Forgiveness

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Review Bible Memorization

Discuss struggles from this past week, and/or areas of expected upcoming struggle.

Review: What are some things you’ve learned in your Bible reading this week?

Forgiveness -

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

24 “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

25 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.

26 “Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and was prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

27 “And feeling compassion, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

29 “So, his fellow slave fell to the ground and was pleading with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’

30 “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

31 “So, when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

32 “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

33 ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’

34 “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

35 “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.”

· How many times did Peter offer to forgive? (21)

Seven times.

· How many times did Jesus say to forgive? (22)

Four hundred and ninety (or endlessly, continually).

· How much money did the servant owe his master? (23-24)

Ten thousand talents, or ten million dollars (an amount that probably never could be repaid).

· Since this servant couldn’t file for bankruptcy, what was going to happen? (25)

He, his wife, his children, and all he owned was to be auctioned off at a slave market to pay his debt.

· What was the servant’s request? (26)

For the master to have patience with him and he would repay him everything.

· Could he have repaid his debt?

Probably not

· What attitude did the master show to his servant? (27)

One of compassion and forgiveness.

· What attitude did God show toward us and our debt?

One of compassion and forgiveness.

· What is our debt?

Sin

· The servant that had been forgiven had a fellow servant who owed him how much? (28)

A hundred pence (a day's wage).

· What was this servant's attitude toward his fellow servant? (28)

One of impatience, violence, and unforgiveness.

· What did this servant do to his fellow servant? (29-30)

Cast him into prison till he could pay his small debt.

· What did the master call the unforgiving servant? (31-33)

“O thou wicked servant”// “You wicked slave”

· What did the master tell his servant he should have done? (33)

He should have had compassion on his fellow servant as the master had pity on him. He should have released him and forgiven him.

· When the master found out what happened, how did it affect his emotions? (34)

Anger

· Did this unforgiving servant forfeit the forgiveness that had been offered to him originally? (34)

Yes

· What is the point of this parable? (35)

And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy. (The Message Bible)

My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.” (LSB)

Points to make:

· Who is my brother?

· I desire obedience rather than sacrifice.

New Bible memory verse for the week:

Matthew 18:32-35 “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.”

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