Managing God's Mercy -- Matthew 18: 21-35 -- Rev. John W. Armstrong

Sermon notes:

 

Managing God’s mercy  (Matthew 18:21-35)

I.     Background.

A.  ___________ is the refusal to give what one owes (v.30;  Matthew 6:12; Romans 13:7; 15:27; Ephesians 5:22,25; 6:1-2). 

B.  To forgive is to _______________ someone from the retribution and retaliation they deserve (v.27).

C.  The immediate context: forgiving personal offenses (Matthew 18:15-20).

 

II.    What limits should we place on love/forgiveness (v.21; Matthew 18:15-18)?

A.  The rabbis: you should forgive up to _____________ times.

B.  Peter: up to seven times?

C.  Jesus:  _________________ forgiveness (v.22).

 

III.   Why?

A.  Our debts are so immense that they are humanly _________________ (v.24).  

B.  God’s heart is moved by our need (v.27).

 

IV.   The parable teaches the _____________________ of the forgiven (v.33).

A.  Brotherly love is not the cause of salvation, but it should be a ____________________ of it (Ephesians 2:8-10).

1.  The less we appreciate God’s forgiveness, the less we will forgive (vv.28-30).

2.  The threat of judgment reminds us of our continual need for _________________ (vv.32-35; Matthew 6:15; Galatians 3:24).

B.  We are __________________ of God’s mercy/money/resources.

 

V.    The practicalities of forgiveness.

A.  Face your pain (Matthew 5:4).

B.  Understand the truth:  see yourself as the offender (v.33; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10).

C.  Verbalize/write down your choice to forgive (Matthew 18:15).