This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Matthew 18:21-35 TPT)
21 Later Peter approached Jesus and said, “How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times!
23 The lessons of forgiveness in heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: “There once was a king who had servants who had borrowed money from the royal treasury. He decided to settle accounts with each of them.
24 As he began the process, it came to his attention that one of his servants owed him one billion dollars. So he summoned the servant before him and said to him, ‘Pay me what you owe me.’
25 When his servant was unable to repay his debt, the king ordered that he be sold as a slave along with his wife and children and every possession they owned as payment toward his debt.
26 The servant threw himself facedown at his master’s feet and begged for mercy. ‘Please be patient with me. Just give me more time and I will repay you all that I owe.’
27 Upon hearing his pleas, the king had compassion on his servant, and released him, and forgave his entire debt.
28 “No sooner had the servant left when he met one of his fellow servants, who owed him twenty thousand dollars He seized him by the throat and began to choke him, saying, ‘You’d better pay me right now everything you owe me!’
29 His fellow servant threw himself facedown at his feet and begged, ‘Please be patient with me. If you’ll just give me time, I will repay you all that is owed.’
30 But the one who had his debt forgiven stubbornly refused to forgive what was owed him. He had his fellow servant thrown into prison and demanded he remain there until he repaid the debt in full.
31″When his associates saw what was going on, they were outraged and went to the king and told him the whole story.
32 The king said to him, ‘You scoundrel! Is this the way you respond to my mercy? Because you begged me, I forgave you the massive debt that you owed me.
33 Why didn’t you show the same mercy to your fellow servant that I showed to you?’
34 In a fury of anger, the king turned him over to the prison guards to be tortured until all his debt was repaid.
35 In this same way, my heavenly Father will deal with any of you if you do not release forgiveness from your heart toward your fellow believer.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Faith, Prayer, and Forgiveness: The Mark 11:25 Connection.
In Mark 11, Jesus famously said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Many Christians quote those verses (22 and 23). However, if you keep reading, Jesus goes on to say, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
— In context, Jesus is teaching us that unforgiveness can hinder our prayers and block the flow of God’s blessings.
— Forgiveness as a prerequisite for effective prayer, aligning our hearts with God’s will.
— There is power in releasing bitterness to receive the peace and answers we seek in prayer.
— Seeing forgiveness not just as a moral obligation. It is a spiritual obligation that strengthens our faith.
— The act of forgiving others demonstrates our trust in God’s justice and mercy.
— If we are to believe God to do what we ask Him to do in prayer, we must also believe He will heal our hearts and deal with those who wronged us. So, if we want our prayers answered, we should release every inkling and ungodly desire to hold grudges and get revenge.
2. Reconciliation Before Worship: Insights from Matthew 5:21-24.
Jesus said, “You’re familiar with the commandment taught to those of old: ‘Do not murder or you will be judged.’ But I’m telling you, if you hold anger in your heart toward a fellow believer, you are subject to judgment. And whoever demeans and insults a fellow believer is answerable to the congregation. And whoever calls down curses upon a fellow believer is in danger of being sent to a fiery hell.
So then, if you are presenting a gift before the altar and suddenly you remember a quarrel you have with a fellow believer, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go at once to apologize to the one who is offended. Then, after you have reconciled, come to the altar and present your gift.”
— Jesus is making it clear that unresolved conflicts can be a BLESSING BLOCKER in our relationship with God.
— Jesus calls us to proactive peacemaking: seeking forgiveness from those we’ve wronged before even offering our gifts to God.
— There is a clear link between our horizontal relationships with others and our vertical relationship with God.
— We must prioritize peace and reconciliation as acts of worship and obedience to God.
— The humility required to admit wrongs and seek forgiveness reflects Christ’s heart.
— Reconciliation with men (male and female) can lead to a deeper, closer relationship with God.
3. The Lord’s Prayer: Forgiving as We Are Forgiven.
— The prayer most call “The Lord’s Prayer,” states, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.“
— This teaches us that forgiveness is a two-way street: receiving from God and extending to others.
— The reciprocal nature of forgiveness as a fundamental principle of the Kingdom of God.
— How our willingness to forgive others reflects our understanding of God’s forgiveness towards us.
— If you pay close attention to Jesus’ words, He is teaching us to say this to God, “Father, I want you to forgive me, the same way I forgive others.” In other words, “I want you to treat me the same way I treat others.” This connotation here takes us back to Mark 11, where Jesus said, “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
— In the parable of the unforgiving servant, this is exactly what happened. The king forgave the man of a billion-dollar debt. But since the man had someone thrown into jail for a debt of just $20k, the king came back and had the man thrown into jail and tortured. Why? Because the king allowed the man to be treated the way he was treating others. Since he refused to forgive, then his debt was placed BACK on him.
— I hope you can see how important it is to forgive.
4. The Healing Power of Forgiveness.
— Forgiveness is important for many reasons. Not only does it emulate the heart of God, but on a personal level, it can lead to emotional, mental, and spiritual healing.
— Forgiveness can help you break free from the past and embrace hope for the future God destined you to have.
— Forgiveness is a process and may require time and God’s grace. But the therapeutic effect of releasing anger and resentment through forgiveness is supernatural.
— Pray for God to give you the grace to forgive, even in the most challenging circumstances. Remember, forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. It’s more about you than the other person. It frees you!
— If you refuse to forgive, you are actively hindering your walk with Christ. You are choosing to live your life with a BLESSING BLOCKER between you and Jesus.
5. Forgiveness can Serve as a Catalyst for Community Restoration.
— Unforgiveness can create divisions and strife within families, churches, and communities.
— It hinders the flow of God’s love and unity among believers.
— Forgiveness is key to maintaining healthy, God-honoring relationships.
— Unresolved bitterness can be a stumbling block to others’ faith and spiritual growth.
— Collective forgiveness can lead to healing and restoration in broader families and communities.
— It’s important to address and resolve conflicts Biblically, promoting a spirit of reconciliation.
— As members of the Body of Christ, our approach to forgiveness can influence the health and witness of the entire community.
— The testimony of a forgiving community as a beacon of hope and a reflection of God’s love.
— The church (which means you and I – we are the church) has a responsibility to model forgiveness as a path to peace and harmony in a fractured world.
— This world is full of anger, hatred, bitterness, strife, pride, greed, and self-centeredness. If we are going to be light and salt, we must demonstrate something different. Being quick to forgive and reconcile is one of the ways the world will see Jesus in us!
In closing, I want to drive home this point: Forgiveness is for you, not the other person. Forgiveness will free you from the prison you had in your heart and unlock the flow of God’s blessing!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
I declare that I am a vessel of Your forgiveness and grace.
I acknowledge the power of forgiveness in my life and choose to release all bitterness and resentment.
I trust in Your justice and mercy and lay down my desire for personal vengeance.
I commit to seeking reconciliation and peace, following Your example of unconditional love.
Father, help me to forgive as freely as You have forgiven me, reflecting Your heart in my actions.
I embrace forgiveness as an act of obedience and a path to personal freedom.
Father, grant me the wisdom to navigate complex situations with a spirit of forgiveness and discernment.
I declare that my journey of forgiveness is a testament to Your transformative power in my life.
I am committed to being an agent of forgiveness and reconciliation in my community, reflecting Your love and unity.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
