Matthew 18:15-35
Today's Passage: Matthew 18:15-35
Sin brings brokenness. Brokenness often shows itself in relationships. Your family is often your closest relationship (for good or bad). Thanksgiving and Christmas often put you around family in closer concentration than other parts of the year.
The fact that we are right in between Christmas and Thanksgiving makes our passage really relevant to us.
Matthew 18:15-35 talks about the importance of dealing well with the sins of others as well as your response to being sinned against.
Sin must be dealt with. (Verses 15-20)
Sin is serious. Restoration and repentance should be the goal. But these verses show the process of what this should look like. You should address sin with someone personally—and if they don’t repent—with others—and if they don’t repent—to the church—and if they don’t repent—assume that they must not truly know Christ. That last part might seem extreme, but so is someone who does not repent when confronted on multiple fronts.
Forgiveness is essential. (Verses 21-25)
We should have a forgiving attitude towards the sin of others. Forgiveness is not the same thing as permission to allow someone to cause constant hurt to you. But forgiveness comes from a heart that understands how deeply we have been forgiven by God.
These verses paint a picture of a story of someone who has been forgiven of an incredible debt who refuses to forgive someone who owes a milli-fraction (is that even a word) of what he owed his master. The master rightly is angered at this hypocrisy.
What this means for us is that we must make sure that the way we love and forgive people is aligned with the love and forgiveness we have personally been shown by God. Is there anyone in your life who tests this in you? Pray God would give you grace to respond in kindness and forgiveness towards this person.
Written By: Graham Withers
Sin brings brokenness. Brokenness often shows itself in relationships. Your family is often your closest relationship (for good or bad). Thanksgiving and Christmas often put you around family in closer concentration than other parts of the year.
The fact that we are right in between Christmas and Thanksgiving makes our passage really relevant to us.
Matthew 18:15-35 talks about the importance of dealing well with the sins of others as well as your response to being sinned against.
Sin must be dealt with. (Verses 15-20)
Sin is serious. Restoration and repentance should be the goal. But these verses show the process of what this should look like. You should address sin with someone personally—and if they don’t repent—with others—and if they don’t repent—to the church—and if they don’t repent—assume that they must not truly know Christ. That last part might seem extreme, but so is someone who does not repent when confronted on multiple fronts.
Forgiveness is essential. (Verses 21-25)
We should have a forgiving attitude towards the sin of others. Forgiveness is not the same thing as permission to allow someone to cause constant hurt to you. But forgiveness comes from a heart that understands how deeply we have been forgiven by God.
These verses paint a picture of a story of someone who has been forgiven of an incredible debt who refuses to forgive someone who owes a milli-fraction (is that even a word) of what he owed his master. The master rightly is angered at this hypocrisy.
What this means for us is that we must make sure that the way we love and forgive people is aligned with the love and forgiveness we have personally been shown by God. Is there anyone in your life who tests this in you? Pray God would give you grace to respond in kindness and forgiveness towards this person.
Written By: Graham Withers
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