Back To Basics // Week 8 // Forgiveness

Pastors JF and Ashley Wilkerson

Matthew 18:6-9 NIV

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”

Matthew 18:15 NIV

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”

Matthew 18:16-20 NIV

16 “But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:21 NIV

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Aphiēmi – “To send away, release, let go”

1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T FORGETTING…IT’S RELEASING.

Colossians 3:12-13 NIV

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T FORGETTING…IT’S RELEASING.

2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED.

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV

22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T FORGETTING…IT’S RELEASING.

2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED.

3. FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS…IT’S FOR US.

Matthew 18:28-30 NIV

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. 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 it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.”

Matthew 18:31-35 NIV

31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged 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 handed 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 or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:34b NIV

34b…his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

Matthew 18:35 NIV

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” - Nelson Mandela

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T FORGETTING…IT’S RELEASING.

2. FORGIVING OTHERS ISN’T IMMEDIATE…IT HAS TO BE REPEATED.

3. FORGIVENESS ISN’T FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS…IT’S FOR US