Generous Forgiveness
Series: Generous God
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 20th August 2023
Passage: Luke 17:3-10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 It was in October 2006.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:10 A gunman took a bunch of hostages
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 in a one-room Amish school in Pennsylvania, USA.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 The result was of that moment that he shot 10 children,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 all between the ages of 7 and 12, 13,
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 five of whom died before he himself took his own life.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:33 Within hours of that tragedy happening,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:40 the Amish community visited both the killer's immediate family
00:00:40 --> 00:00:46 and his parents to express sympathy
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 for the loss of their father, brother, son.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 The Amish, as a community,
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 the uniformly expressed forgiveness for the murderer.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 And this amazed America.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:11 Numerous voices called on America as a nation to follow suit
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 and to be a country that is more forgiving.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 Others commented that,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 no, no, no, justice must come first here before forgiveness.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 Others commented, in fact, that the secular society
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 in which they were existing here
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 can't produce people who handle
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 that level of injustice and suffering
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 without some form of retaliation.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 You see, their culture, like ours,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 is committed to self-realization and self-assertion
00:01:47 --> 00:01:52 with a profound sense of self-entitlement.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:57 We are consistently told that our happiness,
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 our individual happiness,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 our individual interests,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 our needs come first.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 And yet, there's something in it that says
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 we cannot live without forgiveness.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 No society can, in fact, survive without forgiveness.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 When it's absent in a society,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 in any sort of community,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 with any family,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 the results are horrifying.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:24 As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 he who is devoid of the power to forgive
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 is devoid of the power of love.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 And we cannot live without love.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 We crave a more loving,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 a more generous society.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 But instead, what we are existing on,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 in right now, in our culture,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 is from the schoolyard to the lounge room
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 to the office, to institution and politics,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 we exist in cancel culture,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 not forgiving culture.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:02 And so, if you just joined us,
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 our theme for this term is generous God.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 What I've been saying consistently
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 throughout this series
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 is that generosity in the Bible
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 is not less than what we do with our money,
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 but it's much more than that.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 Radical generosity means to be pervasively generous.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 It's characterized by our spirit of unselfishness,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 of service and generosity
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 in every single area of life.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 And there's a very specific form
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 of relational generosity
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 that must characterize every Christian,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 and that is generous forgiveness.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 And so, grab your Bibles, Luke 17,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 St. Paul's app has got an outline.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 You'll see the journey there.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 We're going to start with the difficulty of forgiveness,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 how to practice forgiveness,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 and then how to unlock forgiveness.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 That's our journey this morning.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 So, every one of us
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 have people out there
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 who, if you like,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:02 owe us
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 in some way
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 because of the way they've treated us
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 or because of the way that we have perceived
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 that they've treated us.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 And we tend to hold that thing over them
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 relationally in some kind of way.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 We might be demanding of them
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 or we might just keep it bottled up inside
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 and we don't speak about it.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 Either way,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 it's not a radical generosity towards them.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 Forgiveness means that we release it.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 We need to let it go.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 Does that sound hard?
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 Does it sound hard?
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 Well, the disciples said,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 yes, this is really hard.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 They thought it was too.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 You see, when Jesus starts talking about forgiveness,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 the response of the disciples
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 is an emphatic,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 increase our faith.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 Increase our faith.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 It's another way of saying,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 how on earth is this possible?
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 How can we possibly live like this?
00:05:04 --> 00:05:10 Verse 4 is the enormity of the challenge
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 Jesus puts before the disciples.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:12 He says,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 if your brother sins against you seven times in a day
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 and seven times they come to you repentant,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 you must forgive.
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 Now, he's not encouraging them in any way
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 to calculate how many times
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 someone sins against you in the course of one day.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:35 The number seven was symbolic for Jewish people.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 It's the number that means completeness,
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 fullness,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:41 perfection,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 beyond which no more is possible.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 So what Jesus is saying here
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 is a lot worse than we think it is.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 Someone put it like this.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 If a person would wrong you
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 as completely and as fully
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 as any person
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 could wrong another human being,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 you must forgive them.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 Imagine the worst thing
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 that anyone could ever possibly do to you.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 Something so bad
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 that there's nothing beyond it that's possible.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 Jesus turns to his disciples
00:06:24 --> 00:06:24 and says,
00:06:25 --> 00:06:25 you must forgive them.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 That's why they're going,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 increase our faith.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 Increase our faith.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 That's impossible, Jesus.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 It's an enormous challenge
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 and yet it's one
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 that we should not shrink back from
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 because
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 Jesus says
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 there's an enormous danger for you
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 if you don't forgive.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 There's a little phrase
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 right at the very beginning
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 of our passage read out for us.
