The Principle of
Forgiveness
Background: Matthew 18:21-35
Text: Matthew 18:32-33
Intro: In our text Peter has
ask the Lord a question, simply put; how many time’s should I forgive a person
that wrong’s me? Well that was a good question then and it still carry’s a lot
of weight today. You see, it’s too easy to go through life dismissing our own shortcomings
and sins, but when it comes to forgiving the shortcomings and sins of those who
have wronged us, that’s a horse of a different color. The Lord uses a very
graphic parable to illustrate forgiveness and the impact it has on the lives of
everyone involved with it, those who have been injured and those who have
committed the injury. Jesus reminds Peter of what forgiveness really is, and
how serious a matter it is. We too need to be aware of the impact forgiveness
has in our lives and the lives of those we come into contact with. Tonight look with me as Jesus teaches about
honest forgiveness and its affect on everyone.
…
The Lord’s
response to Peter’s question Vv. 22
(1)
Forgiveness is infinite
…
The Lord’s
explanation Vv. 23-27
(1)
Every sin is a debt to God
(2)
God keeps an account of these
(3)
This debt is a burdensome debt
(a) The weight of their nature [talents]
(b) The Amount we commit [ten thousand]
(4)
Our inability to pay (i.e. sacrifice, offering, works)
(5)
Because we can’t pay
(a) We are sold (sins wrath and misery)
(b) By birth this payment is permanent
(6)
We have a plea
(7)
We have a mercy
…
When its our
turn Vv. 28-30
(1)
What’s owed to us is much less that what we owed
(2)
The responsibility to make someone aware a debt is owed
(3)
When mercy is sought
(4)
Be careful how you handle it
…
Others are
watching Vv. 31-33
(1)
When your response is seen, it will handled
(2)
The Lord deals with His own
(3)
When your fault is revealed
…
How not to
handle it Vv. 34-35
(1)
Refusing the Lords parable
(a) Brings chastisement to the Christian
(b) Reveals
condemnation to the lost.
Conc: Well it should be easily seen that forgiveness is something
the Lord takes very seriously. He took it serious enough to die for and He
expects His children to honor that. If you can remember a time and place where
you gave your heart to Jesus and became born again, then your account was
settled once and for all. Now how many times have you failed the Lord since
then? How many times have you ask for forgiveness and it has been freely passed
along. Well, how many times has someone approached you with some manner of an
apology, and how have you handled it? Did you accept it, or did you reject it?
Well tonight is your opportunity to take something away from here, the thought
that other people are just as apt to fail as you or any one else is. Just
because we are saved, this doesn’t give us any special privilege, it actually
gives us a responsibility to others, it causes us to walk closer to the Lord, and
it causes us to feel His forgiveness in our own hearts and lives. Well tonight,
would you stand please? Is there anyone here who would raise their hand and
indicated their need for a savior.