Part 2: Let That Go and Move On

LETTERS FROM MY FUTURE SELF

PART 2

Matthew 18:15-17, 23-35

1.  WHY IS FORGIVENESS SO CRUCIAL?  

“The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’  But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.” Matthew 18:27-30 (NIV)

“When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.” Matthew 18:31-34 (NIV)

“This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 (NIV)

2.  WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? 

“And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:27 (NASB)

• Have your heart go out to them.

• Canceling the debt.

• You give forgiveness before you feel it.  

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25 (NIV)

3.  HOW DO WE FORGIVE? 

We have two key resources:

• Your church family.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)

• The compassion of Jesus.

“The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.” Matthew 18:27 (GNT)

• The power of the Gospel will help you escape the prison of your anger 
  through forgiveness.

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

• YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
  “Choosing Forgiveness” (5 days)

• Blog and Podcast: “The Why of Forgiveness”