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 It's easy to ignore.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 Verse three,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 it says very simply,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 watch yourselves.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 We are called to
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 watch ourselves
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 when we are sinned against.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 Which is the exact opposite
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 of what normally happens.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 Normally when someone wrongs us,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 we pay a great deal of attention
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 to them.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Think about how much they've wronged us,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 how much they've hurt us.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:26 Jesus says
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 we are to pay attention to ourselves
00:07:28 --> 00:07:32 because there is so much damage
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 to ourselves
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 if we don't.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 Watch yourselves.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 Watch yourselves
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 because it is so hard
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 to admit
00:07:44 --> 00:07:48 how angry you are
00:07:48 --> 00:07:48 at the people
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 that have wronged you.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 We say
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 I'm fine.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 You know,
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 I'm just a little upset.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 And we have to say that
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 in order to maintain
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 the image
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 that we ourselves
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 are good people.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 and so we deny
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 how embittered
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 we actually are.
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 And then we say
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 things like,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 well,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 I forgive them
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 but I don't forget.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 Forgive but don't forget.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 Which translated
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 means
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 I'm not
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 actively seeking
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 their revenge
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 but I'm hoping
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 they do get
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 some payback.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:33 Okay.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 We should always
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 assume
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 this is what Jesus
00:08:43 --> 00:08:43 is saying here
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 we'll watch
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 always assume
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 that you are
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 more resentful
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 and less forgiving
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 and more controlled
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 by what other people
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 think of you
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 than you are.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 Than you think you are.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 Jesus says
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 watch yourself
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 because
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 it will
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 destroy you.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 Watch yourself
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 when you are wronged
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 against
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 it will
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 destroy you.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 The Russian novelist
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 Leo Tolstoy
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 I'm going to mention him
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 I think in a couple
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 of weeks as well
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 a bit more
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 extensive illustration
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 but to simply say
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 he had an extremely
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 over
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 over
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 inflated view
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 of himself
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 is probably a good
00:09:25 --> 00:09:25 way to put it.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 He was a
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 notoriously
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 difficult individual.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 He was married
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 to a lady
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 named Sonia
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 and on the eve
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 of his wedding
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 to Sonia
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 he gave
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 Sonia
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 his diaries
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 for her to read
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 which included
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 his many
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 many sexual
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 experiences
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 including
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 one of which
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 was with
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 the servant
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 who was currently
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 living and working
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 with them
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 and the child
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 that she had
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 was his.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:03 Now that should
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 have raised
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 a whole heap
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 of alarms
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 for Sonia
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 in that moment
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 but they
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 went on
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 into marriage
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 anyway
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 and the early
00:10:09 --> 00:10:09 days of their
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 marriage
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 were relatively
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 happy
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 but later
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 on in life
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 Sonia
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 herself
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 was known
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 to launch
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 into
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 jealous
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 rage
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 and tirades
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 when she
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 was 80
00:10:26 --> 00:10:26 years old
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 she was
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 writing in
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 her own
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 journal
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 very very
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 bitterly
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 about how
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 she had
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 read those
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 diaries
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 decades
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 before
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 one historian
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 wrote this
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 about her
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 for half a
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 century
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 for unforgiveness
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 blameded her
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 and in the
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 process
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 destroyed
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 all love
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 for her
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 husband
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 and herself
00:10:50 --> 00:10:54 Hebrews 12
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 15 says
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 see to it
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 that no one
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 falls short
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 of the grace
00:10:59 --> 00:10:59 of God
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 and that no
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 bitter root
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 grows up
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 to cause
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 trouble
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 and defile
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 many
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 that's why
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 Jesus is here
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 watch
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 yourselves
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 watch
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 yourself
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 because
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 our
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 anger
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 will
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 always
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 call itself
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 justified
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 it will
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 always
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 call itself
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 truth
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 and righteousness
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 and if we
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 keep a hold
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 of it
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 it will
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 defile us
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 it's
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 interesting
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 that in
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 the English
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 language
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 there are
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 four words
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 that all
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 come from
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 the same
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 core root
00:11:36 --> 00:11:36 meaning
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 wrath
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 which is
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 rage
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 fury
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 anger
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 wreath
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 which is
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 a twisting
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 together
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 of flowers
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 and vines
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 and branches
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 writhe
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 which is
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 to be
00:11:50 --> 00:11:50 bent
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 out of
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 shape
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 and contorted
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 and wraith
00:11:55 --> 00:11:55 which is
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 a ghost
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 like image
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 of someone
00:11:57 --> 00:11:59 just before
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 or after
00:12:00 --> 00:12:00 death
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 Jesus
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 says
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 watch
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 yourself
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 watch
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 yourself
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 for the
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 low level
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 spiritual
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 fever
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 called
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 self
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 pity
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 it will
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 give you
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 a sense
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 of
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 entitlement
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 that because
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 of what
