Okay, now we're turning back
to Matthew chapter 18. Matthew chapter 18. And we're
going to look at verse 15 down through verse 21. Matthew 18 verse 15 down through
verse 21 or 22. But I'm taking the title for
the message from the question that Peter asked in verse 21. After the Lord had told them
to seek reconciliation and to seek forgiveness among one another
and to forgive and to love one another, Peter said to the Lord,
how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Now it's a legitimate question.
How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?
And Peter thought he was being generous here. He said, well,
I'm going to forgive him seven times. And if he does it again,
well, maybe we're going to have problems. But then the Lord said
unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but you just
multiply that 70 times seven. So you go beyond and beyond. And what the Lord is setting
forth here, as often as we have sinned against the Lord, He's
forgiven us, right? Shall we not also on that same
principle forgive those who have maybe offended us? Now think about this. We should
be ready, willing to forgive others who have wronged us or
offended us as often as the Lord whom we have sinned against forgiven
us. All sin is against God, right?
Psalm 51, David said, against thee and thee only have I sinned
and done this evil in thy sight. Sin is the transgression of the
law. And we've seen this principle
of love and mercy laid down before. Turn back to Matthew chapter
6. Matthew chapter 6. We've seen this principle of
forgiving based upon love, based upon how the Lord has forgiven
us. If you look back at Matthew chapter
6, look at verse 9. After this manner, pray ye, our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this
day our daily bread, forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors. Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil, for the evil one. For thine is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen. Verse 14,
now, if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father
will forgive you also. But if you forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Now he's not teaching here that
we're forgiven and we have atonement for our sin based upon our ability
to forgive. But what he is saying is this,
those who have been forgiven, They are forgiving people. They
are forgiving people. Now, this is a subject of deep
importance to every believer because it's what the Lord is
teaching us here. Now, several things here. Our
attitude toward other believers reveals our true relationship
to the Lord Jesus Christ. we read a moment ago, put on,
therefore, as the elect of God, holy, beloved, vows of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing
one another, forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against
any, even as Christ forgave you, do also. An unforgiving spirit
reveals an unforgiving heart. Those who have received mercy
delight to show mercy. Here's the second thing we know,
our attitude toward others in affliction reveals our understanding
of God's mercy toward us. We read this in Ephesians chapter
four, be you kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake have forgiven you. Be you
therefore followers of God as dear children and walk in love
as Christ also have loved us and given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a satisfying, sweet smelling savor. Therefore,
we should always be ready, willing, wanting to show mercy to others,
to forgive others as we have received mercy ourselves and
forgiveness ourselves from the hand of the Lord. Our Lord said,
because of the blood atonement of Christ, their sins and their
iniquities will I remember no more. This is what love, shed
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is ready to do. To love
one another and forgive one another. Let's see if we can find another
scripture to help us on that. Turn to the book of 1 John. 1 John 4. John writes a lot about
this love of God. But look at 1 John, over there
by the revelation. 1 John 4. And let's begin reading
there at verse 7. Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God. Everyone that loveth is born
of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God, for God is love. And this was manifested, the
love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
son into the world that we, through him, might live through him. Hearing his love, not that we
love God, but that he loved us, and he sent his son to be the
propitiation for our sin, the mercy seat or sacrifice for our
sin. Beloved, if God so loved us,
we ought also to do what? Love one another. to love one
another. We love Him because He first
loved us. Look at 1 John 4, verse 19. We love Him because He first
loved us. If a man say, I love God, and
hates his brother, he's a liar. He that loveth not his brother
whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loveth
God loves his brother also. By this shall all men know that
you are my disciples, that you love one another. Peter writes
this in his epistle, above all things have fervent love among
yourselves, for love shall cover a multitude of sins. Where did
Peter learn that lesson? Right here from the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now remember in Matthew chapter 18, this is the Lord's
sermon to his apostles. And he talks much about not offending
one of his little children. Remember, we saw this last time. Look at Matthew 18, verse 6 and
7. But whoso shall offend one of
these little ones, talking about God's believing children, little
ones which believe in me, it would be better for him that
a millstone be hanged about his neck and drowned into the sea. Woe unto the world because of
offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to
the man by whom the offense cometh." Now, offenses are going to come.
