INTRO: When the Moravian Missionaries first went to the Eskimos they discovered that the Eskimos didn't have a word in their language that meant "forgiveness.". So in teaching the Bible they had to make a compound phrase.
"Issumagi joujung-nainermik." This tongue twister forms an Eskimo expression that translates "forgiveness" in a profound and unique way. It literally means, "Not being able to think about it any more."
There isn't one person in this room that has escaped the pain of being offended by another. Also there is not one here who has not offended someone. Jesus recognizes that human nature is selfish and it is inevitable that we hurt one another.
I. DEFINITION OF OFFENCES.
A.In the Gk it means to cause someone to stumble. In this scripture Jesus is talking about hurts that we inflict upon others that cause them to stumble in their faith. He warns us to be careful that we don't cause someone to stumble. Then in the very next sentence he admonishes us to quickly forgive those that place stumbling blocks into our path.
II. THE DAMAGE OF OFFENCES. VS 1
A. Damage to the offended one.
1.Broken heart. This comes from the fact that others put their confidence in a man instead of the Lord. Jesus said that "offences will come." They are inevitable. Don't place your faith in a preacher, a teacher, a human, THEY WILL FAIL YOU. PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS.
2.Dampened zeal. Many Christian workers who were on fire for the Lord have been quenched by offences. Pastors give up the fight and become caretakers of the church instead of prophets. Soul winners wither because of discouraging words spoken by those who NEVER WIN SOULS.
3.Disrupted fellowships. Churches all over our land are helplessly bleeding to death because of these offences. Good Christians who want to see folks saved are forced to leave churches they love because the offenders.
B.Damage to the offender. vs 2 Jesus strongly warns that being an OFFENDER IS A SURE WAY TO RUIN. If you are one that has been a stumbling block to another I urge you to Make it right today. If you are quenching someone's evangelistic zeal YOU BETTER MAKE IT RIGHT TODAY. If you are sowing seeds of discord in the Lords church YOU HAD BETTER GET RIGHT TODAY. JESUS SAID YOU WOULD BE BETTER OFF DROWNED.
Jesus said offences were inevitable so HE TOLD US HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.
III. DEALING WITH OFFENCES. VS 3-4
A. There are two dynamics involved in dealing with offences.
1.Dynamic of communication. vs 3 Jesus says that when offences come you are first to rebuke him. This doesn't mean that you "meanly tell him off, or cuss him out." This means that you let him know that he SINNED AGAINST YOU. You Were Hurt. "Rebuke means to "charge Straightly"
a.When stumbling blocks are placed in our way we are to plainly tell the offender about our hurt. It is no the proper Christian response to sulk, to scheme, to seek revenge. By telling the
one who hurt us about our pain we give them the opportunity to ask forgiveness.
2.Dynamic of forgiveness. vs 4. When someone asks you to forgive you are to forgive. Many times the human in us wants to get revenge. Or we feel that they don't deserve to be forgiven. FORGIVNESS ISN'T FOR THEIR BENIFIT IT IS FOR OURS. Listen to what Jesus said.
Mat 6:15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." a. The dynamic of forgiveness is an active healing thing. FORGIVNESS IS NOT JUST A SHRUG, AND SAYING "That's ok." Forgiveness is actively putting the offence behind and actively working on the relationship of the future
1.Real forgiveness means that the offence isn't brought up again. REAL CHRISTIANS don't keep lists of offences committed in the past. We are to forgive as God does.
Heb 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
a. We're fortunate that God is merciful and that he doesn't remember our sins and hold our past against us like so many others do.
When God forgives, it is total and permanent. It is without exception and with no reservations.
A little girl carrying a bottle of milk across the street fell down and broke the bottle. A neighbor shouted " Now your mother will spank you" "Oh no" replied the little girl, " my mother gives me another chance."
Sometimes the Lord does spank us. But he does give us another chance, not a chance to be saved after death, but a chance to serve him after we fail.
IV. THE DUTY TO FORGIVE vs 10
Jesus ended his teaching on forgiveness by emphasizing that it is our Duty to forgive, it is not an extraordinary accomplishment.
A. Christians are to forgive easily, because they have been forgiven.
READ MATTHEW 18:21-35
Forgiving and forgetting isn't optional for the Christian. It is demanded. It is Duty. That isn't to say that it is easy. FORGIVNESS ISN'T NATURAL, IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT COMES AS YOU ALLOW CHRIST TO DWELL IN YOU.
INV.
Rom 4:7 "Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Mat 18:35 "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses
