The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus & Forgiveness, Part 1

Scripture References: Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 7:36-50; 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Intro: Welcome to this sermon exploring forgiveness through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18. Regardless of our personal history or "testimony," we all stand before God with an immense debt of sin that only His grace can cancel. This parable explains why forgiving others is so crucial for those who have received His mercy.

Key Points:

1. Beyond Limits: Forgive Boundlessly (vv. 21-22): Jesus pushes Peter beyond conventional limits ("7 times") to radical, repeated forgiveness ("77 times"), setting the stage for understanding why this is necessary.
2. Our Unpayable Debt, Lavishly Forgiven (vv. 23-27): The parable's first servant owed an impossible sum (10,000 talents), representing our insurmountable sin debt to God. The king's cancellation of this debt purely out of pity illustrates God's astonishing, unearnable grace towards us through Christ.
3. Realizing Our Forgiveness Fuels Love (Luke 7; 1 Tim 1): Like the sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet or the Apostle Paul ("chief of sinners"), deeply understanding the magnitude of the forgiveness we've received produces profound gratitude and love for God. This is the motivation for extending forgiveness.
4. The Warning Against Unforgiveness (vv. 28-34): The forgiven servant's immediate cruelty towards someone owing him a trivial amount mirrors our own hypocrisy when we refuse mercy to others after receiving God's infinite mercy. Withholding forgiveness puts us in danger of judgment.
5. Forgiveness Lived Out (Owen's Testimony): A powerful, real-life example shared of facing deep parental hurt, choosing to honestly confront, forgive, release the debt, and remain open to reconciliation—a difficult process requiring God's strength and perspective.

Conclusion: Our ability and obligation to forgive others flow directly from grasping the depth of God's forgiveness towards us. Jesus Himself is both the means of our forgiveness (through His sacrifice) and the perfect model (forgiving from the cross).

Call to Action: Meditate on the incredible debt God has forgiven you in Christ. Let gratitude motivate you to extend grace to those who have wronged you. Acknowledge that forgiveness is a choice, often a process, empowered by God. If struggling, seek His help and consider asking for prayer support.

radiantvisalia.com
The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus & Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-34)
with Glenn Power