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Rev. Robert M. Celeste
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Saturday, March 6th, 2010 let him be unto thee as an heathen Matthew 18:15-17
I know of too many cases where Christians are persecuting other Christians. Years ago there was a book out about why Christians persecute other Christians, I didn’t read the book then and I will neither read it now nor recommend that you read it. But, I know it happens, you know it happens and Christ was so alarmed by it that He spoke on it.
Let us look at something the Lord said concerning forgiveness of a brother or a sister who sins against you and/or persecutes you.
Now, I’m sure you all know the account of Peter asking about forgiving his brother and Jesus’ response, but today we will start by taking a look at those familiar passages again.
Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. For therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents (tens of billions of dollars). 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.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:21-27
The servant owned tens of billions of today’s dollars, yet when he begged for forgiveness and humbled himself, he was forgiven. That is one of the keys to today’s thought. If you have offended someone you must humble yourself and beg the person you have sinned against to forgive you. And then he, if he is a Christian, will forgive you, but you must admit that which you did. You can not simply say, “I’m sorry, forgive me.” No, you must admit to that which you did in detail and then ask for forgiveness. You must also assume that there will be both spoken and unspoken conditions.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence(one thousand dollars): and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me that thou owest.” And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that (tens of billions of dollars of) debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?”
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.. Matthew 18:28-34
An unspoken condition of forgiveness was that he who was forgiven must forgive also. How important was that unspoken condition. Verse 35 tells it all. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Matthew 18:35
Now before I continue, I want to impress something on you. The word brother, is not your earthly brother, it is not all mankind, it is others who are Born Again Washed in the Blood of the Lamb Christians, none other.
With that in mind, let me continue, for there is a spoken lesson and an unspoken lesson to be learned here.
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. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15-17
First the spoken and unspoken lessons.
1. If you are the offended person, you must bring it to the attention of the one who offended you and offer them the opportunity to beg for forgiveness or if there is a misunderstanding, to explain. Let me give you an example of how something may be an honest misunderstanding. Once upon a time many years ago, I had a bad habit of saying ‘super’. If you told me you had just made a sale, I would say, “super.” Well one day a man, who was hard of hearing told me something, I said “super” and walked away with a smile on my face. I never saw the look of hurt on his face. Sometime later I heard he was mad at me for calling him stupid. I went to him and said “Old friend, I never called you stupid.” He said “Yes you did,” and then went on to tell me when. I remembered the instance he was talking about and told him that I had said “super” not “stupid”. We have been friends again ever since.
2. If you are the one who offended, you must go and bring it to the attention of the one you offended and after telling him what you did, beg his or her forgiveness. It is better to hear it from you than from others.
I want to tell you a story so that you will understand that forgiveness may not come easy. For some offences are long lasting and never have an ending on this earth.
There was a was a pastor who had been witnessing in a ‘red-light’ district in the city where he lived (he was handing out tracts). A woman had spread terrible rumors about what he was doing down there. Because of her ‘rumors’ he lost his church, his marriage, and his children turned on him. He was in ill health in a hospital room when she came to him and asked for forgiveness. He had her take the pillow, go to the window and empty the feathers out into the wind. When she came back he told her: “Now go and retrieve all the feathers.” She replied: “I can never do that, they are scattered to the wind. It is impossible to do what you ask.” He replied, “So too with your gossip - you can never take back and undo what you have done. I can forgive you and do forgive you, but the consequences of your gossip will probably last for many years.”
The devil hates a Christ-centered church and will do anything he can to destroy it. He hates Christ-centered, Christ-fearing, Christ-preaching Pastors and will do whatever he can to destroy them. The devil hates Christians, and if he can, he will use you to destroy a Pastor, a church assembly or another Christian.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. James 1:26
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:3-10
I am gong to close with this. Bear in mind it is not from me, it is from Christ, spoken to His Apostle John who penned it for us. If the one who offends does not repent, does not confess, does not beg for forgiveness and change his or her ways and do all he or she can to correct the injustice, then the offended one goes to them one on one. Then if that does not work, offers to meet with the offender(s) with two witnesses, and if that doesn’t work then the offended one brings it to the church. If there is still no resolution, then God tells us what we are to do next.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John1:10&11
In other words if the one or ones who offends does not confess, repent and ask for forgiveness, then the entire church is to ostracize them for he who does not is guilty of being a partaker in the evil deed.
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