Forgiveness and Faithfulness Luke 17:1-10 Introduction

Transcription

1 Introduction Jesus is going to Jerusalem. He will suffer and die and rise from the dead. Jesus continues to teach his disciples concerning the important issues they will need to function in relationship and discipleship. Jesus has warned the religious leaders and his own disciples about the dangers of wasting wealth (16:1-12); coveting wealth (vv.13-18); worshiping wealth (vv.19-31). Jesus knows the disciples will need humility, honesty and forgiveness in order to function in relationship with each other. In chapter 17 Jesus deals with the unforgiving (vv.1-4), the unfaithful (vv.5-6) and the ungrateful (vv.7-10). In this passage of Scripture Jesus reminds us those who live in proximity and intimacy are bound to create offenses. We hurt each other. We sin against one another. In the body of Christ, we are to care about each other more than we care about wealth, or self. We are to value relationships. We must deal honestly with sins, problems, insults and injuries in a Biblical manner. Jesus begins with the problem of offense and ends with a parable about obligation and duty. Sin is real. Forgiveness must also be real. Forgiveness is always difficult, and sometimes illogical. But it is the only remedy to effect reconciliation and restore broken relationships and broken hearts. C.S. Lewis once said; We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it. Why do we have such difficulty accepting God s forgiveness? Why do we sometimes find it difficult, for some impossible, to extend the same forgiveness to others? I think the reason is we fail to understand and appreciate what forgiveness is and what it does. We forget that forgiveness is a choice, an act of the will, a decision we make to pardon the person who has offended us. God has offered us a full pardon in the person of Jesus Christ. We forget the purpose of forgiveness is to effect reconciliation. When we start living in an atmosphere of humility and honesty, we must take some risks and expect some dangers. Unless humility and honesty result in forgiveness: relationships cannot be mended and strengthened (Warren Wiersbe; TBEC Vol. p.66). The purpose of forgiveness is to effect reconciliation. Forgiveness is the super glue that fixes broken people, mends hearts, restores shattered families. Real reconciliation results in a change between persons (whether man and God or person to person); Restoration of relationship always involves at least three elements; (1) confession of sin to God and others who are offended. (2) Forgiveness by God and the one offended; (3) The establishment of a new relationship between the offender and God and between the offender and offended party (parties). In reconciliation, enmity and alienation are replaced by peace and fellowship (see Jay Adams; The Christian Counselor s Manual;p.63). Caring Enough To Confront (vv.1-6) Luke 17:1 (NKJV); Then He said to the disciples, It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 1

2 Jesus begins with the problem. We have a saying; If it ain t broke don t fix it. What if it is broke? Sin breaks down relationships. Sin interrupts fellowship. It is impossible that no offenses should come. The word offenses is scandala (plural). Our own English word scandal is a distant relative of this word. The word means stumbling-blocks or things that cause people to sin (NASB; NIV). Gustav Staehlin writes; The scandalon is an obstacle in coming to faith and a cause of going astray in it (TDNT; Vol. 7; p.345). In the ancient world, it was the stick used to trip a snare or a trap. We must refuse to be the instrument that Satan uses to cause our brothers and sisters to sin, or to sway others from their loyalty and allegiance to Jesus Christ. Are you actively involved in recruiting or soliciting someone to sin? Stop it! Anyone who practices sin, continues in sin or seduces others to commit sin runs the risk of terrible judgment. Are you constantly complaining? Are you consumed with the material, the temporal? Do you crave more and more; are you conceited, prideful, awful? Do you have your heart and eyes focused on another person and are actively trying to seduce them to commit sexual sin? A stumbling block is anyone who pretends to know and love Jesus but who is committed to seducing someone to sin. A stumbling block is anyone who discourages you from following and serving Jesus, in word or deed, through abuse or neglect, persecution or injury. An unbelieving husband or wife or family member or friend can be a stumbling block. Jesus concedes the inevitability of such things. When you live in intimacy and proximity with anyone, you are bound to sin against them. I call this silver dollar toe syndrome. People will step on your toes. They will rub you the wrong way. Romans 14:13 (NKJV); Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother s way. Jesus continues with a warning. Luke 17:2 (NKJV); It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. The millstone (monos onikos): onos is the word for donkey. Jesus is referring to a heavy rock, used to grind wheat or olives. A beast of burden, a donkey or an ox would be used to turn the stone. It was usually made of basalt. In Judges 9:53 ( but a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech s head and crushed his skull) and Revelation 18:21 (an angel takes a stone, like a giant mill stone, and throws it into the sea); the millstone is the instrument of death or judgment. In other words Jesus is saying you would be better off hanging a heavy stone around your neck and jump into the deep blue sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. You would be better off dead. What sin brings judgment? All sin but this sin misleading others brings terrible judgment by God. 2

