Do You Want to be Forgiven?

Matthew 18:21-35

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents^[b] was brought to him. ²⁵ Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶ “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ ²⁷ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸ “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.^[c] 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 you back.’

³⁰ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹ When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed 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 turned 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 from your heart.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:%2021%20%2035&version=NIV1984)

“I forgive you,” those are very easy words to say but are they always heartfelt?  This is a question that each one of us needs to ponder as we will be judged according to our forgiveness of others.  There is another place where Jesus specifies that we need to forgive, Matthew 6: 12, 14-15.  We find it when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray.  When He said,  ^12 “Forgive us our debts  as we also have forgiven our debtors”.  Following that prayer He made another special emphasis on this specific portion of the verse when He said, ^{14 “}For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”.  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:%2012%20-%2015&version=NIV1984) Is forgiveness important?  It is if you want to be forgiven by the Father! 

Sometimes it is easier to forgive than other times.  Because we look at sin at different levels.  In our eyes a lie dims in comparison to murder.   In Isaiah 59: 2 – 3 we see murder and a lie are in the same category, one that separates us from God.  ² But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. ³ For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.  Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.  When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, in Matthew 22: 37 – 40,   ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:%2021%20-%2035&version=NIV1984Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2022:%20%2037%20%2040&version=NIV1984)  If you stop and think about every commandment, each of them applies to either our relationship with God or our brother. 

Some hurts, for humans are deeper than others.  It is much easier for us to forgive a lie than it is a murder.  It is much easier for us to forgive the debt of our brother if it is $100.00 but if it is $1,000.00 we are a little less likely to forgive it.  God doesn’t look at it that way.  Any sin we commit is a separation from God, as is stated in Isaiah 59. 

Now that we have established the seriousness of all sin, let’s look back at our verses for us today.  Our Father has forgiven our huge debt in which we should be more than grateful for.  Yet, if our brother speaks against us and we hold that against them, not forgiving them is not acceptable to God.  If we can’t forgive how can the Father forgive us?  We are not any more special to our Father than our brother is.  Forgiveness is essential.  We can say, “I forgive” but it is our heart that the forgiveness needs to come from, not our mouths.  It is so easy to tell our brother that they need to forgive but we need to first look at our own hearts and make sure we have forgiven.  Jesus gave us an example of forgiving from the heart, one that we ourselves need to take to heart when our brother has sinned against us.  It can be found in Luke 23:34  ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:34&version=NIV1984)   It is written how they beat Him, spat upon Him, mocked Him, and stole from Him but He forgave them even while He was in pain, hanging from a cross.  We are to use His example and forgive others. When we are in our deepest hurt over the actions of others we need to forgive and forgive from our hearts, not lip service.  We need to each one examine our hearts to see that we have forgiven or our brothers from our hearts.

As you seek Him and find Him, remember that just as He has forgiven you, so must you forgive your brother.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Accountability

Matthew 18:15-20

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ¹⁶ But if he 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 he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:%2015%20-%2020&version=NIV1984)

