Do you struggle with forgiving others? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about Jesus's surprising teaching about forgiveness. 

Jesus didn't use parables to make everything clear, but to make everyone think.

Today's parable: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

 Matthew 18:21-35

3 Questions to ask:

Who is being represented in this parable?

1. The king represents God.

We can learn what God is like based on what this king does. Notice, He is not just an accountant, He is compassionate. Psalm 103:14

Isaiah 48:11 

But also like the king, God gets really angry when someone who has been forgiven so much refuses to forgive another. 

2. The servant who was forgiven the larger amount represents us.

Romans 3:23

Some of the things we have done were unforgivable, yet we are freely forgiven.

3. The servant who wasn't forgiven the smaller amount represents those who have hurt us.

Ephesians 4:32 

What is the surprise twist in the story?

There are three twists:

1. The king forgave an astronomical amount of debt.

2. The forgiven servant refused to forgive a far less amount after he had been forgiven.

3. Jesus says God will do the same to us if we don't forgive.

What are the kingdom lessons in the story?

1. Forgiveness is a two-sided coin: heads, I'm forgiven; tails, I forgive.

You can't spend only one side of a coin, and you can't separate your forgiveness from your forgiving.

Matthew 6:14-15 If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This isn't a threat, its an explanation. Jesus isn't saying God is waiting to pounce on us if we don't forgive. Instead, He's explaining a kingdom reality about the nature of forgiveness. 

2. You won't survive unforgiveness.

James 2:13 NLT 

Forgiveness doesn't condone sin, it doesn't deny what happened, and it doesn't replace having wise boundaries with people who hurt you. Forgiveness is hard, but here is the truth: the pain you feel during the process of forgiving someone is nowhere near the pain you will feel if you hold on to the unforgiveness.

3. We are to make a big deal of our own sin, not other people's sin.

1 Tim 1:15 

4. Forgiveness is a mindset, not only a moment.

Matthew 18:21-22 

Forgiveness is not just a point in time action; It's a life-long decision. 

Here is God's promise in the process: If you will forgive the people who hurt you, God will remove the pain they caused you.

Unforgiveness is like keeping old junk in your house. The more you hold onto, the less room you have for peace. When you forgive, you're clearing space for God's grace to move in.

Are you learning the lessons of the unforgiving servant?