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28 July:The Unforgiving Servant:

 

In last week’s lesson we looked at the parable of the Lost Sheep where the Good Shepherd rescued one of his who was lost. In our desire to be like our Lord we too must learn to love those who are lost – even those who might seem unlovable. We become that extension of His love to the lost so that they can hear and accept His message of forgiveness and redemption.

In today’s lesson Peter asks the Lord a question: Mtt 18:21,22 “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but seventy times seven.’”

This question and answer is then followed up with the following parable:              Mat 18:23-35  "For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. "And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, until repayment was made.”

1. The first thought that comes to my mind is how it is possible that the king is willing to go into such a large loan arrangement? Maybe the man’s financial situation had completely turned around and what was a positive and probable possibility become a “impossibility”. Maybe the man encountered some major short falls in his planning and ends up putting him in an unimaginable situation. In other words, it would seem that some major catastrophe has occurred, and the man is now in dire straits.
2. What is also interesting is that what is going to happen will not be just to the man but also to his whole family. We probably cannot comprehend the fear and despair which is about to happen to him and his family.
3. But notice what happens – the King actually forgives him this huge debt. Now how does that relate to us?      Well, we are similarly in debt to God because of our sins. In the Old Testament sins required sacrifice – life giving blood was spilled on the altar. What blood do we spill today in payment for our sins – Jesus’s blood. The Blood of the Son of God.  Col 1:20 “and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”   Eph 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”   Rev 1:5 “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead . . . to Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood.”    So in exactly the same way – we are into a dept that we can never repay and remove. That is why Jesus came to earth and died on the cross – to release us from that debt.
4. Notice the actions of the man and his King:   Mt 18:26,27  "So the slave fell [to the ground] and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'  "And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt.”  

The response of the man was to fall on the ground and beg for patience – not  debt forgiveness but just leniency for more time to pay. Mercifully the king completely forgave the unpayable debt. That is where we are. We have been forgiven a debt that we could never repay nor would we would to:  2 Cor 5:21 “ For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”     Notice what these two verses say. They both say that Jesus suffered for us   AND   our RESPONSE is to become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21 tells us we become ambassadors for God.

5. Now consider the response of the newly forgiven servant:   Mtt 18:28-35  "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and [began] to choke [him,] saying, 'Pay back what you owe!' "So his fellow slave fell [to the ground] and [began] to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'  "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. So, when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened.  Then summoning him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."  What can we take from this? . . .

LESSON TO BE LEARNED:  Reminder:  2 Tim 3:16  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for training . . . training in righteousness.

Forgiveness is to be taken appropriately – appreciated, absorbed and passed on.  When teaching His disciples how to pray in the Lord’s Prayer: Mt 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

In today’s parable Jesus ends with: “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

When I was reading something on evangelism one or two of the points that was made was that being evangelical was not to be done out of compulsion, arm-twisting or internal guilt. Sharing the message of Christ and salvation was to be an outflowing of the love and appreciation for what was done for us. It is our joy and appreciation for what was done for us that develops OUR DESIRE to pass on that same forgiveness and salvation to others.

I think it might be helpful if we looked at just exactly what did Christ do for us on the Cross. If you look at the sacrificial system of the Old Testament something becomes readily apparent:

OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES:  regulated and imperfect!

1. Lev 4:1-4 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them … then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.’”

1. We see here that what is to be offered is to be perfect and without defect. We are to pick the best that we have and THAT is what we offer up as a sacrifice for our sin.
2. Imagine the emotional and spiritual impact of offering this sacrifice, knowing that it was your sin that made this death necessary.
3. And imagine the frustration in knowing that you’ll be back tomorrow or next week or next year to offer yet another sacrifice because you will sin again and you will have to sacrifice AGAIN!   AND AGAIN!   AND AGAIN!

2. Sacrificial Example:  Burnt Offering
3. The burnt offering was the most important sacrifice at most Israelite festivals and was offered once every morning and once every evening. Bringing the burnt offering was a very personal experience, intended most certainly to make an impression on the Israelite who is offering his sacrifice.
4. Lev 1:4,5 “He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.”
5. To make atonement for his sin and to gain God’s acceptance, the offerer identified himself with the animal by laying his hand on the animal’s head. When the animal died, it died for the sinner’s sins (substitute). Neither the one who offered the sacrifice, nor the priest ate any of the meat; it was all burned in the fire. This was sacrifice in its purest form—a valuable animal given up wholly to God as a payment/punishment for one’s sin.

