Forgiveness… vs. 14-15

• 1^st – Forgiving others… vs. 14
  • Conditional…
    • For if you forgive men their trespasses – your heavenly Father will also forgive you!
    • The THIRD way we RELATE to God – is through FORGIVENESS…
    • There are several [seven] words in the NT that describe SIN…
    • TRESPASS [παράπτωμα] – means to FALL or to STUMBLE [accidental]
    • If someone does something ACCIDENTALLY to us – and we FORGIVE them…
    • Then God will also FORGIVE [future] us when FALL or STUMBLE!
  • What to Forgive…
    • A servant owed his Master EIGHT billion pesos [10 thousand talents] – Matthew 18:23-35
    • Which makes the next statement obvious – he was not able to pay…
    • But the master wiped away the debt – he was completely forgiven…
    • But that man went out and would NOT forgive a fellow servant who owed 500 pesos!
    • If we focus on what how others have DONE to us – we become ANGRY…
    • But our problem is we are looking in the wrong direction…
    • When we consider all that Jesus has forgiven us – EVERYTHING…
    • How could we not FORGIVE someone what little they have done to us!
  • How many times…
    • When Peter asked the Lord how many times do we need to FORGIVE – Matthew 18:21
    • Jesus told Peter we must FORGIVE – 70×7 – a number that only appears ONE other place!
    • Daniel 9:24 – “Seventy sets of seven [70×7] has been decreed… to bring an end to sin.”
    • How often are we to FORGIVE someone who sins against us – until there is no more SIN…
    • If they keep committing the same SIN – we keep FORGIVING…
    • There is NO limit to how many times – we must FORGIVE every time!
• 2^nd – Being Forgiven… vs. 15
  • Required…
    • If you do not forgive men their trespasses – neither will your Father forgive your trespasses!
    • If we do NOT forgive [aorist] the SINS of others – our Father will NOT forgive [future] us…
    • Emphasizing the importance of FORGIVENESS – it is NOT an option…
    • The ONLY way to get to Heaven – is to be FORGIVEN of our SINS…
    • And if we are NOT willing to FORGIVE others – then we are NOT forgiven!
  • How to Forgive…
    • Luke 17:6 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed – you can say to this mulberry tree – Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea.”
    • The MULBERRY tree is famous in the Middle East for having incredibly deep roots…
    • The tree can grow very quickly – and because of its roots it is VERY difficult to kill…
    • Even cutting to the base is no guarantee – it must be pulled out by the roots!
    • The way to FORGIVE – is FAITH in Jesus – He can tear out the roots of unforgiveness…
    • He can send them away into the farthest sea – never to be seen again…
    • Because FORGIVENESS is not just for the one whom did us wrong – it is also for us…
    • It sets us free – so we do not dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Christ!

• 4^th – Fasting… vs. 16-18
  • 1^st – Reward of Men… vs. 16
    • Not Required…
      • Moreover – when you fast!
      • The FOURTH way we RELATE to God – is through FASTING…
      • FASTING [νηστεύω] – meaning to NOT eat FOOD [or water]
      • But this is NOT a command – it is a CHOICE [subjunctive]!
      • FASTING has become a way to DIET – rather than something SPIRITUAL…
      • Which is perhaps why it is one of the most misunderstood aspects of our walk!
      • FASTING does NOT have to be for a specific period of time [hour – day – week]
      • FASTING does NOT need to be just from food [social media – TV – gym]
      • FASTING is taking the time we would have used to do something PHYSICAL…
      • And instead use that time to do something SPIRITUAL – spend it with Jesus!
      • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time – because the days are evil.”
      • FASTING is denying what our FLESH wants – to strengthen our SPIRIT!
      • Galatians 5:16 – “Walk in the Spirit – and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
    • Hypocrites…
      • Do not be like the hypocrites – with a sad countenance. 
      • For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting!
      • If we FAST – we are NOT [μὴ] to fast in such a way that everyone KNOWS…
      • Like the HYPOCRITES [ὑποκριτής] – the TWO faced!