Accountability, God designed it and Jesus speaks about it here.  I have to think back to the creation of man and women.  When God created Eve, the scripture tells us that He did so to create a helpmate for Adam.  In the situation of the fruit, Eve, was not very helpful but Adam was there to hold her accountable which we know that he did not but rather took of the fruit even when he knew it was wrong. 
Now skip ahead several thousand years to the time of Christ.  He is once again explaining the reason for Christian brothers (and sisters).  We are to hold one another accountable.  If someone sins against us, it is really easy to go and tell someone else who tells someone else and the story gets bigger and bigger.  Jesus said to go to the source of the pain and let the brother know.  For one, you are holding your brother accountable to make the matter right and for another you are allowing your brother to know that you have been hurt.  Who knows, you might even find out that you hurt your brother just as much as he hurt you.  It is very painful that to be told several years after an incident that you hurt someone but even worse to be told by someone else that you hurt another person.  Gossip is cruel and has no place in the world let alone the church but it continues.  Jesus makes it clear that we are to go to the one that has hurt us and make amends.  I do not believe Jesus is saying to go to that person and tell them how horrible they are and how they need to get right with God but I think he is saying to mend the hurts.  Listen to one another in brotherly love and understand each other. 
If this doesn’t work you are to take someone with you, not to gang up on the other person but to be a mediator.  I think that many people read this as taking someone else with you to confirm what you are saying and to belittle the person even more but I do not believe this is what Jesus is saying.  I have been trained and have trained others in mediation.  In mediation you listen to what each other has to say and try to understand their point of view.  You then come to an agreement, one that both can be satisfied with.  It is a beautiful thing to see happen when mediation works the way it was designed to work. But when it doesn’t work Jesus goes on to say that we need to take the matter to the church.  When Jesus was saying this there were not churches like there are today.  What/Who was the church?   Did He consider the Synagogue the church?  Were they supposed to get up in front of the church and announce how this brother sinned against him?  Were they supposed to spread gossip concerning this person?  I believe what Jesus is saying is that when someone doesn’t not want to listen to you regarding their sin against you or anyone else, and you have tried to reconcile on your own and using a mediator but they person still will not reconcile, you should take it to other members of the body in order to have prayer for that person.   The human side of us will take the to others to get support for ourselves but Jesus says we need to take it to them in order that the offender can get support.
Okay, what do I mean by all of that?  Let’s take a look at the greatest mediator ever, Jesus.  I Timothy 2:5 “⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Timothy%202:5&version=NIV1984).
When we read that verse we automatically think about Jesus interceding for us at the throne of grace but let’s look a little deeper.  If you read the verses just prior to verse 5, this is what you read, I Timothy 2: 1 -6 “¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 
Now take what is said there and tie it back to the Matthew scripture.  First of all we need to pray for everyone which includes those who have sinned against us or who have hurt us.  We need to come together in the name of the Lord and invite Him into our meeting.  So when you go to meet with someone you need to do so with an attitude of prayer as they too should do.  If that attitude of prayer is only one way, the next time take someone else who will be in the attitude of prayer as the human mediator in order that you can pray together and have the Spiritual mediator in your presence mediating to God on behalf of your brother who has offended you.  If the person still refuses to see and understand his offense then take it to the church, not to condemn the person, by no means.  Rather for the church to pray for this person as well.  When Jesus says to treat them like the tax collector or the pagans He is telling you to treat that person as though they were unsaved in order for them to be drawn near to Christ.  Think about how Jesus interacted with the tax collectors and pagans.  He entered their homes, He ate with them, He allowed them to sit at His feet and weep, He gave them living water, He healed them, He cared for them.  He did this so all would have the opportunity to know of the Grace that He has to offer and so they would know the Truth.  That is what we need to do as well.  If we are to have the penalty of sin loosed from us and our brother, we need to treat them as Jesus would have treated them.  We need to show brotherly love, love that will sacrifice our own desires in order that they may walk in the truths of Jesus Christ.  None of us want to be bound in sin when we are in Heaven nor should we want our brother to as Jesus said that we leave this earth bound in sin it won’t be released in Heaven.  We need to do our part by taking our cross up daily for the sake of our brothers. 
As you seek Him and find Him may you remember to share His love with others so that they will be given the opportunity to know our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.

Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila

Cross references:

1. 1 Timothy 2:5 : Dt 6:4; Ro 3:29, 30; 10:12
2. 1 Timothy 2:5 : S Gal 3:20
3. 1 Timothy 2:5 : Ro 1:3

Wandering Sheep

Matthew 18:10-14

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁰ “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Have you ever wondered what the will of the Father is?  Well it tells us right here in verse 14!  It is His will that all His sheep are together. 

First let’s take into consideration who He is talking about?  Is everyone considered “His sheep”.  No, unless you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you cannot be considered one of His sheep.  Are you considered one of His sheep?  If so, we know that He would pursue you to make sure that you are not lost. In fact, He would leave 99 other sheep to come after you.  If that is the will of the Father it should be our desire as well. 

Tie all of that back to verse 10 when He is speaking of the “little ones”.  Before the age of accountability I would say all of these children are His sheep and He does not want any of them to perish.  It is His will that every baby born into this world be given the opportunity to know Him.  Yet I see so many in this world being raised by the world’s standards and not Christ standards.  We are causing the little ones to stray from their creator and many of them have no idea that they are doing so.  Most Christians became a Christian before the age of 18.  Yet we seem to forget that when it comes to evangelizing our children. 

