18 Truth Encounter - Why Should We Forgive?

by Jeff Fry adapted from "Freedom in Christ" by Neil Anderson

Matthew 18:21-35

I.       Intro

A.   I'd like to share with you just a bit of the story of Hanna Miley

1.     Hanna was born a Jew in Nazi Gemünd in the thirties. Her parents sent her on a 'kinder train' to England months before the war broke out. She never saw any of her family again. After struggling with bitterness and unforgiveness, she became a Christian. Now, almost seventy years later, she is back in Gemünd ministering reconciliation and forgiveness: preparing the way for the King

2.     The old synagogue in Gemünd is very sad. It is full of ancient Jewish tombs dating back through the centuries. There are stones dating right up to the 1930's, when suddenly they cease. The Jewish population suddenly ended. The synagogue was destroyed. Hanna's family and many others disappeared. It's so abrupt ... It's hard to make your brain realize what happened. In the back of the cemetery there's a large open area. It was intended to be used for future burials ... but now the vacuum speaks loudly of the deaths of many Jews.

3.     George and Hanna Miley have erected a stone to remember her parents, Markus Zack and Amalie (Schneider) Zack. It stands there among the other stones.

B.    There is no world religion that understands forgiveness better than Christianity. 

1.     Christ's last words on the cross were "Father forgive them for they know not what they do "

2.     How could he forgive people who have it in their hearts to crucify a man who has done no wrong

3.     to abuse him physically with scourging by the whip

4.     to abuse him most likely sexually via the Roman soldiers who whipped him

5.     to drag his name in the mud

6.     to accuse the very son of God of blasphemy

7.     to attribute his miracles to the devil

8.     to throw insults at Him and revile Him

9.     to malign him and twist his words

C.    We have a high priest, Jesus Christ, who can empathize with our every struggle - esp. our struggles of unforgiveness.  And He has taught us to forgive others from the heart.

II.    We must forgive in order to set ourselves free

A.   State

1.     Matthew 18:21-35 tells a story about a servant who owed his king 10,000 talents.  Note that the king represents God and the servant represents us, his people.

a)    10,000 talents was about half a billion pounds in today's money.  Impossible to pay back.

b)    the servant and his family were to be sold to repay the debt but after begging  the king totally forgave the servant his debt and had mercy on him.

c)     this same servant then went out and found one of his servants who owed him about a hundred days wages for a blue-collar worker of that day.  The recently forgiven man is merciless choking his debtor as he demands his money back.

d)    When the servant owes ten thousand talents, the king forgives him; but when the servant shows himself unforgiving the king calls him "wicked" and turns him over to the (literally) "the torturers" which loses something in the translation when translated "jailers".  Actually the word is used of spiritual torture in the NT more than physical torture although we know that there is a link - many physical ailments can come from spiritual problems such as unforgiveness and bitterness. 

2.     Why should we forgive?

a)    Because God commands it of us.

(1)  Luke 17:4 says, "and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times and says, 'I repent', you must forgive him". 

(2)  MUST - that's a strong word.  The "you must forgive him" grammatically is incredibly strong - even stronger than a command (imperatival future).  This is to  underline the point that we have no choice.  It is of utmost importance to God that we forgive.

b)    Because God has forgiven us totally.

(1)  The servant's debt was too big to pay back himself and so only God could forgive him the whole debt of billions and billions of pounds which he did.

(2)  Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

c)     Because otherwise you are wicked in God's eyes

(1)  Matthew 18:32 says, "Then the master called the servant in, "You wicked servant", he said ..."

(2)  God's forgiveness is so important to Him that if His people are not also forgiving  then He sees them as wicked and not representative of Him at all. 

d)    Because otherwise God will be angry with you …

(1)  Does God still get angry under the new covenant?  You bet.  Jesus got angry - at what?  Sin - those using the synagogue as a place to do business instead of a place to pray.  God was also angry with Ananias and Sapphira's sin  that He struck them dead.

(2)  Matthew 18:34-35  says, "In anger his master turned him over to the jailers … This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart"

(3)  Don't bring the anger of God on your life by holding a grudge, unforgiveness and bitterness.

(4)  God doesn't want His people who represent Him to be people who are bitter and twisted and mean and angry because He is not like that!  The Scriptural principle is this: those who have been forgiven must be ready to forgive at all times (see the Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:9-13)

e)     Because otherwise you leave yourself open to demonic oppression

(1)  Matthew 18:34 says, " And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers (lit. "torturers", those who keep you imprisoned), until he should pay all his debt". 

(a)    you can get imprisoned by bitterness

(b)   unforgiveness tortures the one who does not forgive until they forgive.

(2)  This agrees with Ephesians 4 which says that when we hold on to anger, you open yourself up to demonic influence and oppression.

(a)    Ephesians 4:26-27 says, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil.

(3)  If you want spiritual problems in life then you only need to harbor unforgiveness in your heart and you have it.

B.   Illustrate

C.   apply

III.  Conclusion

IV. 

A.   Lord's Supper (Iain to read passage)

1.     Matthew 6:26-30 says, " Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." ²⁷ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

2.     Often we hear things like this come out of our own mouths: "I'll forgive that person when I'm good and ready.  Right now I'm not ready".  Is that a valid stance according to Scripture?  No, the decision to forgive must come immediately - "let not the sun go down on your anger" says Ephesians 4. 

3.     Let's take moment to spend now before the Lord and ask Him to reveal to us at least one person who we must decide to forgive for whatever it may be that they've done or said to you.

4.     Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross in order to forgive my sins.  I know you want me to forgive others too.  Therefore, I decide right now to forgive ________________ (name of person) for ____________________________________ (offense) .  By the power of your Holy Spirit I promise never to bring up this offense against them again.  I hand over any type of revenge or punishment to You God.  Amen.