Bitterness
Finding Freedom
May 14, 2023
Are you by nature a forgiving person?
15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. —Hebrews 12:15
Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation
Without genuine repentance, which, by definition in Scripture leads to changed behavior, the relationship with the offender cannot be restored to what it once was, nor should victims act as if it could be. — SUSAN HYLEN
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” —Matthew 18:21-35
How can we sincerely forgive those who have hurt us?
1.DO THE MATH
Denarius = one day’s wage
$12/hour x 8 Hours = $96 a day
$96 x 100 = $9,600
Talent = 6,000 Denarii
$96 x 6,000 = $576,000
$576,000 x 10,000 = $5,760,000,000
Why should you do the math?
2.Follow the King
33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ —Matthew 18:33
FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE PEOPLE
The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go. —Matthew 18:27