March 8, 2016
HOW TO BECOME DEBT FREE . . . REALLY DEBT FREE
Matthew 18:21–35
Joy Kupp
Central Truth
Only God can forgive sin. Your ultimate debt was fully paid by Christ's blood on the cross. But God says you must release others from the debt of damage they have done to you—anything from broken trust to outright betrayal. Otherwise, you hold them hostage. And yourself, too.
Key Verse | Matthew 18:32–33
"Then his master summoned him and said to him, . . . 'I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'" (Matthew 18:32-33)
Matthew 18:21–35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 1 18:23 Or bondservants; also verses 28, 31 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 2 18:24 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant 3 18:26 Or bondservant; also verses 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, 4 18:28 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, 5 18:34 Greek torturers until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Dive Deeper | Matthew 18:21–35
Have you ever had credit card debt? Maybe you didn't even realize it until you opened the bill and experienced a sinking feeling of "How did this happen? I can't possibly pay this on my salary." What about student loans? You knew they were coming after college, but here you are four years later, and the loans are demanding to be paid. Or how about your mortgage? When you bought that house, the 30-year note seemed like something that would be gone "some day," and yet that mortgage payment comes due month after month.
We live in a society accustomed to financial debt. Too often, it's even encouraged. Our government's national debt is $19 trillion. Our culture tells us, "Buy now. Pay later." (By the way, Watermark has a class you could benefit from—it's called Moneywise. Check it out at: www.watermark.org/dallas/ministries/moneywise).
What if someone came along and paid it all—credit card, student loan, mortgage? What relief!
Now imagine someone at your office borrowed $500 from you last fall and hasn't paid it back. And it just eats at you until you finally go to him and say, "You owe me." Seems preposterous, doesn't it? Your debt was canceled, but you won't cancel his.
Emotional debt may even be more difficult to release. Perhaps your father abandoned your family when you were a small child. Maybe your spouse has been unfaithful. Or a friend made a promise that she never kept. How is that account settled?
The answer is in this passage. Not easy in the short term, but it will rescue you from inner torment. Besides, God commands it. FORGIVE. Release that person from the debt he owes you. Christ has done it for you. Now do it for others.
Only God can forgive sin. But God says you must release others from the debt of damage they have done to you—anything from broken trust to outright betrayal. Don't hold them hostage. The result is that you will be free.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever asked God to forgive you for your sin? He is the one true God. Do you believe? Have you entered into a personal relationship with Him? If not, will you consider doing so today?
2. Who has hurt you deeply? Will you choose to release that person from the emotional debt he or she owes you today?
3. Who has hurt you in a way that you might consider smaller or less significant? Will you choose to forgive him or her today? If you choose no, that hurt may grow into resentment. Choosing not to forgive, or even choosing nothing at all, will not only damage your relationship with that person, but over time come to torment you as well. Make a wise choice today.
4. Who has extended unmerited grace to you through forgiveness? How have you thanked them?