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weekly sermon 3-29-09 Forgive - Forgiven This past week there was a person I came in contact with that was having some issues with an abuse problem that was in her life at one time. As we talked it was made very plain that she was still VERY upset with the person or persons that had inflicted the abuse. My wife was attempting to talk to her about the situation, since my wife was a product of abuse prior to our meeting. My wife was telling her how she must forgive the ones that did this to her so that she might be forgiven. The girl stated that she had asked God to forgive her of her sins. My wife then attempted to tell her that she MUST forgive the ones that hurt her in order to be forgiven by God of her own sins. This really upset the girl and she did not want to talk after that statement. Well this got me to thinking, and most of you guys know what that means. I wanted to find and give something on this subject, so follow along with me if you will.
First I want to start out with a little story. This story is an account written by Matthew concerning Peter. Jesus had just got through talking with the disciples about sins against brethren and the brethrens sins against them. It was not that there were any sins by either party, they were just discussing how to handle them should they arise. This story is not unlike things that happen so often in our day. So anyway, Jesus was telling them that if they had sinned against their brethren then they should go to that brother and ask forgiveness from them. If the brethren had sinned against them, then they should go to that brother and confront them about the sin. After Jesus had finished this discussion, Peter had a few questions, and this is the part of the story we come in on.
Turn with me if you will to Matthew 18:21-35, "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22)Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (23)Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. (24)And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. (25)But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. (26)The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27)Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (28)But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. (29)And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (30)And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. (31)So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. (32)Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: (33)Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? (34)And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. (35)So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
Let us look at the question that Peter asked closely. How many times should I forgive my brother if he sins against me? What is the sin? Of course in simple form, this is not the true question, but I wanted to make it really known what the sin is. Peter, of course, does not specify what the sin is in this situation. This tells me that the sin could be any sin. When we talk about sin, we are talking about a wrong doing by one to another. This sin could be anything from something as simple as being upset, to abuse, to rape, to even murder. What I am trying to say here is, the sin could be anything from a simple wrongdoing to a very severe wrongdoing. It is never specified how simple or how severe the wrongdoing is that we are to forgive.
We can see the answer here that Jesus gave Peter. Forgive them seventy times seven if that is what it takes. Notice also here that Jesus never took one minute to consider what the sin might be either. Jesus just said forgive. It does not matter what the sin might be. Jesus went on to give a short parable to the disciples concerning this matter.
The king in this parable is used to be like God with the servant being like one of us. The servant owed the king ten thousand talents. It does not state here if the talents were gold or silver. If it was in silver it would be approximately $19,200,000.00 and if gold it would be approximately $290,850,000,00. As we can see this is quite a large debt this servant has with his king. After pleading with the king, the servant was forgiven his debt with the king for being so great in asking the king for his patience. Immediately after that, the servant goes out to collect from one of his fellow workers 100 pence, that the fellow worker owes him. Let me first say here that 100 pence is equal to $17.00. The fellow worker asks for the same patience that the first servant did of the king, but the first servant did not forgive the fellow servant of his debt. The servant cast the fellow worker into prison until his debt was paid. Notice here the difference between the two debts. One was extremely large, a severe sin, and the other was a very low debt, or a simple wrongdoing. When the king found out what the servant had done, he punished the servant by forcing him to repay the debt and held him in prison until he had repaid the debt. This here showed that since the servant could not forgive his fellow worker, then the king could not forgive his debt either. The final statement in this passage says it all. In verse 30, if you can not forgive your brethren of their trespasses, then God will not forgive either. Actually it says that if you are like the first servant that could not forgive his fellow worker, then he also would not be forgiven.
Matthew also says in verses 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (15)But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Jesus here really wraps up the whole story we just read about. If you forgive men you will be forgiven, but if you do not forgive then you will not be forgiven.
Luke says it in a very simple way. Luke 6:37, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:" Do not judge and you will not be judged, do not condemn others and you will not be condemned, and forgive and you will be forgiven. This is a very simple and very important statement. Simple to understand and follow and important to know so we do not fall into a position where we can not be forgiven.
I completely understand that many terrible things happen to many people. I am talking about things that many would really be unable to forgive. Could you actually forgive someone that killed a loved one of yours? This is the place you have to make your heart get to. A place where you can forgive no matter how severe the wrongdoing towards you. I can understand that it is a very very hard thing to do at times, and even sometimes a thing that you think you can not forgive, but let us look at one final story.
There was, long ago, a dad that had an amazing piece of land. On this land He allowed folks to live and enjoy the fruits of the land. Well of course, as so often happens, the folks there did some wrongdoings and were kicked out. After they left this great land, they wandered around for a long time, becoming worse and worse with their wrongdoings. Well it finally came to a point that the folks could never speak to the dad that had the amazing land again. There was a big heart in the dad and He had to find some way for the folks to be able to talk to Him again. Well He sent His son to the men to try to bring a peace treaty between them. The son came and the men mostly hated him and they eventually arrested, tried, and killed him. Upon his death, you know what the son had to say?
Luke 23:34, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
This is one of the worst sins that can possibly be committed. Not only did they commit murder, but they murder a child. Yes I know, Jesus was in His 30's when He was crucified, but He was still God's child. Just like your mother says, 'no matter how old you are, you are still my baby'. Jesus was still the Son of God, His child. What did God do? He forgave. God sent His Son to die so that we could be forgiven that we may be able to spend our eternity with Him.
If Jesus and God could find it to forgive us for what we did to Jesus, then we should be able to forgive for anything. Let me re-word that statement. We have to forgive. Just as we read in Matthew, forgive or you can not be forgiven.
Is your heart so hard you can not forgive? Would you like to be able to have your heart in the position to be able to forgive anything that happens to you from anyone? All you have to do is get to know the ultimate forgiver, Jesus. The way to get to know Jesus is by saying this simple prayer with me.
Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone
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