Let me ask you a question this morning.

Do You Need To Forgive Someone?

Peter had a concern about how many times to forgive someone.

In Matthew 18:22 The Lord answers Seventy times seven.
Just do the math, by the time you have forgiven someone 490 times you will probably be in the habit of forgiving and out of practice in holding grudges.
Our scripture text this morning should teach us the importance of forgiveness.

We´re going to look at 3 things.

The King And His Forgiveness

read Matthew 18:21-27

The first parable where the Lord appears as a king

The king taking account of his servants

A servant owes him 19 million dollars.
We owe our Lord for everything we have.

Sadly, we keep embezzling from His accounts

We steal God´s time.
We steal God´s money.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

The servant did not have enough to pay his debt

We don´t have enough to pay our debt.
Grace is our only hope.
read  Ephesians 2:8

Future righteousness cannot make up for past sins

read Matthew 18:26

The King´s compassion and forgiveness

It pictures our salvation.
God´s grace is enough for me.
read  Romans 5:21

The Servant And His Forgetfulness

read Matthew 18:28-30

The servant found a fellow servant who owed him

He was searching for someone in debt to him.
The fellow servant owed him about $15.00.

Others owe us far less than we owe God

We have never been wronged like we have wronged God

Notice how the forgiven one treated his fellow servant

We soon forget how much we have been forgiven!

The Fellow servants And Their Faithfulness

read Matthew 18:31
They were very sorry.
Some are glad when others fail; these were sad.
They didn´t take matters into their own hands.
They didn´t call public attention to this wrong.
They went only to their Lord and told Him.

Conclusion

We Must Forgive Because We Have Been Forgiven!

read Matthew 18:32-35
The unforgiving one was called before the king for judgment.
We will have to give account of ourselves to God.
read  Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Bible Studies Home

Matthew 18:21 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.
²³ 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.
²⁸ But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, 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 fellow servant 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.
³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
³² 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 fellow servant, 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.
³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
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Matthew 18:21 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.
²³ 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.
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Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
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Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
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Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, 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 fellow servant 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.
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Matthew 18:31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
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Matthew 18:32 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 fellow servant, 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.
³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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Romans 14:12 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
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Last updated on September 15, 2005