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.

Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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