The Freedom of Forgiveness Matthew 18:21-35

PARABLE: An earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  When studying parables, it is important to determine what the earthly elements represent spiritually. 

1.     The                                                                      God the Father

Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come. — Revelation 4:2-8 (CSB)

2.     Settling of accounts                                                    Judgement

Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. — Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB)

3.     The large debt                                                            Lifetime of

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. — Ephesians 2:1-3 (CSB)

4.     Forgiveness of the large debt                                                         The

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. — Ephesians 2:4-7 (CSB)

5.     The smaller debt                                                        Sin that happens to us

6.     Unwillingness                                                               Unforgiveness

7.     Torture                                                                           of bitterness

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”

But Peter told him, “May your silver be destroyed with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this matter, because your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart’s intent may be forgiven. For I see you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by wickedness.” — Acts 8:18-23 (CSB)

Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. — Ephesians 4:31-32 (CSB)

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness ​— ​without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many — Hebrews 12:14-15 (CSB)

APPLICATION:

1.     Forgiveness and are not the same.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:  Extending forgiveness to others is an expectational response to our heavenly forgiveness found in the .  To forgive is to walk in obedience.

·       Our eternal relationship with God through Jesus trumps all pain caused by any relationship, no matter how painful those relationships have been. 

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE:  Forgiveness is a vertical transaction between you and your heavenly father.  In the face of abuse or significant patterns of hurtful behavior, forgiveness may involve an intentional act of your will.  You may have to choose to forgive because of your love of Jesus and not because your emotions want to. 

BIBLICAL PRINCIPAL:  Reconciliation can take time and requires steps to be taken.     

STEPS TO PURSUING RECONCILIATION: (The five Rs of Reconciliation)

1.     : I did it.  Name what you did. 

2.     : I feel bad.  I cannot imagine how this made you feel.  I have impacted you. 

3.     : Total change of mind, and with God’s help never do again.  (Fruit in keeping with repentance)

4.     : Can if fix this in any way?

5.     : Will you accept my apology and let me begin to regain your trust?

2.     Let the stuff go. 

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. — 1 Peter 4:8 (CSB)

A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense. — Proverbs 19:11 (CSB)

3.      Suggested of forgiveness. 

1)     Prayer

“Lord, I choose to forgive (name) for (issue), causing me to feel (emotional pain) and I am willing to pay for the emotional pain and consequences that (name) has caused me. I ask you, Lord Jesus, to take back the ground I gave to the enemy through my bitterness and I yield that ground to Your control.”

2)     Pain

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)       

3)     Proof

EVIDENCE OF BIBLICAL FOREGIVENESS:

1.    Do not bring this up again with the offending person.
2.    Do not bring this up again with others.
3.    Do not bring this up again to yourself. 

“He who has not forgiven an enemy has never yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life.”  C.S. Lewis