The day after our Easter break at school I asked the students how many of them attended church on Easter Sunday and only one out of 20 students had attended some type of Easter service.  That really opened my eyes to the fact that we are not reaching and our children.  They are wandering out there in this corrupt world and they don’t have any idea where they are going.  Someone is missing in their lives and we are not going out there and showing them who it is.

Each one of us needs to ask ourselves, “Am I going out and looking for the wandering lost sheep or am I letting it stray away?”  The flock is being scattered.  What is our part in gathering them back?

As you seek Him and find Him, I trust that you will share in His will that all the flock will be gathered to Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

The Trick of Sin

Matthew 18:7 – 9

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!  Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! ⁸If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, 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. ⁹And if your eye causes you to sin, 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.”   

I want to first make it clear that I do not think that Jesus was telling us to go and cut off our hand or foot or gouge our eye because we have sinned using them.  It is not our hands, feet, or eyes that causes us to sin but it is our will and the influence of the world through others actions that causes us to sin.  I am of the opinion that what Christ was telling us in these verses is to not have anything to do with people that may cause us to sin.  I say this because of the  verses previous to verse 7 where Jesus is talking about someone who causes a child to sin.  Remember, it is better for them if a millstone is tied around their neck and dropped into the sea.    And then in verse 7 He says, “woe  to this world”.  In the same way, people we hang around can influence us to do things that we should not do.  I always told my students to hang out with people that bring the best out of them not the worst.  It is so easy to fall into sin when you see others doing it.

Sin is fun until judgment.  It is deceitful and when we are around those who are seemingly having fun we seem to gravitate towards it.  Think of Adam and Eve.  When Eve took the forbidden fruit, Adam looked at her and must have thought it was okay because she was still alive.  Judgment came though when he ate of the fruit.  Sin was deceitful and caused judgment upon all those who partook of it. We don’t want to find ourselves facing judgment for the sin that we were tricked into committing and for sure we don’t want to cause others to sin. Remember, there was a consequence for the serpent that tricked Eve, there was a consequence for Eve who convinced Adam, and there was a consequence for Adam who partook.

No matter what sin you have committed we have a Lord and Savior that is here to forgive you of that sin.  As it says in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV).  But we can find forgiveness through Jesus Christ  as we see in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV)  How amazing to have a Father that forgives us!!!!!!

Our lesson today is to seek out those who are seeking to know Him with all their hearts.  Find people who have the love of Jesus within them so that they can build you up and encourage you to walk a life worthy of the calling through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

The Greatest

Matthew 18:1-6

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³ And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. ⁶ But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018:1%20-%206&version=NIV1984)

Have you ever asked a stupid question and then wondered why in the world you asked it?  I would imagine that whoever asked this question regarding who was greatest in the kingdom wondered why he asked it!  Yet it is a good question because the answer is not what we thought it might have been. 

Often times on this earth we start measuring people by their position, their power, their title and we think the bigger the position, the better the reward.  Yet that is not the way it is in the kingdom of God.  It is not the mighty person that is greatest, it is the one that is the most humble.  The person in the lowly position, the one that serves rather than being served is the one that has the greatest position in Heaven.  Those that think that they are a little bit closer to God because of their position might want to rethink that. If we are not humbled by the fact that there is a God so big that our imaginations can’t even describe the greatness and that we are but a pinpoint or less in comparison then we have missed the point.

What does a child do when he/she can’t do something on their own? They first must admit that they cannot do it and then they go to someone who can help.  That is what our Heavenly Father wants us to do too.  He wants us to admit when we don’t have the answers (which is all the time) and He wants us to come to Him and ask.    That is humility.  When we decide that we have all the answers then we have stepped over the line into arrogance and self-righteousness.  Now some may say that humbleness is a form of weakness. Some may also say that people who are humble are vulnerable but Jesus tells us that the people who take advantage of His children will be rightly judged. 

As I write this blog, this week is vacation Bible school in our little town.  Children from across the city are given the opportunity to come and learn about our Amazing God.  I have to work so I can’t be a part of the actual Bible school but I am praying that the children’s ears will be open to the Word of God and that they will have an understanding of what is being taught to them.  I am praying that they will receive the Word and live by the Word.  Maybe there will even be some adults who will learn more about Him.  I ask that you join me in prayer for the children around this world, both the small ones and the ones (maybe adults) who have recently been introduced to the Lord.  We need to educate them all in order that they may know the truth and the truth will set them free.