Offenses will come. James writes this in James chapter
3, for in many things we offend all. In many things we offend
all. The Lord Jesus Christ watches
over his little children and is jealous of their welfare and
protective of their well-being, is he not? He says in verse 14
of Matthew 18, even so is not the will of your father which
is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. The
Lord watches over His children. He's jealous of their condition. Jealous of them. Now when He
talks here about offense and offending. Moreover, if thy brother
shall trespass against thee. See verse 15. Our Lord here is
not talking about petty, petty things. He's not talking about
petty gripes. He's not talking about silly
spats. He's not talking about childish acts. but rather he's
talking about serious offenses and sin that would cause division
and turmoil among believers in the congregation of assembly
of God's people. What are we to do? We should
always strive to seek harmony, reconciliation, and peace, peace
among believers. Paul writes this in Romans 12,
if it be possible, as much as lieth in you live peaceably with
all men. Dearly beloved, don't avenge
yourself. Give place, give place. Because
we are still sinners, prone to sin against God and one another,
we should always Be ready and willing to seek mercy, grace,
forgiveness, and reconciliation among God's people. Now, he gives
us three things that we should do. Verse 15, moreover, if your
brother shall sin against thee, that's
the word trespass, sin against thee, go to him and tell him,
tell him his fault, tell him his sin. between thee and him
alone, and he shall hear thee." Well, you've gained your brother.
You've reconciled. There's peace and harmony again.
The offended one is to seek out the offender and tell him his
fault privately. The object here is peace and
harmony. The object here is not to seek
revenge and punishment against him. The object here is reconciliation
and the goal here is peace and harmony, not separation. So seek
Him out and work things out. Now, hold your place here. I
want you to turn to another place where we see this same thing
said, but it's in Luke 17. Turn over there. Luke 17. Luke
17 verse 1. Luke 17 verse 1, then said he
unto the disciples, it is impossible, but that offenses will come.
Now they will come, but woe unto him through whom they come. It
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and
he cast into the sea than that he should offend one of these
little ones. That's what we just read in Matthew 18. Now, Read
on, verse 3, Luke 17, Take heed to yourselves, if thy brother
trespass against thee, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive
him. And if he trespass against thee
seven times in a day, seven times in a day, turn again to thee,
saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. Now look at the
next verse. The apostles said, Lord, increase
our faith. We need help. We need help. Lord, increase our faith. Increase
our faith. Don't we pray that way? So here's
the second thing. Now look back at Matthew 18.
Verse 17, or verse 16 rather. But if he will not hear thee,
then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two
or three witnesses, every word should be established. So if
it doesn't work the first time, don't give up, try again, and
take another brother with you that every word may be established.
That is, if it doesn't work out, get more folks involved who have
godly wisdom, maybe the pastor or the elder or the deacon of
a church, And the goal here, again, is reconciliation. It's
not censorship. We're not seeking to throw them
out of the fellowship. If the offender will not be reconciled,
will not repent, don't give up, but persevere, seeking peace,
seeking help from other believers, and settle it peacefully, if
you can, privately. Love covers a multitude of sins. It says in Proverbs 15, in the
multitude of counselors is wisdom. In the multitude of counselors
is safety. Again though, it says, verse
17, if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church,
that is other believers, But if he neglect to hear them, the
man will not repent, he will not relent, he's going to have
his way no matter what, rather than forgive. He will not hear,
let him be unto thee now as a heathen man. as a publican, let him be
unto thee as what would seem an unbeliever to the man that
hath been offended. But don't regard him as an enemy,
admonish him as a brother in the Lord. Now turn to Galatians
chapter 6. Galatians chapter 6. Look at verse 1. Galatians 6
verse 1. Brethren, Brethren now, see Galatians
6 verse 1. If a man be overtaken in a fault,
ye which are spiritual, restore such one in the spirit of meekness,
considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear ye one
another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man
thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. Now turn over a couple more pages,
find, I believe it is, yeah, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians
chapter three, 2 Thessalonians chapter three,
look at verse 13. 2 Thessalonians three, verse
13, brethren, that ye, brethren, be not weary
in well-doing. If any man obey not our word
by this epistle, note that man, have no company with that man,
that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy,
admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace himself
gives you peace always. By all means, the Lord be with
