The Unforgiving Servant

Kate Stevens • August 4, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 18:21-35 from Scott Sutton.

Matthew 18 is intentionally relational, and God cares how we treat each other.  It is because of this that we are not allowed to respond to sin however we want. Likewise, we are not allowed to respond to repentance however we want.


Observations


(1) After verse 21 we see that Jesus is answering the question, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him?”


You can define forgiveness as to let go, to let alone, to let be, not to discuss now, to give up a debt…


(2) Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question is that you’re never allowed to withhold forgiveness.


The servant in the parable owes an insurmountable amount of money to the King, but the King forgave the debt. The servant then goes out to choke another servant who owes a much smaller amount.


The focus here in 23-31 needs to be on the marvelous mercy of the King more than the wickedness of the servant.


(3) The master’s forgiveness was lavish


He didn’t simply give the servant more time to repay his debt. Rather, he paid it in full! Upon finding the debt of his servant and hearing the servant’s plea, the master spared his wife, his children, and had “pity” for the servant.


(4) The master’s expectation was that his servant would have had mercy on his fellow servant


The servant should have laid down the role of punisher and judge (v. 33).


(5)  The unforgiving servant was met by an unforgiving master


That forgiven debt is now his responsibility to be paid in full. The unforgiveness ruined the servant’s life.


Verse 35 makes the transition from asking what the text says, to what it says to us… “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”


This is a gospel story—Creation, Fall, Redemption, Glorification.


Our world and humanity once was perfect but because of sin we all obtained a debt we could not pay or earn enough to settle. But because of Jesus our debt is paid in full when we place our faith in him. It is a lavish forgiveness, far surpassing anything we could ever understand. And it is the way we live our lives that is proof of faithfulness or faithlessness. 


Applications


(1) The forgiveness we give will prove the forgiveness we have received

There is a stout warning here to pay attention to.  We must extend mercy in the way that we have received mercy. 


(2) An unforgiving servant will be met by an unforgiving Master


We cannot trust ourselves to be a judge or punisher, but rather—we are to have a forgiving heart to prove that we understand the forgiveness that has been extended to us.


(3) Nobody has to earn your forgiveness


1 Peter 3:9 says that we are to repay evil for evil. We are to bless so that we may obtain a blessing.


1 Peter 4:19 says that when we suffer we are to entrust our souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.


These are counter-cultural! If we do believe that love covers a multitude of sins, then not everyone needs to know when we are offended or hurt.


(4) Unforgiveness will never bring joy


We can suffer all sorts of wrong because we know the forgiveness that has been extended to us—that is what will bring true joy.

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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