Sermon Cloud

Intro:  Ronny’s banishment.  Church splits.  Unforgiveness destroys families and churches.

Big Idea:  We can forgive one another because we are forgiven in Christ.

Context: Jesus taught his disciples about forgiving one another, prompting Peter’s question.

The Parable- 2 servants, 2 debts, 2 responses

-         The rabbis taught you had to forgive someone 3x.  Peter seems quite merciful.

-         Jesus’ response refers to an unlimited number- as often as needed (only 454 times left).

-         A King settled accounts with his servants, one stood out.

-         He owed 10,000 talents.  Why is not important.  Herod the Great received 900/yr.

-         Today’s prices: $132 million in silver, or $86 billion in gold.  Incomprehensible #.

-         Everything would be sold off as a result.  Pennies on the billion!  Ill. GM bonds & stocks

-         “Be patient, I’ll return everything to you.”  He begged for time, though unrealistic.

-         The King, moved to compassion, cancels the debt, releasing him of his obligation.

-         As he leaves the palace he meets a fellow servant who owes him 100 denarii.

-         A denarii was a day’s wage.  So, about 1/3 of a year’s salary ($15-20k).

-         This man is a peer: he should be understanding.  Forgiven, he should be compassionate.

-         He strangles the other man, demanding payment.

-         The debtor begs, using nearly identical words, but receives no mercy!

-         He was tossed in prison while family & friends paid off the debt.

-         Other servants, seeing this, are grieved and report the matter to the King.

-         The King casts his servant in prison until the debt is paid (it won’t be).

The Problem- Can we lose our salvation?

-         Can we lose our salvation?  RCs & Arminians.  Visible vs. invisible church.

-         Refusal to forgive reveals they don’t get grace & Christ’s substitutionary death (Mt. 6).

¹⁴ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Matthew 6 (NIV)

 “There is an unbreakable connection between God’s forgiveness and our forgiveness of other people.”  James Montgomery Boice

The Point- forgiveness is to flow freely among God’s family.

-         The contrast in debt is significant!  Our debt to God is bigger than to one another.

-         People owe us far less than we owe God.  But we act like the opposite is true.

-         Why do we want our pound of flesh?  Why won’t we let people off the hook?

-         Culture of cheap forgiveness.  Easily “forgive” public sinners.  Ill. Politicians, athletes

-         Struggle to forgive those who hurt us.  We want mercy, and give justice.

-         Perceived ‘need’ to have them pay for the wrong done to us => destruction (Heb. 12).

-         The Father cancels the debt of all who come by faith, paying for them w/Christ.

-         By faith we know Christ bore our sin and theirs.  Jesus paid for it- forgive them (Eph 4)!

-         His work for us brings forgiveness.  His work in us enables us to forgive others.  Ill. suit

-         Bitterness & unforgiving attitudes are contrary to the gospel.  Jesus makes us merciful!

-         Abundant grace gives us the spiritual capital to cancel their debt.  App. Think & pray

-         Forgiving Christian families & communities reveal the gospel to the world.

-         Help others to restore broken relationships & remove bitterness.  App. Prayer & gospel

¹⁵ See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12 (NIV)

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4 (NIV)

³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4 (NIV)

“All the wrongs that have been done against us by believers were avenged in the death of Jesus.”  John Piper

Conclusion:  Refusing to forgive others is a relational poison that destroys families and churches.  Our cancelled debt to God far exceeds the debts others owe us.  The reality of pardoning grace creates people willing & able to forgive one another- declaring the gospel to those around them.