Sermon outlines · Matthew 18:21-22
Sermon outline on forgiveness
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In Matthew 18:21, “forgive” translates a Greek word: ἀφίημι. In Antioquia’s study mode, one tap shows what it means and where else it appears in the Bible — the kind of detail that gives a sermon depth. Try it in the preview.
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Matthew 18:21
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
✦ Understand this verseἀφίημι
aphíēmi · Greek · G863
- In this verse
- forgive
- What it means
- an intensive form of , to go)
- How the King James translates it
- left36forgive17forgiven17
Appears in 133 verses · See them all in the app
Sermon outline
Sermon title
Seventy times seven
Main idea
Whoever has been forgiven an unpayable debt by God cannot refuse forgiveness to a brother.
Text
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22 · Read the chapter →
Introduction
Peter thought he was being generous when he suggested forgiving up to seven times. Jesus answered seventy times seven, and told the parable of the servant who owed the king a fortune.
1. Forgiveness does not keep count
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:22 · Read the chapter →
Seventy times seven is not a limit of 490: it is the end of counting. Whoever counts how many times they have forgiven is still holding on to the offence.
Application: Give up keeping a list of someone’s offences.
2. We were forgiven an unpayable debt
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Matthew 18:27 · Read the chapter →
The servant owed ten thousand talents — more than he could earn in many lifetimes. The king, moved with compassion, forgave it all. It is a picture of what God did for us at the cross.
Application: Before you think about who owes you, remember how much God has forgiven you.
3. The forgiven forgive
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Matthew 18:33 · Read the chapter →
That same servant seized a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii. The king asked whether he should not have shown compassion, as he himself had received it. Forgiveness received has to reach others.
Application: Take one concrete step of forgiveness: a message, a conversation, a prayer for that person.
Conclusion
Jesus ends by saying the Father will do the same to whoever does not forgive from the heart. Forgiving is not saying the offence did not hurt; it is handing God the right to collect — as he did with us.