      • It was common in Jesus day for men to actually ANNOUNCE their FASTS…
      • They would walk around with a SAD faces [because they were hungry]
      • And even PAINT their faces WHITE – so they would look PALE…
      • Because they wanted to ACT spiritual – show people they were HOLIER than others!
    • Earthly Reward…
      • Assuredly – I say to you – they have their reward!
      • [ἀμήν] – Jesus assured His disciples – anyone who FASTS only to be seen by men…
      • Has their REWARD – God is NOT impressed by their SELF righteous act!
      • We may no longer PAINT our faces WHITE act more SPIRITUAL…
      • But we do live in a world that is OBSESSED with external appearances…
      • The world uses intermittent FASTING – not as a tool to help us grow SPIRITUALLY…
      • But they have twisted it to be used as something to BOAST about the PHYSICAL!
      • No matter how much we work out and diet the end is still the same – we DIE…
      • That is not to say we should be careless – there is wisdom in being a steward of our body…
      • But why waste an exorbitant time and effort on something that cannot last!
      • I Timothy 4:8 – “Bodily exercise profits a little – but godliness is profitable for all things…”
  • 2^nd – Reward of God… vs. 17-18
    • But you – when you fast – anoint your head and wash your face.
    • So that you do not appear to men to be fasting – but to your Father who is in the secret place.
    • And Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly!
    • When we are FASTING [participle] – we must [imperative] anoint and wash our face…
    • So that no one KNOWS we are FASTING – we FAST in SECRET for ONLY God to see…
    • Then our Father who sees in SECRET – will [future] reward us!
    • We all LOVE to eat – but we do not like gaining WEIGHT…
    • We understand that FASTING can be used to CONTROL our desire for FOOD…
    • Therefore – we are willing to go HUNGRY – so that we can LOOK thin!
    • Why not use the tool of FASTING for what it was meant for…
    • Not a temporary victory over a desire for FOOD – but a permanent victory over SIN…
    • Use our TIME not to feed our FLESH – but instead FEED our SPIRIT!
    • Romans 8:6 – “To be spiritually minded is LIFE and PEACE.”

• 5^th – Treasures… vs. 19-24
  • 1^st – Earthly Treasures… vs. 19
    • Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.
    • Where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal!
    • The FIFTH way we RELATE to God – is through our TREASURES…
    • TREASURES [θησαυρός] – the things we consider to be the most VALUABLE…
    • Do NOT [Μὴ] store up TREASURES [imperative] here on EARTH…
    • Because FASHION [clothes] – just ends up getting holes [eaten by moths]
    • POSSESSIONS [cars and cell phones] – just end up getting RUSTED [and disappear]
    • And MONEY – can easily be STOLEN – either by THIEVES or the GOVERNMENT!
    • Have you noticed that BRANDS and STYLES are ALWAYS changing [iPhone 25]
    • What is in fashion TODAY – will be discounted and old news TOMORROW…
    • Because it is just a MARKETING strategy to get us to waste our lives chasing after STUFF!
    • Yet life is NOT about how much STUFF we own – or how much MONEY we have…
    • Life is a GIFT – with only ONE purpose – it gives us the opportunity to make a CHOICE…
    • Where will we go AFTER this life – where will we spend eternity…
    • Sadly – many choose to chase after STUFF – rather than invest in the ETERNITY
    • But NOTHING this world can offer is worth an eternity separated from God!
    • Mark 8:36-37 – “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul. Is anything worth more than your soul!” 
  • 2^nd – Heavenly Treasures… vs. 20
    • Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
    • Where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal!
    • We MUST [imperative] store our TREASURES in Heaven…
    • Because they will be SAFE – there are no MOTHS – RUST – or THIEVES there…
    • It is a comparison – SHORT term verse LONG term reward…
    • Jesus gave told the story of TWO men – Lazarus and the Rich man…
    • The Rich man had EVERYTHING this world had to offer – FASHION – POSSESSION – MONEY…
    • Where Lazarus had NOTHING – he sat covered in boils eating the scraps the dogs rejected!