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 you've
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 gone
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 through
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 you deserve
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 a break
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 you deserve
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 a good
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 treatment
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 from other
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 people
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 watch
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 yourself
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 because if
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 the good
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 treatment
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 does not
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 come
00:12:25 --> 00:12:25 you will
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 quickly slide
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 into
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 cynicism
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 a joyless
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 cynicism
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 about people
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 and life
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 watch
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 yourself
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 because you
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 will pull
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 yourself
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 back from
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 people
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 for example
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 watch
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 yourself
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 if you
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 can't
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 forgive
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 your
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 parents
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 for things
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 that they've
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 done
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 it will
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 distort
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 your
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 relationship
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 with every
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 single
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 authority
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 figure
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 in life
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 watch
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 yourself
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 if someone
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 snubs
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 you
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 put yourself
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 on high
00:12:50 --> 00:12:50 alert
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 watch
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 your heart
00:12:52 --> 00:12:52 because
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 their snub
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 of you
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 is in
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 fact
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 the least
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 of your
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 problems
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 the least
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 of your
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 problems
00:12:59 --> 00:13:04 beginning
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 of this
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 year
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 I said
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 that
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 I
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 told
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 you
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 my
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 new
00:13:09 --> 00:13:09 year's
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 resolutions
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 one
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 of
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 which
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 was
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 to
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 run
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 a
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 marathon
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 and
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 second
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 of which
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 was
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 to set
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 a PB
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 running
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 that
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 marathon
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 it was
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 my
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 first
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 ever
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 marathon
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 and
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 to set
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 a PB
00:13:22 --> 00:13:22 doing
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 it
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 so
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 providing
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 I did
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 the
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 first
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 I would
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 achieve
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 the
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 second
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 so
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 two
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 in
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 one
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 go
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 and
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 so
00:13:28 --> 00:13:31 I
00:13:31 --> 00:13:36 did
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 that
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 Matilda's
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 didn't
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 get one
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 of these
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 but
00:13:38 --> 00:13:42 it's
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 too
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 soon
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 isn't
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 it
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 yeah
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 there's
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 a lot
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 of pain
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 there
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 a lot
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 of pain
00:13:46 --> 00:13:50 this
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 achieving
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 this
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 was
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 grueling
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 it
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 was
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 grueling
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 it
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 was
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 hard
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 work
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 and
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 I
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 will
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 never
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 ever
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 do
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 it
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 again
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 the
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 cost
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 was
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 enormous
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 another
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 new
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 year's
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 resolution
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 I won't
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 put it
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 there
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 I'll
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 put it
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 back
00:14:11 --> 00:14:14 another
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 resolution
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 was to
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 not
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 purchase
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 any
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 new
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 clothing
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 except
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 for
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 underwear
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 which
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 I
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 don't
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 bear
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 second
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 hand
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 I
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 failed
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 in
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 that
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 one
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 I
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 bought
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 this
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 shirt
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 this
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 week
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 do
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 you know
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 the
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 hardest
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 hardest
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 hardest
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 new
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 resolution
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 that I've
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 had to
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 really
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 wrestle
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 with
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 not running
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 a
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 marathon
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 but
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 this
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 issue
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 I
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 said
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 one of
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 my
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 new
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 year's
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 resolutions
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 this
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 year
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 was to
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 grow
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 in
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 self
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 forgetfulness
00:14:46 --> 00:14:51 forgetfulness
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 and
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 do you
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 know
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 you
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 cannot
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 grow
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 in
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 self
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 forgetfulness
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 without
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 watching
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 yourself
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 ironically
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 without
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 watching
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 yourself
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 so all
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 of this
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 year
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 since
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 early
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 January
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 this year
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 I have
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 slowly
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 and slowly
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 been working
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 through
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 this book
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 called
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 Forgive
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 Forgive
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 by Tim
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Keller
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 I commend
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 it to
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 you
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 I commend
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 it to
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 you
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 and how
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 hard it
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 is
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 to truly
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 forgive
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 and how
