Matthew 18:21-35

Preached Sunday Morning, March 1, 2009

Introduction:

 

          How often must we forgive our erring brother, seven times?  Peter thought that he had come up with a generous number.  After all, sometimes people apologize and don’t even mean it.  Sometimes someone quickly quips the words “I’m sorry” and then turns around to commit the same offense over and over again!

 

          Bitterness grows as an unseen malignant root in the life of a Christian.  This bitterness is created when we harbor unforgiveness.  Jesus answers Peter’s question with an astonishing response:  It is not seven times, but seventy times seven.  Now this does not mean that after 490 offences that we are off the hook.  Jesus is using this expression to show us that we are always to forgive.  If someone asks for forgiveness, we grant it.  If they do not, we forgive anyway.  If they mean it, we forgive.  If they are insincere and repetitive in their offenses, we forgive.

 

          To many people, this may seem like an unreasonable standard to meet.  This is why Jesus gave us this parable.  Tonight we will study a picture of just how hypocritical it is when we, as Christians, do not forgive.

 

I.                   You have been shown great mercy

 

A.     The symbols of this parable:

 

Matthew 18:23 – Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

1.     The king = God the Father

2.     A certain servant = a believer

3.     Fellow servant = another believer

B.     The servant owed a great deal to the Master

Matthew 18:24 – And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

1.     The servant owed 10,000 talents

2.     In our sinful state we owed everything to God

Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 4:4 – Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

C.     Judgment was about to be executed upon the servant

Matthew 18:25 – But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

1.     The servant would be imprisoned until he could pay

2.     Once in prison the servant could no longer work, so he could never pay.  The situation would be hopeless and irreversible

3.     We owe death for our sin

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

4.     The second death is final, our situation would be hopeless and irreversible

D.    Justice was replaced with mercy

Matthew 18:26-27 – 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.  27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

1.     The servant worshipped

2.     The servant cried for mercy

3.     The servant promised to pay

4.     The master was moved by compassion

5.     The master erased the debt

6.     Our sin debt was erased when we came to Jesus

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

II.                You show no mercy to your fellow servants

A.     The fellow servant owed much less than the wicked servant did

Matthew 18:28 – But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

1.     One hundred pence

2.     Whatever the offence committed against us, it is much less than what we have committed against God

B.     The wicked servant turned malicious

1.     Beyond even what was just

2.     It became personal

3.     It became vicious

    a. Laid hands upon him

    b. Held him by the throat

C.     The fellow servant begged for mercy

Matthew 18:29 – And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

1.     Humbled – even though they were really equals

2.     Offered to pay all

3.     Since the servant was forgiven the 10,000 talent debt, he could afford to forgive a 100 pence debt

D.    The wicked servant showed no mercy

Matthew 18:30 – And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

1.     Placed him in prison

2.     Put his fellow servant in a hopeless state

3.     The wicked servant gained nothing except personal vengeance through this action.  He would not get his money back.

III.             You will receive mercy no longer

A.     Fellow servants brought the wicked servant to the master

Matthew 18:31 – So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

1.     Your actions toward another brother are seen by many

2.     Some can call your unforgiveness to God’s attention

B.     God hates the sin of unforgiveness

1.     Because of His example of forgiveness

Matthew 18:32-33 – 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

2.     He will deliver you to the tormentors

Matthew 18:34 – And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

    a. Chastisement

b.     Guilt

c.      Loneliness

d.     Bitterness

Hebrews 12:14-15

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 

e.      Anger

f.       Envy

Ephesians 4:30-32

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

3.     God will not grant practical forgiveness and restoration if you do not forgive those who wrong you

Matthew 18:35 – So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Mathew 18:15-20

Preached Sunday Morning February 22, 2009

 

Introduction:

 

          This morning we are going to talk about a wonderful privilege that you have as a member of a local church.  As a member of Christ’s local body, you are loved so much that you are subject to church discipline.  You may think that this is a contradictory statement, but Jesus tells us that the ones that He loves, He chastens.  When a believer falls into a pattern of unrepentant sin, God has a specific path to restoration.  This morning we are going to study the very important subject of how to turn the trespasser through the loving process of Church discipline.

