Matthew 6:14-15 What Jesus Said About Forgiveness

Introduction

To forgive is to “give up all claim to punishment of the offender or repayment from him.” It is full pardon. It is to neither seek nor desire such repayment. It is to write off a debt. See verse 12. It is to kiss and make up. It is to give up all bitterness and resentment.

Consider the unsaved who has sinned and thus offended God. God has the right to punish him. He owes God a debt of punishment or recompense. But when the sinner repents and trust Jesus, God for Christ’s sake forgives. He writes off the whole debt. He grants full pardon. God relinquishes all claim to punishment in hellfire. Thus the sinner will never go to hell.

The sinner then takes on a new relationship with God. He is born a child of God. He still sins. God will still punish. But God will not send him to hell. The punishment is very limited. God will chasten.

I. Jesus said that the child of God should forgive others.

A. Because God has forgiven us such a great debt of sin we should be able to forgive others a

lesser debt.

B. In the Model Prayer Jesus taught us so to forgive. Verse12.

1. Mark recorded: “And when ye stand praying, forgive” Mark 11:25.

2. Thus the sense in Matthew 6:12 is: “Forgive us our debts even as we just now forgive

the debts of others.

C. We are to forgive whether they ask for forgiveness or not. Matthew 5:38-44.

II. Jesus said that if the child of God will not forgive others that God will not forgive him. Verse 15

A. Keep in mind that Jesus is not talking about eternity.

1. He is not saying that if we forgive not, we cannot go to heaven.

2. If one repents and trusts Jesus he will stay out of hell and go to heaven.

B. Jesus is talking about now.

1. If the child of God will not forgive others fellowship with God is broken.

2. Prayers are hindered.

3. God will not pardon his sins but will chasten him.

III. Jesus said that if the child of God forgives others that God will forgive him. Verse 14

A. God will restore fellowship with him.

B. God will answer his prayers.

C. God will send blessings from on high.

D. God will withhold chastisement instead of blessings.

Conclusion

1. I call upon you who are saved to forgive right now. Get those old grudges and resentments out and

write them off. With God’s help you can do it.

2. I call upon you who have considered moving your membership to this church to come.

3. I call upon the lost sinner to trust Jesus Christ and be saved. You will have your debt of sins written

off.

Preached at Pleasant Hill 8-29-82 A.M.