you. The Lord be with you. So don't
count him as an enemy, love him as a brother. Now, back to Matthew
18 and verse 18. Matthew 18, 18. Verily, which
means truly, I say unto you, whatsoever you shall bind on
the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Now, we've seen that principle
before. Turn back one page to Matthew 16. The Lord asked a question in
Matthew 16 unto Peter, but whom say ye that I am? You see it,
Matthew 16, 15, Matthew 16, 16, Peter, Simon Peter answered and
said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus
answered and said unto him, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father,
which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee that
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I'll build my church, that
is, that confession, thou art the Christ, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it. I'll give unto thee the keys
of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever shall loose on
the earth shall be loosed in heaven." Believers have been bound to
the Lord Jesus Christ from all eternity. in that vital union
and that covenant mercy that shall never be broken. We've
been bound with Christ. We're in union with the Lord
Jesus Christ. I in them, thou in me, that we
may be made perfect in one. God has reconciled us unto Him
by the Lord Jesus Christ. We have union with Him. We're
also bound with the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. Being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Being justified, the just shall
live by faith. So we've been bound with Him
here, and we shall be bound with Him forever. We've also, believers
have also, been loosed from their sins, we've been loosed from
their debts. The Lord's forgiven us our sins
or our debts against God. by the blood atonement of Christ,
and they shall never perish in their sin. The blood of Christ
cleanses us from all our sin. We've been loosed from the curse
of the law, from the bondage of the law. Christ has redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. The
Lord will present us before himself in his glorious presence, holy,
unblameable, unapprovable in his sight. That is, in the Lord
Jesus Christ there is no condemnation to those who are in Him. So we've
been bound to Him, and we've been loosed from our sin. He
said, their sin and their iniquity I will remember no more. Justified freely by His grace
through the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now look
at verse 19. On the basis of our sins forgiven,
We should seek reconciliation and peace with our brothers if
he has offended us. Verse 19, I say unto you that
if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that
they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is
in heaven. If these two are in disagreement
over something, if they come to agreement that God is true
and that salvation is in him, Well, we have peace and harmony
with one another, don't we? We see how blessed is the privilege
of prayer before the Lord Jesus Christ. The two men who are at
disagreement, if they come together seeking the Lord's will, praying
about the matter, and praying about the matter, and acting
the Lord's will in the matter, and seeking forgiveness in the
matter, that's better than fighting and fussing, isn't it? And if
you pray that way, you'll come to a reconciliation peace. That's
God's will on the matter. That's God's will on the matter.
We see how blessed the privilege of prayer is. Men ought, Luke
18, 1, men ought always to pray. Always to pray. And then in 1
Thessalonians 5, he said, rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks. This is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you. In the book of James, we read,
confess your faults, confess your faults one to another, confess
your faults one to another, and then do what? Pray for one another. Pray for one another. The Lord
gives us another means to seek reconciliation and peace among
believers. Pray for one another according
to his will. It is always right to seek the
will of the Lord when praying. We read a moment ago, thy will
be done, in earth as it is in heaven. We pray that His will
will be done. I want you to turn with me and
read this. Turn to Luke chapter 6. Luke
chapter 6, about verse 27 I think. Luke chapter 6, verse 27. But I say unto you, Luke 6, 27. But I say unto you, which hear, love your enemies. What? Love your enemies. Do good to
them that hate you. Isn't that exactly what the Lord
did? When we were yet enemies, he
laid down his life for us. Read on, verse 28. Bless them
that curse you. Pray for them that despitefully
use you. And unto him that spiteth thee
on the cheek, offer also the other. And him that would taketh
away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give every
man that asketh of thee, and him that taketh away thy goods,
ask them not again. And as you would that men should
do to you, do you also to them likewise. How do you want to
be treated? For if you love them which love you, what think have
you? For sinners also love those that love them. And if you do
good to them which do good to you, what think have you? For
sinners also do the same. And if you lend to them of whom
you hope to receive, what thank you? What do you have? For sinners
also lend to sinners to receive as much again. But I say unto
you, verse 35, love your enemies. Do good and lend, hoping for
nothing again. And your reward shall be great.
