Matthew 18

Please note that part 1 of this message is not available on the podcast. Apologies for the incovenience.

Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

What are the disciples revealing to us?

• Self-centredness (Romans 7:5; 8:8)
• Pride (Genesis 3:5, Proverbs 16:18)

What is Jesus trying to teach us through children?

• Faith (Matthew 6:31-33)
• Humility (Romans 12:3, Philippians 2:3–4)
• God’s Love (Romans 5:8, 2 Peter 3:9)

Lessons for us.

• Eyes on Jesus
• Attitude of Jesus
• Love like Jesus
• Grave warning about unforgiveness

Stumbling blocks

Satan

• Tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11)
• Tempted & overcame Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)
• Can use our unforgiveness against us (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
• Will try to lead us astray like Eve (2 Corinthians 11:3)
• Apostle Paul was tormented (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
• Can only be thwarted by the armour of God (Ephesians 6:11-12)
• Is always looking for ways to attack us (1 Peter 5:8-9)

External

• World (Romans 12:2, Acts 17:30-31)
• People (Psalm 1:1, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Romans 12:19)

Self

• Hand or foot (1 Corinthians 10:31, Psalm 119:1, Psalm 128:1, Micah 6:8)
• Eyes (Matthew 6:22-23)
• Don’t be one to children by despising them!

Reflections

• What are the external stumbling blocks in your life (if any)?
• What stumbling blocks have you brought upon yourself?

Everyone is valuable to God!

• The Good Shepherd goes after a sheep that strays, knowing the ninety-nine will be safe.
• God the Father doesn’t want a single child to perish, be it a little child or a child of God.
• Dealing with a sinning Christian (against another)
  • Purpose: Win the Christian back to Christ
  • Process
    • Keep things private
    • Involve one or two more (Deuteronomy 19:15, 1 Timothy 5:19)
    • Bring it to the church (1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–16; 2 Timothy 2:23–26; Titus 3:10-11)
  • Punishment: No repentance? Treated as one outside the church but don’t be ungodly.

Bind. Loose. Agree.

• Matthew 16:18-19
• We (bind) forbid what is already forbidden by God.
• We (loose) permit what is permitted by God.
• Sumphóneó – to call out with, to be in harmony, generally to agree
• Unity in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus being with us when we pray together

Forgiveness amongst Christians

• Reminder for Christians (v21-22)
• Peter: Seven times
  • Rabbi’s taught three times (Amos 1:3 & 2:1)
  • Pride & Self-righteousness (Matthew 6:1, Matthew 5:20)
• Jesus: Seventy times seven
  • Taught forgiveness (Matthew 6:12, 6:14-15)
  • Forgave His killers (Luke 23:34)
  • Forgave us (Romans 5:8)
  • Love forgives (1 Corinthians 13:5)
  • God’s forgiveness (Ephesians 3:17-19)
  • Forgiveness isn’t blind or shallow (Philippians 1:9-10)

Forgiveness of God

• For this reason – magnitude of forgiveness
• King – God the Father
• Slaves – Christians (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 7:23)
• Ten thousand talents
  • Daily wage – 1 denarius, so annual ~ 300 denarii (6 days a week x 50 weeks)
  • 20 years = 6000 denarii = 1 talent
  • 10,000 talents = 200,000 years to pay!
  • AUD $4 billion dollars today*
• Impossible debt to pay!
• Slave
  • Debtor – Stealing from the king since yearly tax was 800 talents (Wiersbe).
    • Pride
    •  Unrepentant
  • Creditor
    • Selfish
    • Unforgiving
  • Prisoner
    • Physically
    • Spiritually

Are we forgiving of other Christians?

God has forgiven us, are we forgiving of other Christians?

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Colossians 3:12-13

Can Christians be unforgiving?

Is an unforgiving Christian, truly a Christian?

For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:14-15

So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:17-20

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:34-35