3 Who are these little ones? I suspect Jesus meant new believers or naïve believers, I suspect he is also making reference to the tax collectors and sinners from 15:1; as well as little children (Matt.18:1-7). Does this mean we have the freedom to sin against more mature believers? I don t think so. Then Jesus says, Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Why does Jesus begin with a warning? Because caring confrontation is difficult. I don t like confrontation. Confronting is hard. Forgiveness is harder. Jesus says, If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. The word rebuke (epitimeson) means to cautiously confront with a view that you might be wrong. In a sense it is a summons, to show people their sins and motivate them to repentance. It carries the idea of discipline by teaching, testing and correction. We are not to be weak or indifferent to sin. We speak the truth in love. The Bible certainly says that love covers a multitude of sins. Must we always confront? Several years ago, Coach Joe Paterno and his Penn State football team were playing for the national championship against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. They probably would have won, but they had a touchdown called back because there was a twelfth man on the field. After the game, Paterno was asked to identify the player. "It's only a game," he said. "I have no intention of ever identifying the boy. He just made a mistake." Disagreements, arguments, divisions take place. And if he repents forgive him. You might think, Aha, and if he repents there is my out! How do I know the person has really repented? If the person continues the same abusive behavior, clearly they have not repented, and therefore I do not have to forgive them! Luke 17:4-5 (NKJV); And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. Jesus indicates that if the person says, I repent. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV); And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NKJV); bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. In Matthew s gospel we find Peter asking Jesus the question; 3

4 Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV); Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Peter says, Lord I am willing to forgive as many as seven times. Three strikes and you are out! I will double it, and throw one in for good measure, and then your out! Peter was mistaken at several levels. He was confused about the meaning and the purpose of forgiveness. Peter lacks humility. He was sure his brother would sin against him, but not he against his brother. Peter s second mistake was asking for limits and measures. Jesus is saying, no limits, no measures. What is forgiveness? The Greek word is aphiemi which means to let go, to pardon, to send away. To forgive means to remit, to voluntarily dismiss injury. It means being aware of what the offending party has done and still letting it go. It means to choose not to keep a record of wrong (1Cor.13:5) and refusing to personally punish that person. Forgiveness means not telling what they did. In at least this sense God forgives you, and keeps it to himself. You won t be punished for your sins. Nobody knows all your sins, they are covered by the blood of Jesus. God does not expose your sin or hold it against you. I certainly do not mean we should cover up crimes. I do mean we should be merciful, and allow God to punish. True forgiveness shows grace and mercy. Graciousness is shown by what you don t say, even if what you could say would be true (R.T. Kendall; Total Forgiveness; p.26-27). Do you remember the story of the woman taken in adultery in John 8? When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her (v.7). The accusers left. Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you? No one sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin. God is training us to live a lifestyle of total forgiveness. In the end total forgiveness is confidence in God, trust in God, trust in His Love, Justice and mercy and grace and character. Forgiveness is a condition in the heart that allows bitterness and anger to be released. When you relinquish your anger and hatred and bitterness you invite the Holy Spirit to give you peace and joy and the knowledge of His will. Bitterness is an inward condition marked by an excessive desire for vengeance that comes from deep resentment. Forgiveness is the absence of bitterness. In a sense all unforgiveness has its root in resentment towards God. Because sometimes, deep in our heart, we blame Him, and believe He could have changed things. God is good. He has made a way for all of us to experience total forgiveness in Jesus. Jesus insists we forgive each other. 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. 4

