Forgiveness

Forgiveness Matt18:21-35

1. Forgiveness is a difficult subject to talk to people about.

• It is very emotional and can bring up strong emotions.

• And making it a practical part of our lives can be one of our biggest tasks.

• When people do something to you and then do not even say they are sorry can hurt.

• And deep inside every time you think about that person you get mad and want to see them punished in some way.

• According to therapists, you know that you have forgiven someone when thinking about their mistake no longer inspires avoidance or retaliation, and the motivation to behave constructively toward them has fully returned.

• The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness, are just a few:

• Genesis 50:17: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly. Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.
  
  Exodus 32:32: But now, please forgive their sin.
  
  Leviticus 4:35: In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.
  
  1 Samuel 25:28: Please forgive your servant’s presumption.
  
  Matthew 12:31: And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
  
  Luke 5:20: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

• Let’s read Matt. 18:21-35.

1. Peter asks the question of how many times he should forgive his brother, and he adds up to 7 times?

1. 7 times is a interesting number, could it be that Peter was thinking in terms of completeness? 7 meaning complete in Scripture. We are not told.

1. Yashua said, not 7 times but, 70 times 7 times.

1. This is amazing and is a great example of keeping things in context.

1. In this same Book and Chapter we find Matt. 18:15-20 tallking about restoring a brother. Read

1. Peter was wishing to sound forgiving and benevolent by saying up to 7 times

The Rabbi’s were teaching up to 3 times using Amos 1:3-13 Read:

3 Thus says the Lord:

^k“For three transgressions of ^lDamascus,

and for four, ^lI will not revoke the punishment,³

because they have threshed ^mGilead

with threshing sledges of iron.

 4  ⁿSo I will send a fire upon the house of ^oHazael,

and it shall devour the strongholds of ^oBen-hadad.

 5  I will ^pbreak the gate-bar of ^lDamascus,

and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of ^qAven,⁴

and him who holds the scepter from ^rBeth-eden;

and the people of ^sSyria shall go into exile to ^tKir,”

says the Lord.

6 Thus says the Lord:

^k“For three transgressions of ^uGaza,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because ^vthey carried into exile a whole people

to deliver them up to Edom.

 7  So I will send a fire upon the wall of ^uGaza,

and it shall devour her strongholds.

 8  I will cut off the inhabitants from ^wAshdod,

and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon;

I will turn my hand against Ekron,

and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,”

says the Lord God.

9 Thus says the Lord:

^k“For three transgressions of ^xTyre,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because they delivered up a whole people to Edom,

and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

 10  So I will send a fire upon the wall of ^xTyre,

and it shall devour her strongholds.”

11 Thus says the Lord:

^k“For three transgressions of ^yEdom,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

^ybecause he pursued his brother with the sword

^zand cast off all pity,

^aand his anger tore perpetually,

^aand he kept his wrath forever.

 12  So I will send a fire upon ^bTeman,

and it shall devour the strongholds of ^cBozrah.”

13 Thus says the Lord:

^k“For three transgressions of the ^dAmmonites,

and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,

because ^ethey have ripped open pregnant women in ^fGilead,

that they might enlarge their border.

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1. So, the Rabbi’s were saying anything over three was not necessary.

1. Back to Matt. 18:21-35, Notice that Yashua is likening the Kingdom of Heaven is Like this king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

1. One of the slaves that was brought before the king owed the king 10,000 talents and the slave had no way the pay the king.

1. So, the king ordered that he and his wife and children be sold to pay the debt.

• So, the slave fell facedown before the king and asked that the slave be patient and he would repay the debt.

• Then the king had compassion on him and forgave the debt altogether.

• So, this slave went out and found another slave that owed him 100 denarii, and he grabbed him and choked him telling him to repay the debt.

• So, this other slave began to beg him to be patient with him, but the other slave refused and had him thrown into prison.

• Other slaves saw this take place and they were distressed and went to the king and told him.

• The king had this slave summoned and threw him in prison until the debt could be paid

• Yashua says that the Heavenly Father will do the same to those that do not forgive their brothers from their hearts.

• Look at Matt. 6:14-15 Read

• This affects us and our relationship with Yahweh.