15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence 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, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” (ESV)
How many times do I have to forgive my brother? When your brother sins, you need to confront him with the truth! This is not to condemn your brother for his sin, but call him to repentance. This is the loving act of a brother, to point out your brother's sins. How many times should we forgive our brother?
Jesus illustrates his point by the parable of the unforgiving servant. The King has forgiven him a great debt. But he was not willing to forgive the debt of his brother or fellow slave. We are brothers with our fellow slaves of Jesus Christ. We have been forgiven our sins. But if my brother has a debt and I ignore it is that the same as forgiveness. If I do not tell my brother that he has sinned, then can that sin really be forgiven.
As slaves of Christ, we honor our Lord and master by recognizing the debts of our fellow slaves. We call people to repentance. There are sins of sexual immorality. There are sins of greed. There are sins of gluttony. There are sins of many different kinds. We confess our sins before God and one another. When our brother confesses his sins, we should forgive those sins. We forgive others because God has forgiven all our sins.
Jesus Christ has died for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus Christ made this sacrifice so that you could have life and salvation. This gift should be shared between all the slaves of Christ.
Jesus illustrates his point by the parable of the unforgiving servant. The King has forgiven him a great debt. But he was not willing to forgive the debt of his brother or fellow slave. We are brothers with our fellow slaves of Jesus Christ. We have been forgiven our sins. But if my brother has a debt and I ignore it is that the same as forgiveness. If I do not tell my brother that he has sinned, then can that sin really be forgiven.
As slaves of Christ, we honor our Lord and master by recognizing the debts of our fellow slaves. We call people to repentance. There are sins of sexual immorality. There are sins of greed. There are sins of gluttony. There are sins of many different kinds. We confess our sins before God and one another. When our brother confesses his sins, we should forgive those sins. We forgive others because God has forgiven all our sins.
Jesus Christ has died for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus Christ made this sacrifice so that you could have life and salvation. This gift should be shared between all the slaves of Christ.
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