The Forgiveness of Jesus | Mark 18:21-35

• Sermon Transcript

  Good morning. Good to see you all here. This October morning. Southern Baptist Church in a small town was preparing for their annual women's missionary union Spring Fling. Right? It was going to be a garden party on the church lawn underneath the big oak tree sounds like a great thing that right? Well, it was an invitation type thing wasn't invitation only, but they decided to invite all the women of the church, these nice spring fling invitations, which was the first mistake anyway. And the morning of the Spring Fling, the pastor was looking over the invitation list. And he noticed that one woman's name was not on there. And she was a senior adult woman who had the reputation for being a little cantankerous, little unforgiving. So he's thought to himself, oh, Lord, I need to call this woman so he called her up and he said Miss so and so just want to let you know that somehow your your name was mistakenly left off invitation list for the Spring Fling. But we love to have you here. We'd love to come you up. Come on out. And we think we're going to have a beautiful day. Please forgive us for this oversight and come to the to the party there on the lawn. The woman was quiet for a second she said. Well, beggin won't help me now, preacher. I've already been praying for rain. Today we're talking about forgiveness. Today we are in Matthew chapter 18. Starting in verse 21. Then Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive them as many as seven times. Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but 77 times. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants, when he began to settle when was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents, and since he could not pay his Master ordered him to be sold, when his wife, and children and all that he had and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring Him, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the dead. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 denarii. And seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, have patience with me and I will pay you. But he refused, and went and put him in prison, to he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed. And they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. That his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt. Because you pleaded with and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you. And an anger, his master delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother, from your heart, Heavenly Father, what a warning. We read today in your word, although we know that you are a gracious, loving father. And we know that we are saved through belief in you for the forgiveness of sins, but little what a stern reminder that a saved heart. A born again heart is a forgiving heart. If we have unforgiveness in our life and bitterness when we read this, it should melt us. Ish as we just heard the choir sing it which should cause us to humble ourselves. The father was looking at this passage today show us what we can learn about forgiveness that you give us seer. Lord, I pray that that my words reflect your heart, that my preaching is filled with your Spirit that Your Holy Spirit works in our congregation today. To those who are watching, we love you, Jesus name. Amen. This discourse picks up on the heels of Jesus talking about what to do. When you've been sinned against what do you do? How do you act, Jesus says that if a brother sins against you, go and talk to him about it. Keep it between the two of you. But if he's unrepentant, then then open that circle of influence up to some trusted friends. And if he's still unrepentant, Jesus said to take it to the church. What does that mean? It means that take it to some trusted the leadership of the church that can help you resolve the issue. If the person is still unrepentant, that you must assume, by their unrepentant by their actions, that they are an unbeliever because they're acting like one. So it's this context where Peter approaches Jesus, and asks more about forgiveness. So in this passage, I want to give you three traits that we see of Christ like forgiveness three traits of Christ like forgiveness, number one, forgiveness is limitless. Forgiveness is limitless, verse 21. Again, Peter came up to him and said to him, Lord, how often will my brothers sinned against me, and I must forgive them? As many as seven times. Peter basically says Jesus about this forgiveness you're talking about, I got a question about this right? How often should I forgive? At what point can I say? No, you're not forgiven anymore? What's the breaking point? What's the limit? Is this, this might be something you've wondered in your life? I don't know. Right? We've always had this this question before. When can I say no? no forgiveness for you. Now, the Jewish rabbis of the time required those who, who were believers to forgive the person who was guilty of the same offense three times, forgiven once bitten twice, and then three strikes are out. That they were free to stop forgiving. After that third, and that mindset, the the offended person has had exhausted any reason to be forgiven. So Peter seems to know that Jesus has standards was probably higher. So he comes to him and he says, Jesus, how often? Seven more than double it right? Seven. What do you think Jesus? He's, I think he's, he's genuinely curious about I don't think Peters looking for permission to not forgive people. I think he wants to know Jesus his stance. And Jesus answers the impossible. He says, I do not say to you verse 22, seven times, but 77 times, or 70 times seven is some translations. So what he means is, what 490 times so the 400 and 91st time, I will not forgive you, how would you even count that? Maybe you do count how many times people have sinned against you, but I don't count that high. What he's saying is surely hyperbole for meaning unlimited times. Why would Jesus give this complex answer? Why would he not just say, unlimited? Why would he say this weird 70 times seven? Well, I think there's some biblical precedence back in Genesis. When Cain killed Abel. God promised Cain protection, and said, If anyone would kill him, then he would be avenged seven times. And later in chapter four lemak, a descent of cane to sensitive cane boasts of that if anyone killed him. He will be avenged 70 times seven times. So it seems that Jesus is using a phrase that these men should have been familiar with from the fourth chapter of Genesis seven times now. 70 times seven. No doubt this would make Peter and the disciples think about why Jesus would would talk about that verse. Why would he be referring to that? Now, both of these, these appearances of this phrase are two contrasting ideas. One is talking about the binging murder in lambics. case, one is talking about forgiving sin. Jesus seems to be saying that as complete and as full as landec statement of vengeance would have been, this is the type of complete in fullness of forgiveness, you need to be ready to have. Your forgiveness needs to be equally complete and full as as as crazy sounding as lambic was that he would have been 70 times seven. This is how much forgiveness you need to be willing to give your brother there is no limit to Laminex vengeance, and there should be no limit to your forgiveness. That very high standard. So forgiveness is limitless. Secondly, forgiveness is merciful. And the further this point, Jesus gives them a parable. Because you know, they'd be scratching their head thinking well, that's, that's pretty high, pretty high standard. We were on the three strike rule. And now we're in the to the limitless rule. Verse 23. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wish to settle accounts, with his servants. Now all the parables that Jesus gave, dealt with the kingdom of heaven. And what they did is they all described with what kind of people God's kingdom would be made up with? What were the attributes of a believer? How did one get into the kingdom? They dealt with all these questions. So in this parable, a king, who was God in the parable, He wished to settle accounts with each servants, and each servant were given some of the kings accounts to manage and he met with them to see how they did verse 24. And when he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. Now, again, this is a, a kind of a hyperbolic amount 10,000 talents is essentially an infinity amount of money. Be like saying bajillion quadrillion trillion or something like that, right? It no one has this amount. So most money, imagine one factor can't imagine it. So basically, he had a debt that was impossible to repay. First 25 And since he could not pay his Master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. And this is how much the slavery worked in the biblical world. If you had debt you couldn't pay you. And depending on how bad how big the debt was, you and possibly your family would become slaves. Sorry, you worked off your debt if he didn't die first. So this servant having nothing to lose, and he begs for his debt to be forgiven. Verse 26. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring Him, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything. So this idea of, of having patience means to be slow. And avenging be slow to punish me. He says, be, be patient and be merciful. That is his request. Shockingly, he gave him that mercy for seemingly no reason. at all, he just begged and he gave it to him. Verse 27, and out of pity for him to master that servant, released him and forgave him the debt. That's what forgiveness is. It's a moral debt that people owe you. Not a financial debt. It's a moral debt when someone sins against you, they owe you a moral debt. And it's up to you to forgive that moral debt or not, they can't forgive it for themselves. You have to forgive it. And Jesus says, to forgive it infinitely. Because forgiveness is giving mercy. Now grace is getting something we don't deserve. Right. But mercy is withholding punishment for something we did that we deserve it for. That's what mercy is withholding that punishment. And so when you feel Give people you're being merciful, and you're withholding your punishment that they deserve. They deserve it. You're withholding their punishment on them. You're letting them go. You're being merciful. So forgiveness is merciful. Number three, forgiveness is compassionate. Forgiveness is compassionate, verse 28. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants, who owed him 100 denarii. And seizing him, he began to choke him saying, pay what you owe. Now before the wicked servant, as Jesus calls him, he owed an infinitely amount of money. 100 narrative, it wouldn't be about $6,000. Okay. Now, that's not an insignificant amount. It's $6,000. So I came to you and said, pay me six grand, you'd be like, wait a second, hold on. I don't know if I have it. If you do have it, you'd be like, Why am I giving this to you? It's not an insignificant amount. But it's certainly far less than the first servant owed the king. Now we read have no conversation between the two men. But what do you read that the wicked servant as Jesus called them chokes? The other servant. He's choking him. Why do you choke someone, unless you want to injure them, or scare them or kill them? He's basically saying, pay what you owe me or else. First train on. So his fellow servant fell down, pleaded with have patience with me. And I will pay you. And since we just read the first account, we're assuming Jesus assuming you're going to think oh, yeah, well, this, the servant then forgave me. And that's what seems that we think would happen. It's the same phrase, the wicked serve in us. But the wicked servant who just experienced this mercy, is unwilling to give the same mercy to the other man, verse 30. He refused, and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. He doesn't even give him the option of being a slave are working off the debt like his master gave him. He just throws him in prison. For $6,000 debt, which is far worse, how will you earn money in prison? There's no convict work program and biblical world. You can't. He's there forever, for a little debt. Thankfully, the people saw this injustice. And they reported it. Look in verse 31. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed and the way this is written, this is the most distress you can possibly have greatly distressed. And they should have been. They went reported it to their master and all that had taken place this master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you pleaded with me, and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And the answer to that question is supposed to be well, of course, yes. Verse 34, and an anger his master delivered him to the jailers till he should pay all his debt. So the Master then comes back and gives the wicked servant the punishment that the wicked servant was going to give the other servant prison, he becomes punished by his own ungrateful, on Merciful Heart, and that's the thing about unforgiveness is whatever we harm we want to inflict on those who forgiven us who are sinned against us. Whatever harm we want to inflict upon them. Often, we inflict it upon ourselves. We don't realize it, but that's what we're doing. So, Jesus ties up the story just in case we missed the point, verse 35. