Father Forgive them

Father Forgive them!

Introduction

May 15, 2011

Three weeks ago, the world celebrated Easter. While Easter is not always at the same time as Passover, we used the day to talk about the beauty of the resurrection, but there is so much to be said about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, it is just not in my power to say everything that needs to be said in one sermon, or one day.

As Jesus was dying, He had this prayer for those who were taking His life, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” . (Luke 23:34 KJV) The lesson is powerful! There is no way for anyone to be treated worse than He was, yet he was the only One Who was perfectly innocent. If He could forgive, then all of us should be able to forgive.

Body

I. Jesus taught the importance of forgiveness.

He taught it as essential to our spiritual lives.

1. He made it part of what we call the Lord’s prayer.

(Mat 6:12 NKJV) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

2. He explained the importance of our forgiving others.

(Mat 6:14-15 NKJV) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. {15} "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness.

(Mat 18:21-22 NKJV) Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" {22} Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Jesus gave a parable to answer Peter’s question.

(Mat 18:23-35 NKJV) "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. {24} "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. {25} "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. {26} "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {27} "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. {28} "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' {29} "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {30} "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. {31} "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. {32} "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. {33} 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' {34} "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. {35} "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

1. How much did the man owe?

(Mat 18:24 NCV) When the king began to collect his money, a servant who owed him several million dollars was brought to him.

2. Why is it just stated as “several million dollars”

The amount was so huge that there is no way to estimate it, but the point is that our sins are beyond our ability to pay.

3. How much did the other servant owe?\

(Mat 18:28 NKJV) "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'

II. Another look at forgiveness.

The Parable of the Prodigal son.

(Luke 15:11-32 NKJV) Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. {12} "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. {13} "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. {14} "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. {15} "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. {16} "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. {17} "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! {18} 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, {19} "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' {20} "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. {21} "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. {23} 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; {24} 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. {25} "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. {27} "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' {28} "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. {29} "So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. {30} 'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' {31} "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. {32} 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'"

The older brother spoiled everything.

1. He rejects his brother and will not forgive him.

2. He spurns his own father for forgiving his brother.

III. How does being unforgiving hurt?

A. It causes us to become bitter.

(Heb 12:14-15 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: {15} looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

1. We can cause others to become bitter and defiled.

2. We lose our own happiness as well as our forgiveness.

B. The one who is not forgiven is hurt in the process, but the one not willing to forgive suffers even more.

Conclusion

I. We’ve noticed the cases of forgiveness.

There was the case of Jesus when He was crucified.
There was the master who forgave so much.
There was the father of the prodigal son.

II. We’ve noticed that if we will not forgive, we will not be forgiven.

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

Hit Counter