The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 18 Part 6 Forgiving Others Is Imperative For All Christians

In our last post we studied  about the subject of church discipline which the Lord taught right after He gave the Parable Of the Lost Sheep. 

So far in this chapter we saw Jesus address the disciple's pride with a rebuke followed by teaching about having faith and humility like little children.

Jesus then taught about those who will seek to stop gospel preaching and the temptations that every Christian faces while living in a sin darkened culture.

To fight temptation, He taught us to cut off our hand if it leads us to sin or to pluck out our eye if it leads us astray.

His words are to be taken figuratively, and we saw that it means filtering everything that our mind and soul and heart takes in.

Thus, we learned that we must set no wicked thing before our eyes and this truth has a very relevant application for our lives.

Much of what is posted by so called "news" outlets, social media platforms or the internet as a whole, is simply people sounding off like an angry, digital mob, pushing their corrupt ideologies.

We must avoid absorbing these evil influences because they will drag us down into the sin and muck of a totally depraved culture.

Matthew 15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 

Proverbs 4:20-23  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts followed by evil words and evil actions.

We learned that we must fill our heart with the Word of God and saturate our heart with scripture because God says this will shape our thoughts, words and actions.

Thus, Solomon warns us to guard our heart because the issues of life come out of it.

Next, Jesus taught the Parable of the Lost Sheep because this teaches us about the heart of God to seek and save sinners from eternal condemnation.

After that parable, Jesus taught us about the stages church discipline and our need to seek the restoration of those who sinned against us.

Therefore, this teaching is connected to our subject in today's post, the need for forgiveness when someone transgresses against us.

How many times should a Christian forgive those who sin against them?

Matthew 18:21-22  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. 

Peter came and asked Jesus a question about how many times he must forgive a brother in Christ who sins against him.

He takes it for granted that he must forgive because Christ previously taught His disciples this lesson (See Matthew 6:14-15). 

Peter has not forgotten it. He knows that he must not bear a grudge against his brother. 

He knows that he must forget the transgression committed against him by another brother.

We must step back and ask "How many times does God forgive us when we fail Him?"

"Does God put a limit on how many times He will forgive His children when they sin?"

According to scripture, the answer to both questions is that God will always forgive us and He does not limit His forgiveness to us in any way.

Jesus' reply to Peter was that we must forgive others "seventy times seven."

Jesus then taught what is known as "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant" to illustrate how a Christian should forgive those who sin against us.

Parables are of good for showing us our Christian duties since they make a strong impression on our heart. 

Matthew 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. 

This parable is a Christ's explanation concerning the  petition of the Lord's prayer in the text above.  

Wee ask God to forgive our trespasses, and we are expected to forgive them that trespass against us. 

Those who forgive their brethren may expect to be forgiven by God. 

The parable represents the kingdom of heaven, which includes Christ's church. 

The church is God's family, it is His court where He dwells and governs.

Christ is our Master and we are His servants by repentant faith in Jesus. 

In general, this parable shows how much provocation God has from His family on earth, and how unforgiving we tend to be.   

Thus, this king pictures Jesus Christ at judgment day. 

The unforgiving servant pictures all humanity, because we are all born with a sin nature and we commit sins throughout our lives. 

We cannot pay for our sins against holy God and the only wages we receive is death and eternal condemnation for our sins. 

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant teaches us about forgiving others.

Matthew 18:23-27  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. 

The kingdom of heaven is compared with a king who called his servants in to give an account of their activities conducted on the king's behalf.

Romans 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 

This connects with the fact that all Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:10).

This portrays one of the king's servants standing before his king, to whom he owes an insurmountable debt that he cannot pay.

Ten thousand talents translates into 375 tons, or 46,875 ounces.

At the current price of an ounce of gold at $4940 per ounce, this means that this servant owed the king about $231 billion dollars!

Thus, his debt cannot possibly ever be paid off by any ordinary means.

This massive debt describes what our sins are in the sight of God. 

Our sin is an insurmountable debt that we cannot pay ever, because sin is an offense against a holy, righteous and just God.

The king commanded that the debtor along with his wife, children and any assets be liquidated to pay toward the debt.

This pictures the wages of sin which is death and eternal condemnation in Hell.

The debt of sin is a very great debt and some have a greater sin debt than others because they committed more sins. 

At judgment day, when Christ will begin to show unrepentant sinners their sins, they will learn that there is no evading divine justice. 

As Moses said to the Hebrews, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (See Numbers 32:23).

Matthew 13:41-43  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42  And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Matthew 13:49-50  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

This pictures Christ judging unrepentant sinners at the resurrection of damnation. 

All who do not know Christ or who rejected the gospel of Christ, shall stand before the King of kings in judgment.

He will judge them according to their sins and evil works which will result in eternal condemnation.

Sinners will be cast into a furnace of fire where they will spend eternity weeping, wailing and gnashing their teeth.

We must take time to reflect on this sober spiritual reality, that Hell is a real place of fire designed for the Devil and all wicked people.

We must also reflect on the reality that our loved ones who do not know Jesus Christ, will face this awful fate.

This is one main purpose of the parable, to remind us to be Christ's faithful witnesses who share the gospel with people who are lost.

If God should deal with us in strict justice, we should be condemned as insolvent debtors, and He might exact the debt by glorifying Himself in our utter ruin.