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you don't forgive your brother from your heart. Now, this is a warning to all of us. Amen. It's a stern warning. That if we are unwilling to ever forgive a person who sins against us, and we don't deserve the kingdom. Sometimes when it comes to bitterness and unforgiveness, we try to wait for our feelings to match up with our action. Just need some time. It's time to get over it. I know that I know that feeling. But he doesn't seem to talk about but he doesn't talk about that. He didn't say, give yourself a few months to process come to a place. We're not being so emotional right now. And sometimes forgiveness does take place every time. But we don't have to let our emotions catch up to the act of forgiveness. He just says forgive. It is a heart issue. We do have to have a right heart with it. It says if we're unwilling to never forgive a person, we don't deserve the kingdom, we deserve that punishment. We deserve that hell, who deserves the kingdom of heaven, only those whose sins have been covered by the death, by the burial, by the resurrection of Jesus, only those whose sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus on those who've received mercy from God on high, and we only deserve it because Jesus gave us this forgiveness. Look at First Peter one three. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to His great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, were born again. Why how? Because he caused us to be born again through His great mercy. He forgave us, sinning against him. Titus three, five. He said this, now because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the Washington regeneration in the renewal of the Holy Spirit, that's where we receive it. Praise the Lord. God didn't wait for his emotions, to catch up with his forgiveness, amen. He was merciful. For those who can't get it. They've not received it either. Jesus offers his mercy through his forgiveness of sins to everyone. And for those who receive it, were born again look at John 112, through 13. But to all who did receive Him who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God who were born again, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. And those who are born again, understand the forgiveness they receive. So they should be willing to give mercy to those who sinned against them, as God gave mercy as we sinned against him. That's what Jesus is saying. sacred things 517. Therefore, if he was in Christ, he is a new creation. The new Charlie 2023 Charlie should be much more forgiving and merciful than Charlie of the past. He should be that way with everyone. Ultimately, forgiveness is compassion. Because in God's love, He gave His life for us. He showed us compassion. How can we not show compassion to others? As believers, compassion is in us now. We have that compassion. It's who we are. It's our spirit. And the more you walk with Christ. The more you know him, the easier it'll be to forgive others. If you're a believer in Jesus, and you're harboring unforgiveness, and I listened, you don't have to tell me how bad it is. I'm sure it's bad. Or you wouldn't be harboring an amen. I'm sure it's bad. If you're harboring it, you're fighting a losing battle. Because you're the Holy Spirit in you, you're fighting it's the spirit. You're not going to win when you're fighting against the Spirit of God. Everything in your spirit wants to forgive that person. But but the old person doesn't. And you're fighting a losing battle. You're battling the Holy Spirit. You're not showing mercy. You're not showing compassion. And Jesus says that you're no Wichner you're no different than the wicked servant. That was a hard to hear because we're thinking why would never do that? Well, you're doing it now in your heart. However, you should be different than the wicked servant, because you have Christ in you. So today, we're gonna have her invitation time. Today, let today be the day that you make a vow to show mercy show compassion to the ones who've wronged you. By forgiving them. Today, you don't have to be their best friend. You don't have to go have coffee with them. You don't have to hang out with them. But you do have to forgive them. That's what he's saying. Maybe you can't forgive. Because you've never experienced God's forgiveness. You're not a Christian, you're not a believer, you've never truly experienced that before. Today can be the day that you can you can say, God, forgive me for sinning against you and your law. Please show me this mercy. If we're here about show me this compassion I've read about make me a new person in you. saved me from the waiting and just punishment of my sins make me born again. Let me experience your forgiveness today. And the wonderful thing about that is when you ask that it's done. All the sins you've committed against God, your whole life done is to say, well give me a few months to process it. Give me some time to pray about it. He says, forgiven. Today, whatever your situation. Remember, forgiveness is part of the Spirit of God. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for being a forgiving God. And we need these passages to remind us how to deal with people who, who hurt us. There's many people in here today that carry a lot of pain because of what's happened to them, and many people who are truly victims. But Lord, you don't want that pain, to define their lives. You don't want that victimization, to be who they are. It might be part of their story. But it's not who they are. They are in Christ. They are in you. So Father, as we close our time together today that you would work in the hearts of those that are here. And those that need to forgive will forgive that those that need to be forgiven, today will be forgiven in you. Or maybe there's one here that still needs to come down and just pray at your feet here at the front of the church, they'll do that, that that just need to kind of publicly give it to you. Maybe they need me to pray with them, whatever it is, Father, that you would place in their heart, that decision they need to make. Well, we love you for being so forgiving, for being so merciful, for being so compassionate for having forgiveness that knows no bounds, but we love you Jesus name. Amen.