THE MAN WHOSE DEPT WAS FORGIVEN

Season 3: Jesus the Storyteller
Episode 3: “The Man Whose Dept Was Forgiven”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 18:21-35

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED3fzkS-bhA (Saddleback Kids)

“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven’ (Matthew 18:21-22).

Jesus told the story about a man who had been forgiven a huge amount of money, yet refused to do the same for someone else who owed him little. He said that God, like the king in His story, is very generous and compassionate–He has made a way to forgive us for the bad things we do. We could never be good enough to earn God’s forgiveness. Because of this, we should never withhold forgiveness from someone who wrongs us. We have experienced God’s full forgiveness and should do the same for others. Other people may hurt us a lot and it means that it takes a lot to forgive them; however, we’ll never have to forgive someone as much as God forgives us.

Jesus story also contained a warning. If we refuse to forgive other people, God will not forgive you. But when we forgive others, we can be certain that God forgives us too!

Think about it...

• Have you ever done something you know you shouldn’t have. What happens when we ask God to forgive us?

• People hurt us sometimes, just like we hurt others. What does God want us to do?

• Sometimes we’re very angry with other people. What does God say will happen if we refuse to obey other people?

• Even though it can be hard, we need to forgive others. What does God promise to do?

Prayer: Thank you, God, that you forgive us when we ask you to. Please help us to forgive others who hurt us. Help us to say sorry when we hurt others. Thank you that you made a plan so that we could experience your forgiveness and that no matter how we’ve messed up, you help us start new.