Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.

Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.

These teaching notes are from a study in Matthew.

[These notes are from a study taught more than 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]

Matthew 18:21-35

I. God’s Examination – v. 21-22

Here Jesus Christ examines the matter of forgiveness and finds Peter’s standard wanting. The Lord presents a number that indicates unlimited forgiveness. The Lord is not setting up a certain amount of times that we are to forgive a person, but rather teaching the importance of a forgiving spirit.

II. God’s Example – v. 23-27

The Lord gives Peter the Divine example of forgiveness. The servant owed the king more than $10,000,000. It was a debt that must be paid, but the king had a warm and loving heart and a forgiving spirit. When the servant begged Him, the king was moved with compassion and loosed the servant from all the debt.

This is a picture of what God has done for each of us who have called upon the name of the Lord of mercy. [Indepth]

III. God’s Expectation – vs. 28-35

The king expected the servant to have a forgiving spirit after all that was forgiven him. But when the servant demanded the $20 owed to him by a fellow servant, he proved his wickedness by his lack of forgiveness. God reproved the wicked servant as He will reprove any of His children who do not forgive others in the same way the Lord has forgiven them.

In verse 35, Jesus said – “if ye from your hearts forgive not every one of his brother their trespasses.”

[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your ministry.]

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