NEW TESTAMENT SACRIFICE: Christ’s sacrifice was the superior sacrifice

1. 2 Cor 3:5 “NOT that we are adequate ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not the letter but the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.    "Heb 10:1-4 “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sin? But in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” These verses are explaining the inadequacies or short-comings of the Old Testament way of dealing with sin.
2. Heb 9:11ff “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; … but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. … how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
3. Heb 10:10 “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”    1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”     I John 2:2 “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”    Eph 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Now back to our parable, we are the servant who has been forgiven far more than we could ever hope or expect to pay. When we face the truth of who we are in the eyes of God – we see that we are sinners and repeat sinners and deserve the wrath of God. But here is the amazing thing -  not only do we not receive God’s wrath but we receive, instead, God’s love. And we do not only receive God’s love – we are forgiven our sins through the sacrifice/death of God’s Only Begotten Son!!!

Heb 2:2,3 “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” That is the whole point of Jesus’ life and death – bringing salvation to those who believe and obey. 

That is why it is so important that we be God’s ambassador and bringer of God’s message of salvation to the lost:

“Then summoning the unforgiving slave, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

Forgiveness, as needed, and sharing God’s message when appropriate is what is expected from those of us who have accepts God’s forgiveness and salvation.

 

21 July 2024:           Finding The Lost Sheep:  Lk 15      

 

Lk 15:1,2  “Now the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.   Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’  

The parable of the lost sheep is being told because the religious leaders were complaining about how Jesus was spending His time - eating and mingling with tax collectors and other various sinners. If you remember last week’s lesson regarding the talents given to the servants – they went out and produced for the Master = unless they didn’t. And for that, the one talent servant was condemned. Now we see religious leaders complaining about Jesus’ meal companions were of the lower social caste. Because of these negative evaluations Jesus explains why He is spending His time and His energy with these broken and sinful people:

Lk 15:3-7  “So He told them this parable, saying, ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!  So, what happens in this parable?

1. One of the shepherd’s sheep gets lost and the shepherd goes looking for it.       Why is this critical? Why is the shepherd concerned? One reason is because the sheep loses the protection of the shepherd. John 10:11  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”   I John 3:8  “. . . The Son of God appeared for this purpose: TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.”     John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life”    Mt 6:32,33 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

When a sheep becomes separated from the shepherd it no longer knows which way to go to get what it needs. Isn’t that the example we see when the seed falls into the thorns. God is not able to direct and lead those individuals in their lives and because they have gotten caught up in the cares and concerns of this world and become like the one talent servant – unproductive. If they remain in this state – they will eventually find themselves condemned. When we are separate from Jesus, we are alone and vulnerable to all the schemes of the devil.  That is why Paul discusses the armor of God in Eph 6. Why does the shepherd look for the lost sheep – because he cares about his sheep. (J 3:16)  

2. When he finds the sheep, he places it on his shoulders. You will notice that he doesn’t take his rod and punish the wandering sheep. Nor does he take his staff and guide the sheep back to the fold.  HE CARRYS IT home. What does Rom 8:28 say?
   God causes all things to work together for good to those that love Him. God causes…                Consider these verses: I Jhn 3:16 say?  “We know love by this – that He laid down His life for us”        Heb 2:9  “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. When the shepherd places the sheep on his shoulders he is accepting complete responsibility. Isn't that EXACTLY what happened when the cross was placed on the back of Jesus???   Jesus accepted the burdens of our sins and carried off of our backs and onto His. He lifted the punishment for our sins off of us!
3. When the shepherd comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’”   Lk 15:7  “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  

What was the response of the father when the prodigal son returned?  Lk 15:22-24  “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.” Isn't that what the cross did for us? It restored our relationship with the heavenly Father. I Peter 5:4  “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. John 6:40  “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” 

NOW, HERE IS OUR question:  Do we see ourselves in these verses????    Do we understand how we are that lost sheep that has been found and brought into the fold – under the care and blessings of the shepherd. When we look at our lives - does it reflect in our attitude and in the way we live? Does our lives reflect that we believe that we have a life cared for, guided, and protected by the Lord?   John 10:2,3,4 “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”  Are we following Jesus in the lifestyle that we live?   In Mtt 7 Jesus rejects those who cast out demons in His name because He does not know them. Does Jesus know our names?     Do we see ourselves as one of His flock and are we coming to Him for the Words Of Life?  

1. Are we continually devoting our focus to the Word?      Acts 2:42  “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teachings and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.” 

2. Is fellowshipping with the saints of primary importance? Do we sincerely desire spending time in worship with one another or do we look for something wrong, inappropriate or any excuse for not worshipping with the Saints?       Heb 10:24,25 “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  

3. Do we look for opportunities to do God’s work in the lives of those around us or are we content to just show up and pretend that we care?  Mt 13:22  “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and becomes unfruitful.” John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   

LOST SHEEP SUMMARY: 

1. God watches over each and every one of us and cares about us – our lives and our souls.
2. He has searched for us, reached down to us and provides for us.
3. He rejoices over our life with Him and promises to extend that life with Him throughout eternity and into His eternal Home.
4. They, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ARE our Good Shepherd which we can rejoice and be thankful for.

 

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