Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
Then Came Peter to Him
and said
(Matthew 18:21)
till seven times?
Do I Have To ForgiveMy Brother Seven Times?
When He Is At Fault
When He Is In The Wrong
When He Has Hurt Me
What Does Jesus Expect Of His Children?
70X7
(Matthew 18:22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Not Just Seven Times
That’s 490 Times
Jesus said
Let’s See What It WasThat Led To Jesus
Teaching This Lesson(Matthew 18:1) At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
I’m Greater Than You Are
No I am GreaterI’m Smarter
My way is the right way
The disciples were fussing over who would be the GREATEST in the kingdom.
I’m Better
(Mark 9:33) And he (Jesus) came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Mark wrote:
(Mark 9:34) But they (the disciples) held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
(Luke 9:46) Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
Luke Wrote about the Disciples:
These were Jesus DisciplesThese were His Chosen Followers
If They Could HaveFeelings Like This
We Need To Be Careful LestWe Also Think We Are The Greater
This Is A Big Danger In our Walk With GodThis Is A Big Danger In our Dealing With Others
We Are Given A Warning(1 Corinthians 10:12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
(Proverbs 16:18) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Is It PossibleWhen We Think
We Are The GreatestMaybe We Are Not
Perhaps That Attitude Is CausingProblems In our Dealing With Others
Look At The Answer Jesus Gave
(Mark 9:35) .. If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
(Luke 9:48) .. for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
(Matthew 18:4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus Using A Child As An Example Taught
Converted is defined as: changed or turned The verb means to change or turn from one habit of life or set of opinions to another. It sometimes refers to that great change called the new birth.
(Matthew 18:3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
… become as little childrenWe must do away with any better than you attitude.
We must do away with any feelings of superiority.
Children are, to a great extent, destitute of ambition, pride, and haughtiness They are characteristically humble and teachable.
Jesus Then Taught We Were To:
Have You Ever NoticedHow Much More
Tolerant, Forgiving, and Accepting,Children Are Of OthersThan Are Many Adults
We are To Become As ChildrenMatthew 18:3
There is a BLESSING There is a WARNING
How Then Are God’s Children To Be Treated?
(Jesus taught:)And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (Matthew 18:5)
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.(Matthew 18:6)
When We “Receive”Those Who Have Submitted Themselves To Christ
We Are Kind To Them
We Show Them Mercy
We Forgive Them
We Treat Them As Equal
We Help Them
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (Matthew 25:35)Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:36)
At The Judgement
When We “Offend”Those Who Have Submitted Themselves To Christ
We Hurt Them
We Cause Them To StumbleThen shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45)
We Neglect ThemWe Abuse Them
Jesus expects us:1. To Become as a Child2. To Receive Those WhoHave Become as a Child
3. And Not To Offend ThoseWho Have Become as a Child
but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Jesus TaughtWoe unto the world because of offences!
This world faces much difficulty because of the sin and wickedness that come from the people in it.
for it must needs be that offences come; Because of sin people will do things that hurt others
(Matthew 18:7)
DON”T LET THAT SOMEONE THATCAUSES ANOTHER TO BE HURT - BE YOU
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8)
Jesus Taught
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9)
Jesus Taught
I Do Not Believe ThatIt Was The Intent Of Jesus
That We Cut OffOur Hands, Or Feet,Or Put Out Our Eyes
Whatever Your Eye Might Want To Look At
Whatever Your Hand Might Do
Wherever Your Foot Might Go
If It Is Not Of GodYou Would Be Better Off To Separate From It
Then To Offend Someone and Cause Them To Fallor Lose Out With God
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)Despise means to:
think against, that is, disesteem: - despiseStrong's Dictionary of The Bible
Keep in Mind - Those who belong to God have angels
Jesus Taught
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)
How Much Does God Care
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
We Must be Careful With Those Who God Cares About
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? (Matthew 18:12)
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. (Matthew 18:13)
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)
We Must Be So CarefulHow We Treat
Those Whom God Does NotWant To Perish
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (Matthew 18:15)
This is The Will Of GodWork It Out
Between The Two Of YouNo One Else Involved
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) Jesus Taught
We Need Each Other
(Matthew 18:23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
One Servantowed him ten thousand talents
And Could Not Pay
(Matthew 18:25) But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Sell HimSell His Wife
Sell His ChildrenSell All That He Has
So That Payment Can Be Made
(Matthew 18:26) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Sell Him Sell His WifeSell His ChildrenSell All That He Has
So That Payment Can Be Made
(Matthew 18:27) Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
(Matthew 18:28) But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Laid Hands On Him
Showed No MercyTook Him ByThe Throat Said Pay Me
cast him into prison
(Matthew 18:33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
His Lord Said :
(Matthew 18:34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
(Matthew 18:35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Jesus Taught:
Let’s Be Full Of TheSpirit Of God
Let’s Show The Love Of God(Ephesians 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
What Does Jesus Expect Of Us(Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.Will You Let Others See Jesus In You?
Will You Spend Some TimeIn Prayer?
For Yourself For Others
That You would BeAn Example
That They WouldBe Won
To The Lord