How we respond to sin in our daily lives is tricky. When it is our sin that affects others, we desire for those around us to overlook, forgive freely (and forget quickly), and or simply trust that God’s grace abounds.
However, when we are sinned against, we tend to look at things differently. We want justice, empathy and consideration with regards to hurt feelings, verbal assent that we were wronged, and full restitution!
Thankfully, God did not require this of each of us before he chose to pay for our sin on the cross. Perhaps we can extend more grace than we think as we reflect on what Jesus did for us. Perhaps we could ask the Spirit to help us employ the model in Matthew 18 as we encounter sin today. Perhaps restoration could be the goal?
Matthew 18.15-35
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
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.
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.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What does verse 15 tell us is our first step in resolving a dispute with a brother?
+ What is the goal in going to a brother individually?
+ If our brother doesn’t listen, what is our next step towards reconciliation? Vs 16
+ What is the goal in going to a brother with two or three witnesses?
+ In verse 17, what should we do if our first and second step towards restoration fail?
+ What is the goal in going to the church?
+ What is next if these three attempts do not bring reconciliation?
+ What does it look like to treat another as a Gentile or tax-collector or enemy as a Christian?
+ Who or what might you want to bind or loose as we think about context in verse 18-19?
+ Who or what might you want to pray for or about as two or three are gathered? Vs 20
+ How often are we to forgive a brother according to verses 21-22?
+ Summarize the parable in verses 23-34.
+ What did the servant deserve from his master in verse 25?
+ What did the servant ask for in 26?
+ How did the Master respond in 27?
+ What does the servant do to his fellow servant in verse 28?
+ What does the fellow servant ask in verse 29? How was it a similar request?
+ How does the unmerciful servant respond to his fellow servant in verse 30?
+ What do this man’s actions prompt in the fellow servants in verse 31?
+ How does the Master respond? What did he expect? Vs 32-33
+ What happens to the servant in verse 34?
+ How will our Father respond to an unforgiving heart in verse 35?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Who might I feel called to walk through the steps in Matthew 18 with in order to restore a relationship?
+ Who might I need to actively forgive regardless of their response?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ How are you participating in God's mission to seek out those who are lost?