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 essential it
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 is to
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 forgive
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 in this
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 past week
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 I've come
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 across four
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 people from
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 my past
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 and every
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 time the
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 first thought
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 in my mind
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 was how
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 those people
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 had wronged
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 me
00:15:42 --> 00:15:46 Steve
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 watch
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 yourself
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 watch
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 yourself
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 so how
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 do we
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 practice
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 forgiveness
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 there are
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 at least
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 three things
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 that we
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 must do
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 if we
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 are to
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 avoid
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 becoming
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 twisted
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 and distorted
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 by bitterness
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 the first
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 thing we
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 must do
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 is refuse
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 caricature
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 the
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 wrongdoer
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 but we
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 must
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 instead
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 identify
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 with them
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 if someone
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 wrongs us
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 the first
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 thing we
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 do
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 is emphasize
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 their faults
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 and their
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 failings
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 Jesus is
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 making an
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 important point
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 here
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 when he
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 says
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 if your
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 brother
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 sins
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 and he's
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 talking in
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 this context
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 about Christians
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 wronging
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 Christians
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 he's reminding
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 us that we
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 are part of a
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 common family
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 when our
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 temptation is to
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 highlight the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 differences
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Jesus says
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 no no no
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 emphasize the
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 unity
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 in whose
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 you are
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 however the
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Bible doesn't
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 just say
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 Christians are
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 to forgive
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 Christians
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 Mark 11
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 25
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Jesus says
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 when you
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 stand praying
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 if you
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 hold anything
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 against
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 anyone
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 forgive them
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 anyone
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 it's the same
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 principle
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 we must
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 stress
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 what we
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 have in
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 common
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 with the
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 other
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 person
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 every human
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 being is
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 a complex
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 individual
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 made in
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 God's
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 image with
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 great
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 dignity
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and worth
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 normal
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 practice
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 when someone
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 wrongs us
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 is to
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 reduce them
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 down so
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 that their
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 status is
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 attached to
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 what they've
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 done
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 someone
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 lies about
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 us and we
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 respond with
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 they are
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 a liar
00:17:28 --> 00:17:32 when human
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 beings
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 sorry
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 we're human
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 beings
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 I'm a
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 human
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 being
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 but my
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 enemy
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 becomes
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 some
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 sort of
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 cartoon
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 character
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 a villain
00:17:43 --> 00:17:47 we also
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 share a
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 common
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 sinfulness
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 with all
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 people
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 it's
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 impossible
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 to stay
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 angry with
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 someone
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 unless we
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 feel in
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 some way
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 superior to
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 them
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 when we
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 say things
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 like I
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 would never
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 do that
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 we elevate
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 ourselves
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 over others
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 in such a
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 way that it
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 makes us feel
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 morally superior
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 to them
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 we might not
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 sin in the same
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 way but we
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 are all just
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 as sinful
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 and instead
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 of caricaturing
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 them the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 enemy we
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 must identify
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 with them
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 we must bring
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 ourselves down
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 and we must
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 lift them up
00:18:24 --> 00:18:27 the second
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 thing we
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 need to
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 do is
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 to inwardly
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 surrender
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 the right
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 for repayment
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 and pay
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 the debt
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 ourselves
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 the word
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 that
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 the word
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 for forgive
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 that Jesus
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 uses in this
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 passage
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 is a very
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 specific word
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 that means
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to release
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 a person
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 from a
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 financial debt
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 it means
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 in fact
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 to absorb
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 the debt
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 yourself
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 we can
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 only forgive
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 if inwardly
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 we forego
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 the seeking
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 of repayment
00:19:02 --> 00:19:05 now this
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 is exact
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 opposite of
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 how I've
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 reacted on
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 so many
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 occasions
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 especially
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 with the
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 people that
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 I'm the
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 closest to
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 if someone
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 makes me
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 unhappy
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 we want to
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 make them
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 unhappy
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 if someone
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 rejects me
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 I want to
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 reject them
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 if someone
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 destroys my
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 reputation
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 I want to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 destroy their
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 reputation
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 we trade
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 hurt for
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 hurt
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 hurt for
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 hurt for
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 hurt and
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 it spirals
