Honesty Is Patient (03.19.2006)

Compassion needs to be developed. Honesty needs to be controlled.

UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS SHAPES OUR HONESTY
Read Matthew 18:21-22 about Peter learning to forgive

• Why do you think Peter is asking this question?
  Somebody had probably wronged him -- perhaps multiple times.
  
• The rabbis taught that people needed to forgive only three times. Given that, how do you think Peter feels about his willingness to forgive seven times?
  He probably thinks he is being very generous.

Read Genesis 4:23-24 about Lamech’s revenge

• How does Jesus use this story in his answer to Peter?
  He reverses Lamech's curse. Lamech says his revenge is going to be far greater than Cain's, which was only 7 times. He's going to take revenge 70 times -- 10 times worse than his ancestor Cain did. Jesus puts Lamech's two numbers together and commands us to forgive 70 times 7!
  
• Why does Jesus say that we need to forgive others so frequently, so continuously?
  Because people sin against us so persistently and frequently. We should develop a lifestyle of forgiveness.

Read Matthew 18:23-35 about the Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor

• The king represents God
• The first servant represents us
• The second servant represents the person who wronged us

Historical background: A talent was not a coin, but the largest unit of money in the Ancient Near East. It was equal to 6,000 denarii – or about $600,000 since a denarius was the wage a laborer earned in a day. Therefore, “10,000 talents” is approximately $6,000,000,000.

• Why does Jesus choose such a large number to describe the servant’s debt to the king?
  To illustrate the greatness of our sin and the greatness of God's forgiveness of us. It's impossible to pay back such a huge sum. Jesus isn't trying to give an exact amount; he's just telling us that this is an incredible sum of money.

TABLE TALK: How does knowing we have such an enormous debt to God temper what we have to say to someone else? How does it shape our honesty?

Historical background: In the first century, priority was placed on looking good and saving face. When we forgive someone, we may look weak and powerless, as if we don’t have the guts to stand up to the other person. Forgiveness was not even valued in theory. Therefore, Jesus’ teaching of forgiveness was radical and revolutionary!

HONESTY IS PATIENT
Let’s look at a couple of examples of what Peter is like as a person.

• Read Mark 9:2-8 about the Mount of Transfiguration
  - Does Peter know what to say? No (see vs. 6)
  - What does he do anyway? He talks!
  
• Read John 21:1-8 about a miraculous catch of fish
  - How does Peter respond when he sees Jesus on the shore? He jumps right in to the water!

How would you describe Peter’s personality? Quick to act, dominating, assertive

• Peter often talks first and then thinks.
• Peter acts without reflecting.

What does Jesus say to Peter about his impetuousness? Nothing!

• Jesus accepts Peter as he is.
• He seems to like Peter the way he is, quietly overlooking what we call personality flaws.
• Forbearance, the act of quietly overlooking someone else’s sin, is the “grease” for relationships.
• Through forbearance, compassion controls honesty.

PRAYING GOD’S WORD
Use the following passages to pray God’s Word back to Him, either on your own or with others:

Dear Father, I call upon You for You are worthy to be praised! (Psalm 18:3) You are not slow about Your promises, as I count slowness, but are patient toward me instead. (2 Peter 3:9) Love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), and since Your are love and You live in me, then may I always be patient, too! Lord, as Your bond-servant, I know that I must be patient when wronged. (2 Timothy 2:24) Teach me to be patient with everyone. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Teach me to accept one another just as Christ has accepted me, in order to bring praise to You! (Romans 15:7) In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen!

BEING THE REAL DEAL
Here are some ways to apply this message from God’s Word:

• Are there people in your life whose behaviors just really get under your skin? (Think about your co-workers!) Examine your attitude toward them this week. Are you forbearing? Or, do you dwell on how much they bug you and just not say anything about it?