Making Peace with Your Past Matthew 18:21-35

“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:35

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15

I. The Painful Mess of Life

“…He said to the disciples, ‘It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” Luke 17:1

I. The Painful Mess of Life “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”

I. The Painful Mess of Life “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.’” Luke 17:2-4

I. The Painful Mess of Life “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Luke 17:5

I. The Painful Mess of Life “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Luke 17:5 “So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots”

I. The Painful Mess of Life “and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper and”

I. The Painful Mess of Life “gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded,

I. The Painful Mess of Life “say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Luke 17:6-10

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children”

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:23-27

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me,”

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.” Matthew 18:28-30

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” Matthew 18:32-34

II. The Powerful Lesson of Jesus “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:35

III. The Problem With Unforgiveness

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

III. The Problem With Unforgiveness “’Be angry, and do not sin’ do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

III. The Problem With Unforgiveness “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I hade pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to

III. The Problem With Unforgiveness “the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ‘So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.’” Matthew 18:32-35

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Resist thoughts of revenge

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Resist thoughts of revenge “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.’” Romans 12:19

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Don’t seek to harm them…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Don’t seek to harm them… “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Wish them well…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Wish them well… “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:28

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Grieve at their calamities…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Grieve at their calamities… “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;” Proverbs 24:17

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Pray for them…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Pray for them… “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Seek reconciliation with them…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Seek reconciliation with them… “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Be ready in every situation to come to their relief…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.What forgiveness is… Be ready in every situation to come to their relief… “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.” Exodus 23:4

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 2.What forgiveness Isn’t…

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 2.What forgiveness Isn’t… a)Not the absence of anger at sin

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 2.What forgiveness Isn’t… b)Not the absence of serious consequences

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 2.What forgiveness Isn’t… b)Not the absence of serious consequences “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 2.What forgiveness Isn’t… b)Not the absence of serious consequences “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:6

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us… For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” Hebrews 12:9a, 10

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:9

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Numbers 14:9 “I have pardoned, according to your word;” Numbers 14:10

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord-because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,”

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.” Numbers 14:21-23

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness “You answered them, O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds.” Psalm 99:8

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 3.Forgiveness of an Unrepentant Person

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 3.Forgiveness of an Unrepentant Person “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.The resentment test

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.The resentment test 2.The responsibility test

IV. The Primacy of Forgiveness 1.The resentment test 2.The responsibility test 3.The reaction and reminder test