 

 

I.                   The Candidates for Church Discipline

 

Matthew 18:15

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

 

1 Corinthians 5:11

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

 

A.     A Brother in Christ – born again believer

B.     One who calls himself a brother in Christ

C.     A trespasser – one who has crossed a clear Biblical line.

D.    One who is unrepentant

E.     The Public offender

 

 

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

 

 

F.      The Sower of Discord

 

Romans 16:17

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

G.    Teacher of false doctrine.

 

2 Timothy 3:4-5

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

II.                The Purpose of Church Discipline.

 

A.     Restoration of a brother in Christ

 

1.     To fellowship with God.

 

James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

2.     To fellowship within the church.

 

“…thou hast gained thy brother.”

 

3.     To credibility in the community.

 

B.     Rebuke of the unrepentant brother.

 

 

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

C.     Purity of the Church

 

Jude 3-4

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 5:6-7

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

 

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

III.             The Process of Church Discipline

 

Matthew 18:15-17

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

A.     One on one confrontation

 

1.     Private sin = private rebuke – anything different is gossip

 

Proverbs 25:9

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 

 

2.     Public sin = public rebuke

 

1 Corinthians 5:1-2

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

 

B.      Two or three to establish a record of the confrontation

C.     Tell it to the church – put them on discipline, removing the privilege of fellowship for a time

 

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

1.     The church is to back the confrontation that has gone on already.

2.     The church is not primarily to determine if the team is correct.

3.     The church is to act in one voice, giving authority to the discipline in action.

4.     The church must not flinch from her duty to the offender, the offended, and the Name of Christ.

 

D.     Remove from church membership

 

 

IV.              The Authority of Church Discipline

 

A.     Given by Christ to the Local Church

 

Matthew 18:17

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

1 Corinthians 5:4-5

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

B.     Church discipline that is enacted by a local church is universally binding.

 

Matthew 18:18-19

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

 

C.     Church discipline removes the offender from the privilege of meeting where the special presence of Christ is revealed, in the assembly of the local Church.

 

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

 

Mathew 18:1-14

Preached Sunday Morning February 15, 2009

 

 

I.                   Who is the greatest in the kingdom?

 

Matthew 18:1-2

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

 

A.     He or she is not necessarily:

 

1.     Rich

2.     Powerful

3.     Educated

4.     Well connected

5.     The greatest soul winner

6.     The most frenetically active

7.     The most popular

8.     The one with the largest ministry

 

B.     He or she is like a little child

 

1.     Humble

2.     Teachable

3.     Obedient

4.     Vulnerable

5.     Powerless

6.     Dependant

 

 

 

II.                We must become like that little child

 

Matthew 18:3-4

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

A.     We must be converted = turned

 

1.     Turn from complex excuses to simple faith

 

Acts 16:31

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

2.     Turn from self reliance to total dependence

 

1 Kings 3:7

7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

 

3.     Turn from our own plan to God’s plan

 

Romans 10:1

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

B.     Once we come to Christ by simple faith, we must then embrace humility in order to serve Him effectively.

 

Isaiah 57:15

15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

 

 

 

 

III.             We must humbly receive the little child.

 

Matthew 18:5

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

 

A.     Receive = taking by the hand, taking hold of, accepting

 

1.     Children do not build a budget

2.     Children do not shoulder the burden of the work

3.     Children require a lot of maintenance

4.     Children are messy

5.     Children often misbehave

6.     Children are noisy

7.     Yet, children are of the greatest value in the Kingdom of Christ!

 

B.     In my name = for my sake

 

1.     Follow Christ’s value system

 

Luke 19:10

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

2.     Do not follow the world’s “bottom line” value system.

3.     This is why the bus ministry still makes sense.

 

C.     Receiving a little child is just like receiving Jesus.

 

Matthew 25:45

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

 

IV.              We must protect the little child.

A.     God will deal severely with offenders

Matthew 18:6-7

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

1.     Offend = cause to stumble

2.     Those who do something that would make it difficult for a child to believe.

3.     Those who do something that would make a child turn away from the faith.

4.     Those who do something that would hinder a child’s spiritual growth.

 

B.     A drowning death is better than what God has planned for those who cause children to stumble.

C.     It would be better to lose a body part than to offend.

 

V.                 We must seek the lost child.

Matthew 18:10-14

10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

 

A.     Do not despise them

1.     Despise = think down upon, think lightly of

2.     They are so valuable; they have an angel personally responsible before God for their welfare.

B.      Their lost souls are of great value

C.     Jesus wants every child to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.