FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER
(Matthew 18:21-35)
Introduction: The Bible teaches many great lessons about our relationships with each other. Jesus taught strongly our need to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness. On the other hand, he taught that we must forgive each other.
I. Peter’s Question (Vv. 21,22).
A. Jesus’ answer reflects great patience and endurance. We must have a continued willingness to forgive others.
B. Jesus left His disciples a good example while on the cross (Luke 23:33,34). He prayed for his crucifiers!! The Greek word
(lego)" is in the imperfect tense and indicates continuous action in the past. He had forgiven them before and asked God to forgive them.This probably means that each time they did something bad to Him, he said "Forgive Them."1.
II. Parable Of The Unforgiving Servant (Vv. 23-35).
A. One servant was forgiven a great debt by his master or owner (Perhaps 10 Million or more).
Yet, he would not forgive a fellow servant a debt of $17.00.1.
B. His lack of forgiveness brought a terrible penalty upon him.
C. Many cases of non-forgiveness hinge around money, goods, family property, business, church activities, etc.
III. Biblical Teaching About Forgiveness.
A. Jesus said we must forgive to be forgiven (Matt. 6:12-15).
1. Jesus was abused greatly but forgave the abusers.
2. His example should motivate us to forgive others.
B. Paul’s Admonition (Eph. 4:31,32).
C. Some say, "I will forgive but I will not speak to them or have anything to do with them.
1. Is this the way we want God to deal with us?
2. Instead of forgiveness, some people seek revenge or retaliation. Talk begins and trouble follows.
3. It is God’ place to judge sincerity, not ours.
IV. Our Sins Are Our Worst Problems.
A. We must have forgiveness based on God’s conditions.
Total obedience to the commands given in the New Testament (Mark 16:15,16; Matt. 10:32; Acts 2:38; etc.)1.
2. Our Conformity to His will after we become Christians (I John 1:7).
B. I read about a Zulu chief who beat his wife for becoming a Christian. He left her to die. When he returned, she was still alive and praying. He asked her what Jesus could do for her now. She replied, "He can help me to forgive you!"
C. Walter Knight said, "He who does not forgive others burns before him the bridge he must cross to God’s forgiveness."
1. Do we hold against others things that God has forgiven?
D. Are we holding a grudge against someone? Are we nursing hard feelings toward anyone? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then we need to correct the matter at once. We do not want to lose our soul over this. To get over these feelings we must be willing to forgive anyone who has sinned against us and has asked us to forgive them.
We need to be in the forgiving mode rather than the judging mode is what Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-5.1.
E. A child of God can be free of immorality, drunkenness, etc., and be faithful in attendance to the worship service and have many good traits. But if we are unforgiving of others and fall short of God’s will in this regard, we can forfeit our chance of an eternal life in Heaven.
Invitation: Do we need to forgive someone today? Do we need some forgiveness today? Then for the sake of what is right before God and valuable to your soul, come and obey Him today.
Robert L. Brown