And ye shall be the children of the highest. For he is kind
unto the unthankful and to the evil. Now look at verse 36. Be therefore merciful as your
Father in heaven is merciful. Now that's the principle that's
laid down here. Merciful as the Lord has been
merciful to us. Matthew 18 verse 20. For where two or three are gathered
together in My name, I'm in the midst of them." If
I would have this last week put an ad in the paper, if I would
have taken out a full page ad, and I would have advertised,
the Lord Jesus Christ is going to be at Zebulun Grace Church,
Sunday morning at 11.15. Come and meet the Lord. You reckon
how many people would have showed up? They would have mocked me,
wouldn't they? But you know, that's true. That's
just not a phony headline. Where two or three of God's people
are gathered together in His name, for His glory, preaching
His gospel, the Lord is right now, right here. We say, I don't see Him. I don't
even feel Him. He didn't ask us to see Him or
feel Him. He asked us to believe His Word. He said, I'll never leave you,
I'll never forsake you, lo, I'm with you always. I don't feel
His presence, but I believe His Word. That's what faith does.
Faith believes His Word. Here we see the privilege of
worship, meeting together in the name of the Lord, seeking
to worship Him in spirit and in truth, preaching the Word
of the Lord are more means the Lord has ordained to keep believers
in harmony and peace. That's why we're told not to
neglect the assembling of ourselves together. When we come together
as a body of believers, the Lord has promised His presence His
blessing, His mercies upon us right now. Right now, the Lord's
among us. We're meeting in His name. Now,
verse 21. I'll wind this up. Then came
Peter. I think Peter's always got to
put Peter's advice in here, doesn't he? Then came Peter to him and
said, Just how often should I forgive James and John and the rest of
these guys? How often should I forgive my
brother? He's talking about the apostles.
How often should I forgive my brother? He sinned against me. Should I forgive him? Seven times? That's pretty generous. The Lord
corrected him and said, I say unto thee, not until seven times,
but how about try this one, Peter, 70 times seven, 400, is that
490 times? I can't remember my time table.
I have to ask my phone. I forgot everything that I once
knew. Again, how often should we forgive
one another? We are to cultivate a spirit
and attitude of forgiveness. To overlook much, submit to much,
rather than seeking revenge, strife, and debate. Turn to Romans
chapter 12. I'm almost done, just give me
a few minutes. Romans chapter 12. You know, the book of Romans
is so doctrinally sound about justification by grace, and God's
electing love, and God's electing mercy, and these things, God
saves sinners by His grace alone. But it also gives us instruction
how believers should conduct themselves. Look at Romans chapter
12. Verse 14, bless them which persecute
you. Bless and curse not. Rejoice
with them that do rejoice. Weep with them that weep. Be
of the same mind toward one another. Mind not high things, but condescend
to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for
evil. We got that, I'm gonna get even.
No, don't do that. Provide all things honest in
the sight of all men. If it be possible, As much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,
venge not yourself, but rather give place to wrath, for it is
written, Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him. If he is thirsty, Give
him drink, give him the meat of the word and the water of
the word. If he's thirsty, give him the water of life, Christ.
For in so doing, thou shalt heap coal to fire on his head. Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. With good. With good. How often should we forgive one
another? as often as the Lord has forgiven us. He's forgiven
us everything. Let us seek the Lord in these
matters and ask for grace to help in our time of need. As
the Apostle said, Lord increase our faith. Would you win a fallen
brother back in peace? Forgive him. Would you prove
your faith? Forgive those offenders. Would you grow in grace? Practice
forgiveness. Would you be like Christ? Freely
forgive as he has forgiven you. Grace experienced in the heart
makes his people gracious. Mercy revealed in the heart makes
us willing to show mercy to others, does it not? Love that shed abroad
in our hearts makes us to love others. Our Lord said, by this
shall all men know that you're my disciples, that you love one
another. Grace begets grace. Mercy begets
mercy. Love begets love. If God so loved
us, we ought also to love, what? One another. One another. And
then in verse 23, Down through verse 35, the Lord gives that
illustration of a man who had been forgiven a great sum of
money. Freely forgiven. And then that
man went out and found someone that owed him just a couple bucks
and said, you pay me. That man should have been generous,
right? Just as the Lord was to him. And we'll look at that next week
about debts forgiven. Debts forgiven. Our debts and
our sins are forgiven because the Lord Jesus Christ paid our
sin debt with His own blood. That's the only reason that we
are forgiven before God.