SERMON OUTLINE:
• (1). Forgiveness (vs 1-6).
• (2). Faithfulness (vs 7-10).
• (3). Thankfulness (vs 11-17).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Last month on June 6th, 2019.
• You may or may not be aware that POPE Francis changed the Lord's Prayer.
• Now as you can imagine this has caused a lot of controversy.
• Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
• Said the changes are “deeply problematic”.
• Mr Mohler told the Seattle Times:
“I was shocked and appalled.
“This is the Lord’s Prayer. It is not, and has never been, the Pope’s prayer, and we have the very words of Jesus in the New Testament.
“It is those very words that the pope proposes to change. It is not only deeply problematic, it’s almost breath-taking.”
• Now this may shock you;
• But I am on the Popes side of the argument and not Mr Mohler’s!
• Let me explain…
If you missed the story let me tell what has been changed:
• When Catholics recite the Lord’s prayer, the phrase “lead us not into temptation”
• Has been changed to “do not let us fall into temptation”.
• The Pope has only just discovered what Bible scholars for years have been saying;
• That “do not let us fall into temptation”.
• Is a better translation because God does not lead people into temptation,
• That is the work of Satan, it is the evil one "one who leads you astray".
• So, Pope Francis has only changed the odd word in the English version of the prayer.
• He has not really changed the words of Jesus,
• He has only helped many people to see clearer what the meaning is!
• TRANSITION: The previous chapter (16),
• Jesus has warned the Pharisees (religious leaders) about being led astray.
• He has taught concerning the sin of loving money.
• Quote verse 14:
• “The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.”
• Jesus will now warn his disciples about the possible sin in their own lives.
• This passage divides up under three headings;
• The first heading has to do with sin and forgiveness.
(1). Forgiveness (vs 1-6).
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied round their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.
‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying “I repent,” you must forgive them.’
5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’
6 He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.”
Notice: two things in these first six verses.
FIRST: We all stumble (vs 1a).
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come
Ill:
• In the ‘Dennis the Menace’ comic strip,
• You might be surprised to know;
• That Dennis often comes up with some interesting prayers.
• One time, Dennis was on his knees beside the bed and he says to God,
• “You might want to pull up a chair. I’ve been very busy today.”
• TRANSITION: Like Dennis we all make many mistakes,
• Most of us do not keep a list of the sins we commit,
• If we did, then we too would probably keep God very busy for quite a time.
Note: The Greek word (‘skandalon’) translated here as ‘stumble’ (NIV),
• “stumbling blocks” (NASB)
• “Fall into sin” (GNB)
• “Offences will come” (KJV)
Ill:
• The word was originally used of a trap,
• A device for catching something alive.
• I like the story of the man who was watching a TV programme late at night,
• When to his surprise a mouse right across the room, before his very eyes
• He was shocked, but immediately he took action,
• He found a mousetrap and then went to the fridge to get some cheese.
• But there was no cheese.
• So, he did what he thought was the next best thing.
• He got a food magazine that had colourful photos in it.
• And he cut out a picture of cheese and put it in the mousetrap.
• He then went to bed.
• Now the next morning he woke up and went to check the mousetrap,
• And…you are not going to believe this,
• But he found there, a magazine picture of a mouse in a trap!
• TRANSITION: And the moral of the story is…
• You and I face real traps, real stumbling blocks, that will entice us to sin.
• Jesus says that these temptations are bound to occur.
• People are tempted by many things,
Quote: Billy Sunday.
• (William Ashley Sunday was an American baseball player during the 1880s.
• What David Beckham was to football in the UK, he was to baseball in the USA.
• He got converted and became a great evangelist winning thousands to the Lord.)
• He once said:
• “We treat sin like strawberry shortcake, instead of a rattle snake!”
• We like its taste but are surprised when later it turns around and bites us,
• Destroying us with its poison.
• So, first: We all stumble (vs 1a).
• Often as a result of foolish choices.
• Then he says something that makes us all very uncomfortable!
(2). We All need to be very careful! (vs 1b-3a)
“but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied round their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.
Ill:
• At the time of Jesus,
• Each household had a small stone mill to grind grain into flour.
• In the village or towns, they also had bigger versions,
• A larger circular stone that rested on top of another one,
• An axle is fitted through it,
• And an ox or donkey pulls it in a circle to pulverise raw grain into fine powder.
• TRANSITION:
• This is an image that is meant to shock those who heard it, just like it shocks us today.
• Drowning in the ocean would be terrible enough.
• But with a millstone (a heavy weight) tied around your neck,
• Helping you sink and preventing you rising to the surface,
• Seems like a terrible punishment.
• People say; “how can Jesus, meek and mild, use such descriptive language?”
• The answer to that question is:
• He uses this imagery to shock us out of the idea that sin does not matter!
• God hates sin, whatever that sin might be;
• And he also hates it when someone deliberately entices another person to sin,
• To deliberately seduce another person to sin is surely evil.
• Quote: “No-one sins in a vacuum”
• In other words, whenever we sin,
• We will affect someone else, somewhere!
Now it is important to understand what Jesus means by the words "little ones"
• Was he talking about those who lead children into sin?
• Possibly.
• But context, context, context, normally gives us a fuller and more accurate answer.
• Note the context here.
• Forget the chapter divisions and verse numbers they were added by humans,
• This is one long flowing narrative.
• Chapter 15 verse 1 we read….
• “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus”
• These were the ones he came to seek and to save!
• I would suggest that the “Little ones” are new believers in Christ.
• Jesus often refers to new believers this way.
• e.g. "Little children" (Luke chapter 10 verse 21).
• e.g. "Children" (Mark chapter 10 verse 24).
• e.g. “Little ones” (Matthew chapter 18 verse 6).
Ill:
• The lexicon offers this definition of this Greek word ‘mikros’
• "Unimportant, insignificant' of persons lacking in importance, influence, power, etc”
• Sounds like the, “The tax collectors and sinners” to me!
• The point is this, we need to be careful, very careful!
• To make sure we do not cause other believers to sin.
• Notice how Jesus concludes this teaching;
• With the admonishment: "So watch yourselves."
(3). We All need to be Forgiving (vs 3b-6a)
“‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying “I repent,” you must forgive them.’
5 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’
6 He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.”
• In these verses;
• Jesus anticipates a question that is probably going around in the minds of the disciples.
• And so, he gives them an answer before they ask.
• The question the disciples are probably thinking is:
• What if it is not you who is doing the sinning but someone else;
• What happens to those who sin against you!
“‘If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Notice:
• This sentence is quite specific, we know exactly who it is talking about.:
• It refers to a ‘brother or sister’,
• Someone who is a follower of Jesus (a Christian).
• This sentence contains four key words:
• “Sins, rebuke, repent, and forgive.”
• Let’s apply the four words.
(1). SINS.
• And when a follower of Jesus sins against us;
• I would suggest here that Jesus has in mind,
• What we would call a series issue not a small annoying thing,
• Most of us mess up in small ways on a regular basis!
• And we can easily make mountains out of molehills.
• So, this is advice for serious situations and not trivial irritations.
(2). REBUKE.
• I would suggest a private loving rebuke not a public one!
• It is right to let the person know how their sin has affected us,
• But we can do that lovingly and privately.
• God does not expose our failings publicly for others to see,
• And we can show the same mercy and grace to those who sin against us.
• So a gentle but firm rebuke is intended for that persons good,
• Not to make us feel better.
• To help that person be aware of his sin has affected you,
• Because the person involved may not even realise that.
Ill:
• Those who are married know how easily it is to ‘put your foot in it’
• And not even realise that you have done something hurtful or wrong.
• In marriage there is an education process that has to go on,
• A sensitizing process, to change our dull hearts to be sensitive to the needs of others,
• And to shed our native selfishness.
• TRANSITION: Our objective is to help that person;
• To be aware of his sin has affected you,
• Because the person involved may not even realise that.
(3). REPENT.
• Our aim is not to embarrass or hurt the person involved,
• But rather to encourage that person to repent.
• To realise what they have done, to be sorry and to stop.
(4). FORGIVE.
• Forgiveness is always hard because the offended person has to do the hard forgiving;
• And the guilty person seems to get away with it!
• Quote: Mark Twain (the American author and humourist):
• “Forgiveness is the scent the flower leaves on the heel that crushed it”
Ill:
• The only animal the grizzly bear would allow to eat with him was the skunk.