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 down and
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 down and
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 down not
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 just destroying
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 them but
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 you in the
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 process
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 we might
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 do it
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 we might do
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 it directly
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 and tell
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 them off
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 and make
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 them feel
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 incredibly
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 bad
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 or we
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 might do
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 it behind
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 their
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 backs
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 and gossip
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 about them
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 and ruin
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 their reputation
00:19:50 --> 00:19:54 do it
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 subtly
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 because you've
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 always got to
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 get behind
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 someone
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00 before you
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 can stab
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 them in
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 the back
00:20:01 --> 00:20:05 the less
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 obvious way
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 we do it
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 is through
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 an inward
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 nurturing
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 of the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 hurt
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 we
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 replay the
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 hurt over
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 and over
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 in our
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 minds
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 in order
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 to stay
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 angry
00:20:15 --> 00:20:19 whichever way
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 we do
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 it
00:20:20 --> 00:20:23 we feel
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 like we're
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 getting some
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 kind of
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 repayment
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 but instead
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 it's robbing
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 us
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 it's robbing
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 us of
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 joy
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 and peace
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 and contentment
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 and we
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 become harder
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 we become
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 bitter
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 we become
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 twisted
00:20:36 --> 00:20:39 a lack
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 of relational
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 generosity
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 destroys
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 us
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 over the
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 long term
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 and for
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 eternity
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 we
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 become
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 the victim
00:20:48 --> 00:20:54 relational
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 generosity
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 might hurt
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 in the
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 short term
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 because we
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 refuse to
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 repay and
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 instead absorb
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 the debt
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 but it
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 leads to
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 joy
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 and peace
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 and freedom
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 for eternity
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 the third
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 thing we
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 are to do
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 in verse
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 three is
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 if your
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 brother or
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 sister sins
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 against you
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 rebuke them
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 that is
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 it's not
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 loving
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 this is to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 answer the
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 justice
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 question
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 it's not
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 loving to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 let someone
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 go on
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 doing
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 anything
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 they want
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 let's be
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 frank though
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 let's be
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 frank with
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 this one
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 and with
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 this verse
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 it is so
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 much easier
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 to rebuke
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 someone
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 I've always
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 found when
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 I'm particularly
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 angry with
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 them
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 and want
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 to give
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 them a
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 peace of
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 my mind
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 much easier
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 then
00:21:35 --> 00:21:38 the purpose
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 of the
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 rebuke
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 is not to
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 put the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 other person
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 down
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 the purpose
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 is to lift
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 them up
00:21:44 --> 00:21:47 it is not
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 to win
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 an argument
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 it is to
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 win them
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 over into
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 relationship
00:21:51 --> 00:21:54 it is to
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 restore
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 relationship
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 not to
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 further
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 break
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 the
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 relationship
00:21:57 --> 00:22:00 if that's
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 the case
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 it's not
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 just what
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 we say
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 it is
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 how we
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 say it
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 and it's
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 particularly
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 the motivation
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 of why
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 we are
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 saying it
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 the truth
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 must be
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 spoken in
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 love
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 for the
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 other
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 person
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 if we
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 have not
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 inwardly
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 forgiven
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 the other
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 person
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 before we
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 rebuke
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 them
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 then why
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 are we
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 rebuking
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 them
00:22:26 --> 00:22:34 in other
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 words
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 what this
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 passage is
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 saying
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 is we
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 must seek
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 the good
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and we
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 must will
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 the good
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 of the
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 person that
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 we perceive
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 to have
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 wronged us
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 if we
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 do not
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 seek their
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 good
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 then we
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 haven't
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 forgiven
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 them
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 and therefore
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 watch
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 yourselves
00:22:55 --> 00:22:58 so how
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 do we
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 unlock this
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 kind of
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 forgiveness
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 my
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 assumption
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 is that
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 if you've
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 been listening
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 and feeling
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 some of
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 this and
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 potentially
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 got some
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 people in
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 your mind
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 already
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 we're back
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 to the
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 plea of
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 the apostles
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 here
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 increase
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 our faith
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 this is
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 very hard
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 where's the
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 power to
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 live like
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 this
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 now
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 fortunately
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Jesus has
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 given us
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 a great
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 answer to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 that question
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 in what
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 follows in
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 verse 5
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 what we
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 have in
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 verse 5
