[Mat 18:32-35 NKJV]
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 his trespasses.”
Jesus starts his story: “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.” (citizens)
Jesus told a story about a citizen in debt for $10 million.
He couldn’t pay. Begged for more time.
King forgave debt.
He went out and found a fellow citizen who owed him $20.
He begged for more time.
But he had him thrown in prison until he paid.
King heard about it. “You should have forgiven your brother like I forgave you.”
Turned him over to “the torturers” until he paid. (Modern: bill collectors)
Church: Hear sermons on this often.
Lord’s prayer: Forgive us our debts . . . as we forgive our debtors.
Message of salvation: We owed a debt we couldn’t pay. Jesus paid for us. We are forgiven and free.
Message of the kingdom of God: We forgive others.
Reality – we’re easily offended. And we hold on to offenses – “grudges” is the PC term.
You hears stories of people holding grudges for years. Family members, former friends.
You hear them tell how they were done wrong.
Truth: Forgiveness is a foundational part of the kingdom of God.
We are expected to forgive others.
Truth 2: Forgiveness is for our benefit, not the other person.
“Torment & torture” comes to us. Not the other person.
Holding a grudge, bitterness, anger, is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Forgiveness is not saying “it’s OK what happened.”
Forgiveness is letting go of the emotions and pain and moving on with your life.
You choose to forgive others for your own sake, not theirs!
Action: Choose to forgive.
- Others
- Yourself
- God
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