here’s the point: our sin debt before our holy God is massive. It is incalculable. Infinity. Our sin debt is infinity.
And just like the first servant - we have no ability to pay the debt. “For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).” Our deserved and earned consequence for our impossibly large sin debt is death, physically and eternally. One reason why Hell is eternal is because God’s wrath for our sin will never be satisfied through our punishment, because we are unable to pay in full the debt - sinners will pay for it - but it will never be paid in full. After age upon age upon age and time with no end those in Hell who feel like the they can’t take the torment God’s punishment a moment longer - when they realize that all those ages upon ages was a mere moment in the perspective of eternity they will drown but not die in their pain and sorrow. We have no ability to pay the debt in full. That’s the bad news. Let me personalize it: your sin before God is incalculable and you have no ability to pay it off. That’s your bad news.
But here’s the good news: God is compassionate and merciful to those who understand that their sin debt is too large and they can’t pay it in full.
Matthew 18:26, “So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me...”
27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
When the servant pleaded the king forgave. Don’t you see the line of biblical thought Jesus is drawing? When we go to the Father asking for pardon for our sins - He pardons. But how? God is holy and sin must be punished. He is a perfect judge who never sweeps sin under the carpet. Now we come to the last part of the good news. What Jesus was living before the disciples and what the disciples would then unpack for us in the letters to the churches.
2 Corinthians 5:21,“For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in [Jesus] we might become the righteousness of God.”
Let me unpack this: Jesus never sinned throughout His entire earthly life - He knew no sin - and because of this the Father accepted Jesus’ willing sacrifice for our sin - God made Jesus to be sin - and God did all this for our sake…that in Jesus we would be given pardon. This is the blessed exchange of the gospel. In his mercy God has provided in Christ a great substitution that Jesus can stand in our place before God, offering his perfect righteousness in place of our failure and his own blood in place of ours. So that we would have His perfection credited to our debt account - that we might become the righteousness of God.
Back to Romans 6:23:
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because of God’s provision of Christ, in His death and resurrection, we are able to take hold of eternal life by repentance of sin - have patience with me as the servant cried out - and through faith in Jesus.
This parable drips with the gospel. You owe a debt. You can’t pay that debt. But God, in mercy has paid the sin debt through giving up Jesus His Son. And if you are willing to admit your a sinner before holy God and that Jesus is your only hope of pardon - you will be saved. Today. Right now. This good news, generally, can be yours, personally. Will you receive the king’s pardon?
Now, zoom back out with me and let’s look at the parable as a whole. Here’s what Jesus is bringing home. He’s putting the groceries in your cart. It is incompatible to be forgiven such a debt - an infinity debt - and not forgive a real, but small debt against you. The “forgiven” servant had no mercy on the man who owed him a hundred denarii - about 20 weeks of labor - like $12,000 in today’s terms. That’s a real debt. But categorically different than his debt that the King forgave. The pardoned man had no room in his heart to forgive. What an outrage to the King. Which is why later he throws the man into prison. Which leads to Jesus’ warning for you in (v.35):
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Do you feel the heat? Jesus is warning us. Warning passages are for Christians. God uses them to keep us in the faith.
So here’s the logic of this entire passage:
Peter, forgive without count - let me illustrate:
1. Just as God in Christ forgave you an infinity sin debt
2. So you ought to forgive from the heart, a brother’s smaller but still real sin debt against you
3. Because if you can’t forgive it exposes your heart and you are in danger of eternal punishment
Take note: forgiveness isn’t a condition of salvation but a consequence of salvation. Forgiveness doesn’t secure our salvation, but rather it flows from it.
So (V.35) says God will punish us eternally if we don’t forgive from the heart. The heart. That’s the gospel key. Jesus is all about the heart. It’s a theme in the gospel of Matthew. A transformed heart must result in a life so radically changed that the same mercy and forgiveness it has received from God must be given or expressed to others.
Sermon in a sentence: Forgiveness experienced leads to forgiveness expressed.
If you are stingy with forgiveness it may just be that is because you’ve never experienced it from the king. When God’s love breaks into our heart and we are set free from our sin and the Holy Spirit set’s up camp within - we become, by God’s grace, people of forgiveness.
His entire point with the parable is Peter “don’t do it like this. Because there is no such creature as a clammed up, unforgiving Christian. That being doesn’t exist. Christian’s forgive. Just as they have been forgiven.”
So imperfect sinner as you are, do you have that God-given heart of expressing forgiveness toward others - a heart that takes in and gives out forgiveness seventy-seven times?
Pray