    • Luke 16:22 – “[Lazarus] died – and was carried by the angels to [Paradise]. The rich man also died and was [in hell].”
    • If we were just given the choice – do we want to be RICH or POOR – the answer is EASY…
    • But once we extend our perspective out to eternity everything changes…
    • Being RICH in this life does not mean much – if we end up in HELL…
    • And being POOR in this life is not too high a price to pay – if it means we end up in HEAVEN…
    • Therefore we need to be WISE in where we CHOSE to store our TREASURES!
  • 3^rd – The Heart… vs. 21
    • For where your treasure is – there your heart will be also!
    • The REASON why we need to be careful where we put our TREASURES today [present]
    • Is because that is where we will find our HEARTS tomorrow [future]
    • If we had a P500 [dumb] phone – a cheap throw away – not a big deal if we lost it…
    • But if we had a P100,000 brand new iPhone 20 – death grip!
    • We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us – follow our HEART…
    • The truth is our HEART follows our treasures – our CHOICE dictates what our HEART wants…
    • That is why we should never follow our HEART – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
    • Instead we need to be wise where we CHOOSE to invest our TIME and TREASURES…
    • If we are spending all of our time focused on this WORLD – we will LOVE this world…
    • In contrast if we are investing in the things of GOD – we will find we LOVE the Father!
  • 4^th – Our Eye… vs. 22-23
    • Good Eye… vs. 22
      • The lamp of the body is the eye. 
      • If therefore your eye is good – your whole body will be full of light!
      • Our EYES are what lets [present] LIGHT into our BODY…
      • What we CHOSE to look at – is what we ALLOW to come into our HEART…
      • If our EYES are looking at what is GOOD [ἁπλοῦς] – 2x in NT – NOT compromised [braided]
      • Then our WHOLE body will be [future] FILLED with LIGHT!
    • Bad Eye… vs. 23
      • But if your eye is bad – your whole body will be full of darkness. 
      • If therefore the light that is in you is darkness – how great is that darkness!
      • If our EYES are looking at what is EVIL [πονηρός]
      • Then our WHOLE body will be [future] FILLED with DARKNESS…
      • And if what is meant to bring in LIGHT – instead brings in DARKNESS…
      • Then how [much] DARKNESS do we think will be in us!
      • I had no idea there was a device that could scramble an egg in the shell – saw it on YouTube…
      • Suddenly I had this desire to click on the link and buy one!
      • God did NOT give us EYES so that we could WATCH advertisements – that DO affect us…
      • ADS for the THINGS that make us think we NEED them to make us happy…
      • We need to be VERY careful what we WATCH – allow into our HEARTS…
      • We want to make sure we keep our EYES fixed on the things that are GOOD…
      • Spending time READING the Word of God – LOOKING at things that draw us closer to Jesus!
      • Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your [eyes] on what is true – and honorable – and right – and pure – and lovely – and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
  • 5^th – One Master… vs. 24
    • The Choice…
      • No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other…
      • Or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other!
      • NO one has the POWER [δύναμαι] to serve TWO masters [κύριος]
      • For we will end up [future] HATING one – and LOVING [ἀγαπάω] the other…
      • Or we will end up [future] CLINGING to one – and think BAD [καταφρονέω] of the other!
      • If you have ever worked TWO jobs you can relate…
      • Both BOSSES demand 100% of your time and focus [treasures]
      • Eventually – you are forced to CHOSE – which one to you want to serve!
    • God or Money…
      • You cannot serve God and mammon!
      • In the same way we do not have the POWER [δύναμαι] to serve God and MAMMON…
      • MAMMON [μαμωνᾶς] – 4x in NT – materialism – wealth – money!
      • Ultimately the only reason someone rejects Jesus Christ…
      • Is because there is something else that they LOVE more than God in their life!
      • We all have to CHOSE – we cannot serve TWO masters…
      • Beware a divided heart – desiring to follow Jesus – but flirting with the world…
      • Trying to love this world and the Lord – will never last long…
      • We will be forces to make a CHOICE – who do we choose to live for – who do we serve…
      • If we live for this world – then we are not going to follow Jesus!
      • James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”