As you seek Him with all your heart be sure to share what you have found with others along life’s way.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Provisions

Matthew 17:24-27

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes —from their own sons or from others?”

²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:%2024%20-%2027&version=NIV1984)

Often times when we read this we get hung up on what a two-drachma tax is and what practices were done during Jesus time.  I want us to look at it a little differently at these scriptures  today.

First of all we see Peter standing up for the Lord.  I can imagine he was telling these people that Jesus would pay but all the while he was wondering how they would ever pay it.  Remember, our Lord didn’t even have a place to lay His head.  So when Peter walked in the door he didn’t have to say anything to Jesus, the Lord knew that Peter had questions regarding the tax.  Now, I would say that is pretty cool, the Lord just knew!  But wait, that is the same way He is with us, He knows our cares, concerns, sorrows, and even our silly little doubts just like He knew Peters.  Isn’t that amazing?

The second thing I noticed was that Jesus did not want to offend anyone.  There are people around us that feel that taxes aren’t that important.  They may say that they are paying their money to the church yet they fail to pay their taxes on time or even at all.  That sends a negative message to those around us.  They publicize in the newspaper the names of those who don’t pay taxes and sends a negative message to someone who is watching your every action.  So it is with Jesus, He tells Peter that they better shy away from offending and the He provides a means for to pay the tax not only for Himself but for Peter as well.  It may have been that they were not to offend because it was not yet Jesus time to be crucified and not paying these taxes could have spurred on a rebellion against Him especially with His claims to be the Son of God.  No matter what the case may have been, Jesus didn’t offend but rather provided a miracle.  He produced the coins needed for both His and Peter’s taxes.

I think it is so amazing that when we, like Peter, have confidence in our Lord and proclaim His mighty power, He provides for our needs.  Peter was not telling a fib but was rather stating a fact without knowing how it would ever be accomplished but God provided and the taxes were paid.

What are you doing and saying the signifies your faith in Him.  Be still and know that God knows your questions and He will answer them in due time, in a prompt and perfect time.

As you seek Him, may you have your questions answered as you seek Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Faith

Matthew 17:14-23

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. ¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

¹⁷ “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁰ He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

²² When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:%2014%20-%2023&version=NIV1984)

Have you ever been reprimanded by someone?  If you have you know that it doesn’t feel good and yet sometimes it is necessary.  Jesus calls the generation unbelieving and perverse.  Does that sound like us?  I don’t think a lot has changed since the time that Jesus walked on this earth.  Sometimes we may say we believe but do we really? 

Later the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t heal the boy and He told them it was because of their lack of faith. I don’t know about you but I know that sometimes I struggle with this passage.  There were so many times that I prayed for the healing of my mother only to see her continue to suffer with Parkinson’s disease.  I would hate to think it was because of my lack of faith that she did not become healed on this earth.  But as I read on, I have some indication that maybe not always is it a lack of faith when we do not experience healing.

Look at the last two verses.  Here Jesus predicts His death and also His resurrection.  I don’t think the disciples really heard His words because they were filled with grief.  He did say He would suffer and die but that wasn’t the end of the story.  He also tells them that He will rise again on the third day.  Now if they would have truly heard this they would not have been filled with grief but rather in wonder of His mighty power.

In life we may suffer.  Cancer may overtake the body or any disease common to man.  We may pray for healing and not receive it.  But look at Jesus, He had all the power in the universe to stop what was happening to Him yet He chose to suffer through it for us.  In the end His glory was revealed when He did rise again.  There is more power in death when there is a resurrection with it.  For those who believe, even after death you will conquer death, resurrection will be in your future.  With that we can be comforted in Him.  Jesus disciples did not have enough faith to reject the evil one that had manifested  himself in this young boy.  The evil one is in this world to seek and destroy but if we have the faith of a mustard seed he cannot touch us.  Do you rest in peace through Jesus Christ?  No matter what your situation you can find healing of your soul through a wonderful and mighty God.

Seek Him and find comfort in Him.  Be healed from unbelief and let Him be your Savior.  Resurrection awaits those who believe.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila