[Jesus said] “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his sin just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother.” (Mt 18:15)
Then Peter came up and asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?” (Mt 18:21)
[Jesus said] “3 Watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” (Lk 17:3–4)
Forgiveness begins with _______.
Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you as many as seventy-seven times.” (Mt 18:22)
Metalepsis is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase makes indirect reference to another figure of speech.
The Lord said to him, “No! If anyone kills Cain, he will face sevenfold (šibʿā ta yim) revenge.” And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone who found him would not strike him down. (Ge 4:15)
From such usages we may conclude that this term is often used figuratively to indicate something which has or will occur in a far greater intensity than previously. Such an understanding of šibʿā ta yim, however, in no way denies or forbids it signifying an exact seven times increase in any particular instance.
17 Cain was intimate with his wife. She conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named the city after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch, Irad was born. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. (Ge 4:17–18)
23Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. Look, I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me. 24If Cain will be avenged seven times (šibʿā ta yim), then Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times. (Ge 4:23-24)
Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you as many as seventy-seven times (ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά).” (Mt 18:22)
23 For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle them, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Because the man was not able to pay the debt, his master ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, children, and all that he owned to repay the debt. (Mt 18:23–25)
Then the servant fell down on his knees in front of him, saying, ‘Master, be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ (Mt 18:26)
The master of that servant had pity on him, released him, and forgave him the debt. (Mt 18:27)
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ (Mt 18:28)
So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ (Mt 18:29)
But he refused. Instead he went off and threw the man into prison until he could pay back what he owed. (Mt 18:30)
31When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very distressed. They went and reported to their master everything that had taken place. 32 “Then his master called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt when you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 His master was angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay back everything he owed. (Mt 18:31–34)
This king loves his servants so much that he is willing to give them the very life they want.
Forgiveness requires the proper ______________________.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is pardon, so you are feared. (Ps 130:3–4a)
Forgiveness’ Why’s
Why #1 – God let your ________ million _____________ alone!
Why #2 — The forgiven, _______________!
12 Therefore, as God’s elect, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone else. Forgive, just as Christ forgave you. (Col 3:12–13)
For the word of God is living and active. (He 4:12a)
In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)
Points to Ponder
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message?
Which emotionally bothers you more: The sin(s) that others have committed against you? Or the sin(s) that you have committed against God? Be honest. Then explain your answer.
Study Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13. What connections do you see between these passages and today’s message on Matthew 18?
Challenge: Pray the Lord’s Prayer each day this week. Pause after each line that mentions forgiveness in order to confess your sins personally to the Father and to release the sins personally committed against you.
