Is Forgiveness Nonnegotiable? (Matthew 18:21-35)

Can You Always Forgive From Your Heart? Peter...asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to 7 times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not 7 times, but 77 times" (Mt 18:21-22).

What if You Don't Forgive? “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (Mt 18:35).

• Can you always forgive from your heart (Mt 18:21-22)?
• What if you don't forgive (Mt 18:34-35)?

1. 
   When someone sins against you what should you do (Mt 18:15a, 21-22)? Can you both confront as well as forgive the offender? Why confront sin (Mt 18:15b) and why forgive sin (Mt 6:14-15)?
   

2. In the parable, who do the main characters represent: king (Mt 18:23), first servant (Mt 18:24-27), second servant (Mt 18:28-30)?

3. When someone sins grievously against you, do you remember the debt of "ten thousand bags of gold" that you owe to God that has been cancelled (Mt 18:24, 26)? Because of your sin how are you in comparison to others (1 Cor 15:9; Eph 3:8; 1 Tim 1:15)?

4. 
   By using such extreme, exaggerated debt amounts, what does Jesus teach about the scale of our debt to God versus the offenses others commit against us (Mt 18:31-34)?

5. What does “forgive from your heart” mean practically (Mt 18:35; Lk 23:34)? How can you do so (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13)? How is it different from merely saying the words or stopping outward retaliation?

• 
  Do you keep a track record of how others have sinned against you?

• What makes forgiving “from the heart” difficult for you personally? What practical steps help you move toward it?

• How can you cultivate compassion for someone who has hurt you? Do you consider their own brokenness?

• How might unforgiveness be “imprisoning” you emotionally or spiritually, even if the other person is not asking for forgiveness?