GENERATION ONE (Matthew)

EPC - September 21, 2008 - Kevin Hale

"EXTRAORDINARY FORGIVENSSS"

Extraordinary forgiveness overcomes self righteousness.

Start with intro to Matthew

• Luke 7:36 (sinful woman washing feet)

Matthew 9:9

⁹As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

The Twelve, as they are commonly known, were not men known for their education or wealth but were very common hard working men.  Jesus passed over the influential and respected and chose the least likely.

This was another unusual lesson that Jesus taught about His view of the world.  He exalts the humble and rejects the proud.  Pride even in the Christian is rebuked.

Psalm 8:2²    Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

 You have ordained strength,

 

In the end it was the religious rulers that plotted for the blood of Jesus at the hand of the people.

 

These self righteous leaders became the enemies of the message of Christ.

 

    

There is nothing in the bible that records where these religious people denied the miracles of Jesus.  That seems to me to be the way to discredit Him but they could not do it.  Jesus did them in public and all over the area and did many different types of miracles so that they could not be denied.  They did try and spread that He used the devil to do them (MATT. 12:24) but no one could deny the miracles took place.  Jesus had power over the supernatural.  Once you say the devil did it then you must deal with God.

While Jesus ministered to the masses His greatest conflict came with the self righteous leaders.  Self righteousness is part of the human natural condition.

MATTHEW or Levi was probably viewed as the greatest sinner among the twelve chosen.  Matthew goes on in chapter 9:10 to tell of a dinner he gave in which Jesus attended, Luke gives more detail in Like 5:29-32.

These were Matthew's friends and they were very sordid characters (petty thieves, prostitutes, hoodlums etc.) because that is who he ran with it.  Matthew being Jewish and collaborating with the Romans was as bad as it could get.

Now we get to the point here.  The religious rulers were outraged at this scandalous behavior, socializing with sinners.  But Jesus responded that the sick need a physician and that he had not come to call the SELF RIGHTEOUS but sinners to repent.

As long as the pious rulers held on to their veneer then Jesus could not help them.

So people like Matthew were ready to confess their sin and were saved.

Listen, the publican in Luke 18 and Zaccheus in Luke 19 and Matthew believed and then in Luke 15:1 it says, ¹Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

Matt. 21:31,32 Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Pride in or out of the church STINKS in God's kingdom.

Matthew must have been totally surprised when Jesus came up to him and called him to be his disciple.  Remember too, that Matthew knew the OT very well as a Jewish boy.  He quotes the OT 99 times in his gospel.  He could have well had a longing inside to return to his roots and the scriptures came alive to him.

FORGIVENESS runs through his writings and he willing gave his life spreading the gospel.  Earliest Tradition has it that he was burned at the stake.  He left a lucrative career and never turned back.

We are focusing on the extraordinary influence that Christ makes on those who turn to him for salvation and life.  The barrier of self righteousness still exists today.  It keeps many from embracing the gospel of Christ.

• John - extraordinary love overcomes circumstances.
• Peter - extraordinary faith overcomes obstacles.
• Simon Zealot - extraordinary unity overcomes differences.
• Philip - extraordinary purpose overcomes mediocrity.
• Matthew - extraordinary forgiveness overcomes self righteousness.

Luke 7 records a story of a sinful woman that washes the feet of Jesus at the house of a Pharisee (named Simon).  She washed them with her tears and anointed them with perfume and her hair.

The Pharisee was very concerned that a sinful woman was doing this and questioned that if Jesus was prophet he would know who this sinful woman was and would not let her touch him.

Jesus tells a story of a creditor who had 2 debtors.  One owed 500 D and another 5D and he forgave both.  Who would love more?  The one forgiven more the Pharisee said and Jesus right.  Verse 44- 47

And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." ⁴⁴Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

The Message "That's right," said Jesus. ⁴⁴Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. ⁴⁷Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."

 

In this modern culture it is very uncommon to forgive.  Philip Yancey writes in his book "What's So Amazing about Grace", that UNforgiveness, "plays like a background static of life for families, nations and institutions.  Unforgiveness is sadly our natural human state.  We nurse sores, go to elaborate lengths to rationalize our behavior, perpetuate family feuds, punish ourselves, punish others - all to avoid the most unnatural act of FORGIVING.

To forgive means to "bear the burden" in the context of being forgiven by God through faith in Christ's sacrifice at the cross it means that he has carried our burden of sin for us.  (Ill. If you owed me 10K and I wish you did then I said I forgive it means I bear it)

Another way we speak to this is that we are reconciled with God by His sacrifice at Calvary.  Reconciliation differs from forgiveness.  I forgive on my own but reconciliation take two or more.

