Forgiven, But Not Free
Matthew 18:21-35
How To Live In Forgiveness And Freedom.
1. Quit Keeping Score.
21 Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22 [NIV]
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.’”
Luke 15:28-29 [NLT]
5 Love keeps no record of wrongs.
1 Corinthians 13:5 [NIV]
12 “Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.” 13 “He answered one of them, “Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?”
Matthew 20:12-13 [NLT]
2. Take Personal Responsibility.
28 “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
Matthew 18:28 [NIV]
11 [God] said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman You put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Genesis 3:11-12 [NIV]
4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”
2 Samuel 12:4-7 [NIV]
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5 [NIV]
3. Release What You’ve Received.
33 ”Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”
Matthew 18:33 [NIV]
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:12 [NIV]
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 [NIV]
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 [NIV]
The Cycle: Dew, Clouds, Rain, Ground Receiving & Releasing
1. The Ground Releases Moisture (Evaporation)
Even when it looks dry, the earth gives up dew early in the morning. This represents your contribution, even in hidden or unseen ways — effort, love, service, sacrifice.
2. The Dew Rises and Forms Clouds
The cloud is a container of what the earth has released. In relationships, your consistent investment builds capacity in the other person or atmosphere. The cloud is what holds what you’ve sown — trust, grace, honor, time.
3. The Clouds Release Rain (Precipitation)
At the right time, the clouds release rain back to the earth. What you released comes back — sometimes later, sometimes differently — but the return is real. This is the principle of reciprocity: “Give, and it will be given to you…”
4. The Rain Refreshes the Ground
The cycle continues. What you gave comes back multiplied and nourishing. It softens the ground, brings fruit, and causes things to grow.
47 “I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
Luke 7:47 [NLT]
