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The Kingdom of Heaven
The King of Heaven
The King’s Followers
The Unforgiving Servant !
(Matt. 18:23-35)
S.T.O.R.Y
Setting
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
!
Matt. 18:1 (ESV)
“Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”
!
Matt. 18:4 (ESV)
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes
one of these little ones who believes in me to sin…”
!
Matt. 18:5-6 (ESV)
Humbles himself
Values others
Doesn’t over-value himself
Doesn’t under-value others
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have
gained your brother.” !
Matt. 18:15 (ESV)
Don’t over-value yourself
Don’t under-value others
Don’t quickly write others off
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have
gained your brother.” !
Matt. 18:15 (ESV)
Matt. 18:21-22
Telling
Matt. 18:23-35
15,000 - 20,000 years wages
100 days wages
When we fail to forgive, we can’t live in the
freedom that’s already been given to us.
Objective
Because God has forgiven us of a debt that we could never repay, we are called to demonstrate that same character and forgiveness
to those who owe us.
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
!
Luke 12:48 (ESV)
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.” !
Eph. 4:32 (ESV)
Forgiveness is canceling or writing off a debt.
Forgiveness is NOT…
Fair
Forgiveness is NOT…
Condoning or minimizing the behavior or hurt
Forgiveness is NOT…
Forgetting the behavior or hurt
Forgiveness is NOT…
Quick and easy
Forgiveness is NOT…
The same as reconciliation
Forgiveness is NOT…
Always a 2 person process
So why forgive?
I forgive for myself.
I forgive in obedience to God.
I forgive so I’ll be free.
Relevance
We all have a debt that is more than we can pay.
We all have a Master who has forgiven us of
an insurmountable debt.
We all are called to demonstrate the Master’s
character to others.
We all have people in our lives that have or
will hurt us.
We all have or will hurt someone.
YOU
Who is the person, or persons, you are having
trouble forgiving?
Do you think more about how much they owe you, or how much God has forgiven you?
What would your life be like if God harbored the
same lack of forgiveness toward you?
How would your life change if you forgave
them?
