Matthew 18:21-35 – A GREAT CHALLENGE
It is a challenge to witness.
It is a challenge to live a Godly life.
It is a challenge to walk in the Spirit.
It is a challenge to pray.
Perhaps even a great challenge is to forgive. As a pastor I have personally seen all too much unforgiveness on the part of Christians. In fact I would say that lack of forgiveness is the most frequent problem I’ve dealt with over the years. Our Lord often handles the topic of forgiveness.
THE STANDARD OF FORGIVENESS – Vss. 21-22
Peter thought that he was being generous forgiving someone seven times.
Our Lord seems to be suggesting an unending attitude of forgiveness when he says that we should forgive “Seventy times seven”.
THE STORY ABOUT FORGIVENESS – Vss. 23-33
A Great Debt – Vss. 23-25
A Great Deferment – Vss. 26-27
A Great Disappointment – 28-31
The man who had been forgiven of so much would not forgive someone who owed him far less. Ephesians 4:32
A Great Decree – Vss. 32-33
THE SERIOUSNESS OF FORGIVENESS – Vss. 34-35
God has made forgiving others a very high priority indeed!