Northwood Community Church
Sunday, April 21, 2024
The Dynamics of Forgiveness, Matthew 18:21-35, Mitchell Cruit
Locations & Times
Northwood Community Church
2295 McMullen Booth Rd, Clearwater, FL 33759, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Matthew 18:21-35 (ESV)
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.<br>23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
1. Because God has forgiven us a ____________ we could ____________ _____________ (v. 23-27, cf. Col 1:14)
i. Forgiveness truthfully _______________ the offense as wrong rather than _______________ it.
[1] This definition is drawn from Forgive by Tim Keller, pg. 8-10.
1. What limits do you place on the forgiveness you extend to others?
2. How does meditating on God’s mercy towards you in Christ nurture mercy for others in your heart?
3. When you compare your debt against God to someone’s debt against you, which weighs more?
4. What does your attitude towards those who have wronged you reveal about your experience of God’s forgiveness of you?