5 It is interesting, they do not say, increase our love they say increase our faith. In a sense the apostles are saying; We can t do this. We don t have enough faith. They felt their faith was weak too weak to honor Christ s command. Jesus was calling on his disciples to live in such a way that they never caused their brother or sister to stumble. Jesus was also asking them to exercise love and compassion to the point that if they were the recipients of constant sin, constant pain, constant hurt, constant injury, they would be able to forgive someone, over and over again. It is cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred. (Hannah More; ) How often are we supposed to confront, and forgive? What if the person keeps doing the same thing over and over again? Dr. Martin Luther King said; Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a permanent attitude Faith Enough To Forgive (vv.7-10) Luke 17:6-7 (NKJV); So the Lord said, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you. What is Jesus saying, and why is Jesus saying it? Do we need faith in order to forgive? I think we need genuine faith. Jesus points to the fact that it is not the quantity of faith, but the quality of faith that results in action and change. Genuine faith brings the possibility for a miracle. It would take unbelievable boldness to say to a tree, be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea and have it obey you. It takes unbelievable boldness to say, I forgive you and let it go. Certainly we know that without faith it is impossible to please God, we know that he who comes to God must believe that he is, and rewards those who diligently seek him (Heb.11:6). Jesus concludes with a parable about service or duty. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, Come at once and sit down to eat? Luke 17:8-10 (NKJV); But will he not rather say to him, Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do. Christians are indebted to God s grace. In the parable Jesus tells a story. Which of you having a servant plowing the fields or tending the sheep would say to that person when he comes to the house after work, Sit down quickly and eat? The implied answer is no one. It doesn t work that way. The master would tell the servant to fix his meal and serve him first. After serving the master, the servant is free to attend to his own needs. 5

6 We must obey Jesus. Jesus uses this story to remind us, we are servants. Jesus is our Master. At the most basic level we will submit and obey him, because we love him. Or we will refuse to obey him and prove we really do not love him. We are to serve and obey until the work gets done. We are to be humble in our service for Christ. No matter what we do for Christ, it is our duty. We are simply unworthy of the privilege of service. We are to remind ourselves that we are unprofitable servants. If we simply do what is required, there is still no room for arrogance or boasting. God commands perfection. He expects humility and obedience. We should forgive because that is what Jesus has asked us to do. Total forgiveness. God wants you to lay aside your grudges, put aside your bitterness, hatred, lust for revenge, God wants you to lay it aside and walk away. Life lived without forgiveness becomes a prison. (William Arthur Ward ( ) You must release them. You will be set free. Conclusion The following is a true story and not a parable. Kathy was a young homeless girl staying at a shelter in New York. The writer claims every word is true: She came to our front door Tuesday morning, dressed in dirty rags, holding a little aluminum paint can in her arms. From the second she stepped inside our shelter, she mystified us. Whatever she did, wherever she went, the paint can never left her hands. When Kathy sat in the crises shelter, the can sat in her arms. She took the can with her...everywhere. When she stepped into the shower, the can was only a few feet away. I m sorry this is mine she told counselors-- this can belongs to me. Do you want to tell me what is in the can the director asked not today. When she was sad, or angry or hurt, which was a lot, she took her paint can to a quiet dorm room on the third floor. The director writes; Early this morning I decided to accidentally run into her again. Would you like to join me for breakfast? I asked. That would be great she said. For a few minuets we sat in a corner of our cafeteria, talking quietly over the din of 150 ravenous homeless kids. Then I took a deep breathe and asked, Kathy, that s a really nice can. What s in it? For a long time she didn t answer. She rocked back and forth, her hair swaying across her shoulders. Then she looked at me with tears in her eyes: It s my mother. Oh I said. What do you mean it s your mother? It s my mother s ashes. She said. I went and got them from the funeral home. See, I even asked them to put a label right here on the side. It has her name on it. Kathy held the can up before my eyes. A little label on the side chronicled all that remained of her mother, date of birth, date of death, name. That was it. Kathy pulled the can close and hugged it. I never really knew my mother. I mean she threw me in the garbage two days after I was born (We checked Kathy s story. Sure enough the year Kathy was born, the New York Newspapers ran a story saying the police had found an infant girl in a dumpster...and yes it was two days after Kathy was born. 6

7 I ended up living in a lot of foster homes, mad at my mother Kathy said. But then, I decided I was going to try to find her. I got lucky---someone knew where she was living. I went to her house. She wasn t there. Sister. My mother was in the hospital dying of AIDS. I went to the hospital and I got to meet her the day before she died. My mother told me she loved me (We double checked every word of the story--it was true). Kathy was crying-- she told me she loved me. I reached out and hugged Kathy and she cried in my arms for a very long time. I had a hard time hugging her--she wouldn t put the paint can down. She didn t seem to mind. Neither did I. Is there someone you need to forgive? 7