Things I have learned about FORGIVENESS:

• 1. Forgiveness is not...FORGETTING.

To forget on purpose is difficult, if even possible.  We do not have the capability to forget on purpose.  I want to tell you something right now and then I want for you forget it by the end of my talk.  Forget the animal I am about to tell you.

GRAY ELEPHANT.

 

Col. 3:13

¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

       This means to keep on forgiving.  This is what I think Jesus meant when Peter asked him how many times should he forgive.  There is no limit because we should do it as many times as we are asked.  God remembers our sin no more.  What does that mean?  It means He will not bring them up against us.

The founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, was reminded of an incident that had happened to her years before, a mean thing that someone had done to her.  She acted as if it she had never heard of the incident.  Don't you remember it/ the friend asked?  No, in fact I distinctly remember forgetting it.

Ill.  My friend on staff in Indy that left under bad circumstances but was restored later. I do not want to use his real name.  I have now only the memory of the event but I have no clue what he said to me at my desk.  Why?  I refused to bring it up and forgave and now I cannot remember it.

You will never forget many hurts but the pain is gone and you will not REMEMBER them daily. 

• 2. Forgiveness is not...RECONCILLIATION.

We are to forgive even if the other party does not ask. Jesus was not waiting for an apology before he went to the cross.

We can forgive them in our heart waiting for reconciliation.

• 3. Forgiveness is not...AN EMOTION.

It is a choice.  It is also a choice NOT to forgive.  That is why it is so dangerous to us.

What does it mean to forgive you might ask?

• a. I will never bring it up to hurt you.
• b. I will not talk about it.
• c. I will not dwell on it myself.
• 4. Forgiveness is not...CONDONING.

It does not meant that what has happened is not bad/wrong and does not matter.  If it did not matter then why are we forgiving anything?  It acknowledges that the act is wrong and forgives anyway.  Notice the word is built on the word GIVE.  It is like a gift and we give it.  There is much grace in forgiving.

• 5. Forgiveness is not...EASY.

Our nature simply resists forgiving as a first response.  We want to get even or get revenge and write them off.  To ignore someone is the highest form of hatred, I believe.  We know better but we find it hard to forgive and realize that we are not easily forgiven. 

Forgiveness is an act of obedience.  When you have been wronged seek to be reconciled.  Whatever the outcome FORGIVE.

Matt. 5

²¹"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,^£ and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' ²²But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother ^£without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘RacaRaca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Spiritual Appl.  Who goes first?  The one the Spirit convicts.

Jesus gives a hard teaching on this issue.  When we choose not to forgive after we have been forgiven so much then we place that person in what I have learned to call DEBTORS prison.  This is the prisons we build for those that hurt and wrong us.

YOU owe me is our attitude.  I will forgive but I will not forget attitude is not forgiveness.  Self righteous ways we find to get around forgiveness.  I will forgive but we will not be friends anymore.

Then God in return will not forgive us it says.  I believe that he puts us in Tormentors prison.  What is that?  We are delivered to misery, fear, bad health, anxiety, jealousy, depression, etc. the consequences of our sins as believes are suffered in the body.  Prayers will be hindered etc.

Ill.  When I went home to work I had a list of some 20 persons.  Most forgave immediately and other said NO.  It appears some 30 years later that one has but has NEVER spoken to me about it.  I know what it feels like to not forgive.  I know what the chastising hand of God feels like as well.  I have never to date withheld forgiveness from anyone that has asked for it.  I have learned to go ahead and forgive even if they do not ask and do not want to reconcile.  I am better for it.  Life is so much better when I keep us both out of the prison of my own making the heart..

These emotions bind us.  We are freed when we forgive.

Do not harbor an unforgiving spirit.  It will hurt you and those around you more than the one you hate. 

Now did you forget the animal I asked you to forget?  What wait? Shame on you! Just kidding.  You remember it no more but difficult to forget.

Matthew experienced extraordinary forgiveness after he experienced the supernatural LOVE of Christ.  It is fitting then that Matthew writes in His gospel the scripture that deal most with forgiveness and how we are to reconcile with each other.

He left everything he had and gave his life for His Lord and Savior.  Many think they have done such horrible things that God could never forgive them.  Maybe you feel that way today.

No one needed to tell Matthew he was sinner and Jesus chose Him.  God will forgive you and come inside and live with you and his forgiveness will allow you to overcome all guilt and any self righteousness.

• Joseph forgiving his brothers. Gen. 43-45
• Prodigal son verses elder brother. Luke 15:11
• Pharisee vs. publican Luke 18:10