THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM - MATTHEW 18:21–35

Aug 16, 2026 • Pastor Brody Christian

MATTHEW 18:21-22

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “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.

FORGIVENESS IS NOT A SCORECARD

MATTHEW 18:23-24

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven [a]may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him [b]ten thousand talents was brought to him.

MATTHEW 18:25

25 But since he [c]did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made

MATTHEW 18:26-27

26 So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the [d]debt.

RECEIVING MERCY SHOULD PRODUCE MERCY

MATTHEW 18:28

28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred [e]denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

GRACE BECOMES DANGEROUS WHEN WE WANT IT FOR OURSELVES BUT JUSTICE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

MATTHEW 18:29-31

29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling [f]and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

MATTHEW 18:32-34

32 Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

UNFORGIVENESS KEEPS YOU EMOTIONALLY CHAINED TO SOMETHING GOD IS ASKING YOU TO RELEASE.

FORGIVENESS RELEASES THE OFFENDER FROM YOUR HANDS AND PLACES THE OFFENSE IN GOD'S HANDS.

3 THINGS FORGIVENESS DOES

1. FORGIVENESS RELEASES THE DEBT

2. FORGIVENESS BREAKS THE CHAIN

3. FORGIVENESS MAKES ROOM FOR HEALING

MATTHEW 18:35

35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from [g]your heart.”

EPHESIANS 1:7-10 MSG Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

PRAYER

“Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus.

Your Word says in Matthew 6:14-15 that if I forgive others, You will forgive me.

So today - I choose to forgive.

According to Colossians 3:13, I forgive as You forgave me.

I release every offense.

I let go of every hurt.

Your Word says in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to You - so I give it to You.

Uproot every bitterness in me according to Hebrews 12:15.

Jesus, You said, ‘Father forgive them’ - so today I say the same.

Heal my heart.

Free my soul.