God would be righteous and just to do this, but He is a God of lovingkindness and mercy. 

Matthew 18:26-27  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. 

At the point of being confronted with the immense magnitude of his debt, the servant falls down to his feet, upon his knees with his face, to the ground. 

He was unable to stand before the king, or look him in the eye, and much less to answer the king's demand that he pay for his debts. 

A sinner who hears the gospel and is convicted of sin has no recourse but to humble himself before God and seek mercy.

He "worshipped" the king, and in this context, the word means an act of deep contrition for sin and a heart that has been crushed and humbled before God.

The God of infinite mercy is ready, out of pure compassion, to forgive the sins of those that humble themselves before Him.

There is forgiveness with God for the greatest sins, if the sinner repents of his sins.

Psalm 51:1-4  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.   

King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan about his terrible sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.

David's reaction is similar to the posture of the man with the massive debt.

David cried out for mercy because he knew the nature of God was that of lovingkindness and abundant tender mercy.

David confessed his sins and begged that Jehovah would blot them out forever. The king asked for cleansing and a thorough purging of his sins.

He put himself at the mercy of God and the LORD would have been justified to take David's life, but a repentant heart and contrite spirit is a beautiful thing in the eyes of God.

The king in Christ's parable represents the Lord Jesus who is King of kings and Lord of lords, and is worthy of all worship, reverence and respect.

The debtor cried out for mercy to the king and asked for extra time to pay off his debt.

The king was moved with compassion and had his shackles removed.

However, the king did far more than loose this man's bonds. He forgave him the massive debt he owed, that was impossible for anyone to pay.

This pictures a sinner hearing the gospel of Christ, being convicted of his sin by his own conscience and falling on his knees to ask Christ to save him.

The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it which is why this man had no ability to pay for his sins. 

Sinners are like insolvent debtors because God's Word concludes that all people in all generations of history, are sinners. 

Psalm 49:6-7  They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7  None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 

We are spiritually bankrupt before God and no amount of silver or gold can redeem us from our sin debt. 

Even Old Testament sacrifices and offerings only offered a temporary covering, until Christ came as the Lamb of God to make and end of sin with the sacrifice of Himself.  

This is why sharing the good news of the gospel of Christ is so important.

Sinners must hear the gospel of they cannot respond to it, and this is why Jesus gave us the Great Commission, to seek and save the lost in accord with His will.

Matthew 18:28-30  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, 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 fellowservant 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. 

What happened next?

It seems unreal that a man who was forgiven a massive debt would then act with cruelty against another person.

He remembered another man who owed him one hundred pence, which amounted to about 100 days of wages in that time. 

This was a manageable amount that could be worked off by the debtor.

However, this man who was forgiven refused to hear the other man's plea for mercy to repay and he had him cast into prison until the debt was repaid.

Remember, Jesus said His disciples must forgive those who trespass against them and in this parable, He describes the infinite mercy of God forgiving a sinner who repents and trusts Christ.

Matthew 18:31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 

The other servants who worked with the first man saw how cruelly he treated the man who owed one hundred pence and they reported this to the king.

Matthew 18:32-34  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 fellowservant, 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. 

Before bringing down his vengeance upon him, the king or "lord" calmly points out to him how shamefully unreasonable and heartless his conduct was.

Therefore, punishment inflicted on the man whom the king forgave a massive debt, carried a painful sting.

He received compassion and should have exercised compassion toward the man who owed him one hundred pence.

This is the application of the parable and opens the  intent of it.

Jesus demonstrated that God, who is His Father in heaven, will act in like manner towards all such professing Christians, who are cruel and hard hearted to their brethren. 

Thus, Jesus by telling Peter to forgive seventy times seven and by using this parable, shows what genuine forgiveness looks like.

Those who claim to know Christ, but have merciless and unforgiving spirits toward others, will suffer severe judgment.

Here are the main points from Jesus' parable.

1. Our sins are great.

2. Merciful God freely forgives them.

3. Any offences committed against us by our brethren are comparatively small.

4. Therefore, we should most freely forgive them.

5. It we do not, God will be justly angry with us, and punish us.

Such a lesson is of great use in the churches today because too often, there are petty disputes and imagined grievances resulting in one holding a grudge against another.

This ought not to be so in Christ's church.

Ephesians 4:30-32  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

The Spirit of God guided Paul to give us this instruction and it connects with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

The apostle warns us not to grieve the indwelling Spirit of God and this was necessary because some believers in every generation of Christians do grieve our heavenly Comforter.

Bitterness and wrath must be put away, and this instruction is given to us because we need the admonition not to do those things which displease God.

Anger, clamor, evil speaking and malicious thoughts must be put away from us as well, because such things dishonor God and tarnish the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. 

Every time that God tells us to put off or to refrain from doing some particular thing, He follows up with something He wants us to do, something we must put on.

We are commanded to be kind to other believers in Christ. We are to be toward them like God is toward us, tenderhearted!

We are to forgive them all things just as God through Christ has forgiven us all of our sins (See also Colossians 3:12-13).

Is any Christian today carrying a grudge toward another believer? 

Confess that sin to God right now and make things right with your brother or sister in Christ. 

An unforgiving spirit does great damage to the person harboring it and it contaminates Christs church.

Let us do as scripture commands us to do and love one another and pray for one another and be ready to forgive one another.

Bob