Through Thick & Thin - Part 6 [Notes]

Relationships are so important, and yet they can be so difficult. The pandemic, social media and a divided country have not helped. How do we develop new relationships? How do we strengthen the ones we have? How do we repair the ones that seem broken? Why does it even matter?  

Join us for our series titled, Through Thick & Thin. We will explore ways to develop the kinds of friendships that will enrich our lives.

Today's Takeaway // We must forgive because we have been forgiven.

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
– Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB)

We must forgive because we have been forgiven.

Nasa: To lift up, to bear, or to carry

[Forgiveness] means to carry, bear away or lift up the faults, sins and failures of others—to consider them guilty but forgiven!
– Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words

Charizomain: To release a debt that is owed

The Greek word charizomai, meaning “to forgive sins,” is distinctively developed by Paul in terms of God’s gracious pardon. Sin is considered as a debt...
– Dr. J.M. Houston

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.”
– Matthew 18:21-22 (HCSB)

For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him. Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. “At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’ Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ “At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. “Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.”
– Matthew 18:23-35 (HCSB)

Both the sum and the monetary unit are significant, for in the ancient Near East ten thousand was the highest number used in calculating, and the talent was the largest currency unit of that time. In other words, the amount is intended to stagger the imagination; it is the highest sum imaginable, to be contrasted with the trifling amount of the debt in verse 28.
– Dr. B. M. Newman

The ten thousand talents was equivalent to a billion days’ worth of peasant wages. This was more money than was circulating in all of Palestine.
– HCSB

10,000 talents would pay for something like 200,000 man-years of labour.
– Dr. John Nolland

Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
– Matthew 18:27 (HCSB)

“But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’”
– Matthew 18:28 (HCSB)

The forgiveness he himself had experienced didn’t translate into extending forgiveness to others.

“Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.”
– Matthew 18:32-34 (HCSB)

"So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."
– Matthew 18:35 (HCSB)

"For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing."
– Matthew 6:14-15 (HCSB)

If we are unable to forgive others, it’s possible we have not experienced God’s forgiveness.

We reveal the true condition of our hearts by the way we treat others.
– Dr. Warren Wiersbe

If we are unwilling to forgive others, we will suffer for our sins in this life.

God will certainly deal with a believer who harbors an unforgiving spirit.
– Dr. Warren Wiersbe

We must forgive because we have been forgiven.

"So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."
– Matthew 18:35 (HCSB)

1. Can you think of an example where someone wronged you? Did you find it difficult to forgive that person? Why or why not?
2. Can you think of an example where you were the one who wronged someone else? If the other person forgave you, how did it make you feel? How did you feel if they didn’t forgive you?3. Read Ephesians 4:32. How is it possible for us to forgive other people as Christ has forgiven us? Do you think there are any sins that are unforgivable?
4. Read Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 18:35. What are some of the consequences of not forgiving other people?
5. What resources do we have as believers in Christ to help us to forgive others?
6. How might you apply tonight’s lesson to your life?

House of the Lord // I'm Listening // Gratitude // On My Heart (Written)

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