Bethel Sunday School | 29th December 2024 | Forgiving Others

BETHEL SUNDAY SCHOOL 29 DEC 2024
Text: Matthew 18:21 - 35
Title: Forgiving others
INTRODUCTION
1. We often struggle to forgive others who have wronged us
2. This is an important lesson of forgiveness taught by the Lord Jesus Christ!
THE TEACHINGS OF THE LORD JESUS ON PRACTISING FORGIVENESS
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
1. The teaching of the Lord Jesus on practicing forgiveness
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 5:14 - 15
a. God has forgiven many of our sins with grace and mercy!
b. Believers ought to forgive their fellow brethren too!
c. If they do not practice forgiveness, then they must consider God not forgiving their sins too!
2. The question by Peter
a. How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
b. Up to seven times?
c. Peter struggled to apply this teaching on forgiveness
i. What if “a brother” abuses this?
ii. Surely there is a limit to how many times a person can be forgiven
3. The answer of the Lord Jesus
a. Not seven times
b. But seventy times seven!
c. That is 490 times!
d. In other words, there should be “no limits” as to how many times forgiveness is extended!
A PARABLE TO ILLUSTRATE THIS TEACHING ON FORGIVENESS
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [e]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [f]all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 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. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [g]his trespasses.”
Matthew 18:21 - 35
1. The king forgave the servant his huge debt!
a. This servant owed his master 10,000 talents
b. This was a huge debt that he could not pay!
c. His master had every right to demand for payment of what he owed
i. He would have to sell his wife and children to become slaves
ii. He would have to sell all that he had!
d. He pleaded with his master for mercy and to give him a little more time to repay
e. The master showed grace, released him and forgave his debt!
2. The servant refused to forgive a fellow servant’s debt
a. His fellow servant owed him 100 denarii
b. This was a significantly small debt compared to what he owed his master!
c. He was abusive and cruel towards his fellow servant
d. He refused to heed his fellow servant’s plea but threw him into prison!
3. The rebuke of the Master
a. He heard what this wicked servant did to his fellow servant!
b. He showed no compassion when he has been shown great compassion by his master
c. He showed no forgiveness when he has been forgiven much!
d. The master angry with him will deliver him to torturers until he repays what was due!
4. The obvious point the Lord Jesus was making!
a. We have been forgiven much!
b. If we cannot forgive others when we have been forgiven much
c. Then the Lord would be angry with us
PERSONAL APPLICATION
1. Forgiveness needs to be learnt
2. Forgiveness needs to be practised
3. A bigger heart of compassion needs to be cultivated too