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 and to
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 10
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 is a
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 parable
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 and a
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 metaphor
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 connected
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 together
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 the parable
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 starts in
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 verse 7
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 suppose
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 you were
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 the lord
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 the master
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 and the owner
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 of a farm
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 and you
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 had people
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 plowing the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 paddocks
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and looking
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 after your
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 livestock
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 at the
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 end of
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 the day
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 would you
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 say to
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 them
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 hey it's
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 time to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 finish up
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 come on
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 in
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 have dinner
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 would you
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 say
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 oh thank
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 you for
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 the way
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 that you've
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 taken care of
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 my sheep
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 and looked
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 after the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 cows
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 really really
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 appreciate
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 would you
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 say that
00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 now us
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 modern people
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 would say
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 well yeah I
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 probably would
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 say that
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 you know
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 it's good for
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 staff morale
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 to affirm
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 them and
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 you know it's
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 a good HR
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 principle
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 we would do
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 that sort of
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 thing
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 but this is
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 first century
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 Palestine
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 it is not
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 western world
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 and rampant
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 individualism
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 and fragile
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 egos
00:24:27 --> 00:24:30 the apostles
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 hearing this
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 would say
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 no Jesus
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 we would
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 never say
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 that
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 no one
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 would say
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 that
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 no land
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 owner
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 would say
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 that
00:24:38 --> 00:24:42 these people
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 in this
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 parable
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 are servants
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 they're not
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 slaves
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 they're not
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 slaves
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 traded
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 in the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 marketplace
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 who have
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 no rights
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 at all
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 but on the
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 other hand
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 they're not
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 equivalent to
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 your modern
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 employee
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 either
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 these servants
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 were people
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 who fell
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 into debt
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 they became
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 bankrupt
00:25:02 --> 00:25:04 and instead
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 of being
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 put into
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 prison
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 they were
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 given an
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 opportunity
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 to work
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 for the
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 person
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 who owed
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 them
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 who they
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 owed the
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 money to
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 in order
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 to work
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 off their
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 debt
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 and it
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 could be
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 in first
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 century
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Palestine
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 in Jewish
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 law
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 it could
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 be for
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 up to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 seven
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 years
00:25:24 --> 00:25:27 but in
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 that seven
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 years
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 this servant
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 was never
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 off duty
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 until the
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 debt was
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 paid
00:25:32 --> 00:25:35 and so
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 the master
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 of the
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 house
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 would not
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 thank them
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 for helping
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 so much
00:25:39 --> 00:25:43 you owe
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 them
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 you were
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 simply doing
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 your duty
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 to pay
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 down a
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 debt
00:25:47 --> 00:25:50 and so
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 Jesus got
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 the apostles
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 to imagine
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 themselves
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 as the
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 masters
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 helping them
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 to see
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 that it
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 would be
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 inappropriate
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 for a
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 servant
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 to demand
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 thanks
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 from their
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 masters
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 and the
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 apostles
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 go yeah
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 that's
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 exactly
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 right
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 totally
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 inappropriate
00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 especially
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 when the
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 master in
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 this case
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 has been
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 so gracious
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 as to
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 not throw
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 them into
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 prison
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 but has
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 given them
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 an opportunity
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 to get
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 out of
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 debt
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23 that's
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 the parable
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 and then
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Jesus flips
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 it in
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 verse 10
00:26:27 --> 00:26:30 so you
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 also
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 when you
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 have done
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 everything
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 you were
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 told to
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 do
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 you should
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 say we
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 are unworthy
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 servants
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 we have
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 only done
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 our duty
00:26:40 --> 00:26:43 when you
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 have done
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 everything
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 that you
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 are told
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 to do
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 including
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 forgive
00:26:48 --> 00:26:50 you should
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 simply
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 say I
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 am doing
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 my
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 duty
00:26:54 --> 00:26:57 the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 self
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 righteous
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 moralistic
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 religious
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 person
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 says I've
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 done my
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 duty
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 God
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 you now
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 owe me
00:27:07 --> 00:27:12 the
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 religious
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 person
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16 is a
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 servant
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 acting like
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 a master
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 you owe
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 me
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 Jesus
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 saying
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 that when
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 we refuse
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 to forgive
00:27:26 --> 00:27:29 we are
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 forgetting
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 who we
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 are
00:27:30 --> 00:27:33 we are
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 servants
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 acting like
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 a master
00:27:35 --> 00:27:41 he says
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 roundabout
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 way
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 what he's
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 saying here
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 is the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 Christian
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 knows
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 that they
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 owe
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 God
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 everything
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 he gives
00:27:48 --> 00:27:48 us
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 life
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 he has
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 brought
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 us
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 back
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 to
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 himself
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 at
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 great
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 cost
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 to
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 himself
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 he
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 is
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 the
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 king
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 and
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 we
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 are
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 the
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 servants
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 and when
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 we say
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 I'm not
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 going to
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 forgive
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 that
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00 person
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 we are
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 swapping
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 roles
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 we are
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 playing
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 God
00:28:06 --> 00:28:10 we think
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 we know
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 what people
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 deserve
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 when in
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 fact we
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 hardly even
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 know what
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 they've been
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 through in
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 life
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 what they've
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 done in
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 life
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 or what
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 their motives
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 are
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 Jesus also
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 uses a
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 metaphor to
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 help us see
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 how we can
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 live a life
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 of forgiving
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 verse 6
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 if you have
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 a faith
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 as small
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 as a
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 mustard
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 seed
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31 you can
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 say to
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 this mulberry
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 tree
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 be uprooted
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 and plant
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 in the sea
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 and it
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 will obey
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 you
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 Jesus
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 saying that
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 if you have
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 even the
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 smallest
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 understanding
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 of what has
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 been done
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 for you
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 in Jesus
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 even the
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 slightest
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 understanding
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 that you
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 are a
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 sinner
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 saved by
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 grace
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 if we
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 understand
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 the good
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 news
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 of the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 radical
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 generosity
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 of God
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 in the
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 gospel
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 to us
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 he said
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 you can
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 forgive
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 you just
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 need a
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 little
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 you can
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 just
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 forgive
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 just the
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 smallest
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 understanding
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 of that
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 is enough
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 to change
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 your heart
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 the only
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 way of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 getting out
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 of the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 behaviour
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 and the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 attitude
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 of being
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 a servant
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 acting
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 like a
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 king
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 is in
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 fact to
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 marvel
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 at the
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 king
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 who became
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 a servant
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 it's the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 only way
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 we will
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 never be
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 long
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 suffering
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 until we
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 marvel at
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 his
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 suffering
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 on the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 cross
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 for us
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 we will
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 never be
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 able to
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 forgive
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 other
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 people's
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 tiny
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 debts
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 towards
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 us
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 until
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 we
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 marvel
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 at
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 Jesus
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 dying
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 on the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 cross
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 to pay
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 an
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 incalculable
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 debt
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 that we
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 owe
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 against
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 God
00:29:35 --> 00:29:39 Jesus
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 is the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 judge
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 of the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 universe
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 who
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 left
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 the
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 judgment
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 seat
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 and
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 got
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 judged
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 for us
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 for our
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 sin
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 in such
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 a way
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 that it
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 would
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 transform
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 our
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 hearts
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 that we
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 stop
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 being
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 judges
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 of
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 others
00:29:53 --> 00:29:56 even
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 as he
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 was
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 dying
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 on
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 the
00:29:58 --> 00:29:58 cross
00:29:58 --> 00:30:01 even
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 as he
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 was
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 painfully
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 dying
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 on
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 the
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 cross
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 his
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 words
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 were
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 father
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 forgive
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 them
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 because
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 they
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 don't
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 know
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 what
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 they're
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 doing
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 forgive
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 them
00:30:11 --> 00:30:14 only
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 as
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 we
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 look
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 to
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 cross
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 look
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 to
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 Jesus
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 him
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 there
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 for
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 us
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 can
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 we
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 be
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 changed
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 to
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 people
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 who
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 radically
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 generously
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 forgive
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 and we're
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 going to
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 do that
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 now
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 as we
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 share
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 in the
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 Lord's
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 Supper
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 it's a
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 great way
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 to I
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 think
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 to lead
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 from this
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 message
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 into
00:30:33 --> 00:30:35 a
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 response
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 to
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 the
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 gospel
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 Matthew
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 26
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 we read
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 when they
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 were
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 eating
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 Jesus
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 took
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 bread
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 and when
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 he
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 given
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 thanks
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 he
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 broke
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 it
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 and gave
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 it to
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 his
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 disciples
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 saying
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 take
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 and
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 eat
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 this
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 is
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 my
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 body
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 then
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 he
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 took
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 the
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 cup
00:30:51 --> 00:30:51 and
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 when
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 he
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 had
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 given
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 thanks
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 he
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 gave
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 it
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 to
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 them
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 saying
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 drink
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 from
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 it
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 all
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 of
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 you
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 this
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 is
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 my
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 blood
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 of the
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 new
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 covenant
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 which
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 is
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 poured
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 out
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 for
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 many
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 for
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 the
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 forgiveness
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 of
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 sins
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 and so
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 I
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 invite
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 you
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 to
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 come
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 to
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 Jesus
00:31:08 --> 00:31:11 Matthew
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 11
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 come
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 to
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 Jesus
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 who
00:31:13 --> 00:31:13 says
00:31:13 --> 00:31:15 come to
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 me
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 all
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 who
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 are
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 weary
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 and
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 burdened
00:31:17 --> 00:31:17 and I
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 will give
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 you
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 rest
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 take my
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 yoke upon
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 you and
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 learn from
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 me
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 for I
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 am gentle
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 and humble
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 in heart
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 and you
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 will find
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 rest for
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 your souls
00:31:27 --> 00:31:30 come to
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 the one
00:31:30 --> 00:31:33 who should
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 be holding
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 our sin
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 against us
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 but whose
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 heart is
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 humble and
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 gentle towards
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 us
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 always
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 grace
00:31:41 --> 00:31:43 I'm
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 going to
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 invite my
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 helpers
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 down
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 they're
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 going to
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 come and
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 distribute
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 this to
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 you
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 quickly
00:31:46 --> 00:31:49 I
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 emphasize the
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 word quickly
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 there for a
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 reason
00:31:51 --> 00:31:55 not that I
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 want to rush
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 the process of
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 your reflection
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 at all
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 but
00:31:58 --> 00:32:01 the Lord's
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 Supper is
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 an outward
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 and a visible
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 sign of the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 grace shown to
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 us in the
00:32:06 --> 00:32:06 Lord Jesus
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Christ
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09 and as we
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 share these
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 elements together
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 we are
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 visually confronted
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 with God's
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 love for us
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 his gentle
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 and lowly
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 heart towards
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 us
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 for us
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 who are
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 unworthy
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 it's also an
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 opportunity for us
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 to be strengthened
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 by faith in the
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 one whose body
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 was given
00:32:24 --> 00:32:24 his blood was
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 shed for our
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 forgiveness
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 so let's pray
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29 Father you are
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 worthy to receive
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 all glory and
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 honor and
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 allegiance because
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 you are the one
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 who created all
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 things and
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 sustained all
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 things by the
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 power of your
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 word
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 we thank you
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 for the Lord
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 Jesus Christ
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 that through
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 his sinless
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 life his
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 sacrificial death
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 and his
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 powerful resurrection
00:32:45 --> 00:32:47 he paid the
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 complete debt of
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 sin and that
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 he has forgiven
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 and eternally
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 delivered those
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 who trust in him
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 from your
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 judgment we
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 thank you for
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 these small
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 gifts of the
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 wafer of the
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 juice and we
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 pray that we
00:33:00 --> 00:33:00 who take them
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 now in
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 remembrance of
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 the cost of
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 Christ's
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 forgiveness of
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 us his love
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07 for us that
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 we might
00:33:07 --> 00:33:09 relish in
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 his forgiveness
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 for us
00:33:11 --> 00:33:14 particularly as
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 we look forward
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 to his
00:33:16 --> 00:33:18 sharing in his
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 eternal inheritance
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 we thank you
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 father that you
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 spiritually feed us
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 you nourish us
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 through your son
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 Jesus
00:33:24 --> 00:33:26 may we be
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 strengthened
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28 and comforted
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 as we remember
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 that your heart
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 towards us
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 is always
00:33:33 --> 00:33:35 gentle and
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 lowly
00:33:35 --> 00:33:39 sorry Lord
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 Jesus that we
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 hold
00:33:40 --> 00:33:43 snubs that we
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 have received
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 against others
00:33:45 --> 00:33:49 and that you
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 have forgiven us
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 an incalculable
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 debt
00:33:50 --> 00:33:53 we thank you
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 that in the
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 gospel you are
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 assure us of your
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 goodness and your
00:33:56 --> 00:33:58 love we pray
00:33:58 --> 00:33:58 that you might
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 renew us by your
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 holy spirit and
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 unite us together
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 in your son
00:34:02 --> 00:34:04 transform our
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 hearts that we
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 might treasure
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 Jesus above all
00:34:07 --> 00:34:09 things and it's in
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 his name we pray
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 amen
00:34:11 --> 00:34:13 you