• This huge bear can fight and beat almost any animal in the West,
• But it lets the skunk share its meal.
• Because he knew the high cost of getting even.
• TRANSITION: When a person refuses to forgive,
• They pay a high cost!
• Forgiving someone releases the victim more than the offender.
• Forgiveness liberates the individual from negativity,
• Allowing him or her move on with life.
• It releases the individual from the trap of endless revenge;
• Into a world of increased joy and connection.
Notice:
• Just when you think you have got it; Jesus adds even more!
• He then speaks of continual forgiveness (vs 4).
“Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, “I repent,” you must forgive them.’”
• I think Jesus is using hyperbolic use of language in this verse,
• No-one is likely to sin against you that much in one day,
• So, this is exaggerated language and not meant to be taken literally.
• The point is if the person shows true repentance, then we are to forgive him.
Now this teaching is hard to apply and put into practice!
• No wonder some of Jesus' disciples replied, “Increase our love”
• Well, that is what you might have expected them to say.
• But they did not, they replied, "Increase our faith" (vs 5).
• That is the spiritual way to say,
• "This is too much for us. You will have to help us with this issue, it is beyond our ability."
• The reply of Jesus (vs 6) is interesting;
• The phrase he used has become a well-known quotation among Christians.
6 He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.”
Ill:
• The mustard seed is very, very small,
• But it contains life and growth and therefore can produce fruit!
• The disciple’s faith might be very, very small,
• But it to can be living, it can grow and therefore it can produce fruit!
Ill:
• The roots of the fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus) are deep-rooted and hard to dislodge.
• The rootage of the sycamine was reckoned to be particularly strong;
• It was thought that the tree could stand 600 years in the earth.
• In other words, this tree was unmovable,
• Just like having to forgive someone at times may seem impossible,
• But with genuine faith growing deeper in in God,
• We can remove that impossible object.
(2). Faithfulness (vs 7-10).
“ ‘Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, “Come along now and sit down to eat”? 8 Won’t he rather say, “Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink”? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”’”
Ill:
• If you put Jesus illustration into military terms.
• We might better understand it.
• Suppose a sergeant commands a private to, “Make your bunk and polish those boots!”
• The soldier immediately obeys.
• Does the sergeant mow owe the private soldier a thank you or a favour?
• Of course not, it would never happen in any army on earth!
• Because the soldier is simply fulfilling his duty.
• TRANSITION: Likewise, as Christians,
• Don’t expect favours from God when you simply do what you are supposed to do!
• No Christian should ever say;
• “Lord, I had a loving attitude today…
• So, you owe me three blessings and an answered prayer!”
God does not owe us gratitude, we owe him!
• God is not our servant, we are his.
• We don’t tell God what to do, he tells us!
• These verses stop us going off at a tangent!
• By that I mean without them we would all be trying ‘by faith’ to uproot trees
• But Jesus ‘earths’ them,
• By reminding them of their everyday responsibilities of life.
• Faith and ‘faithfulness’ (there is a clue in the word!),
• Reveal themselves in obedience to God.
• Of course, we need faith to do the impossible, but we also need it for the possible,
• We are to do all things by faith,
• All of life should be lived involving God and depending on him.
(3). Thankfulness (vs 11-17).
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[b] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’
14 When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19 Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
Jewish law required that:
• Lepers lived in isolated groups,
• They had to tear their clothes, bare their heads,
• And when anyone came to close, cry out in humiliation, “Unclean, unclean”
• (Leviticus chapter 13 verses 45-46)
Ten men, polluted with rotting flesh, call out to Jesus and ask for help!
• Jesus is their only hope,
• No-one else can help them, without Jesus they will experience a slow painful death.
You know the story:
• Ten men cry out to Jesus, ten men ask to be healed,
• Ten men are told to go see the high priest,
• And as they obey Jesus, ten men are all healed by Jesus
• If only the story finished there,
• You could easily add the words, “They all lived happily ever after!”
• But in real life things don’t always work out as they should.
Note verses 15-17:
“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19 Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”
• Ten are healed and nine rush off and never come back,
• Only one returns!
• And he was a ‘foreigner’ a ‘Samaritan!’
• If it was nine Samaritan’s who never returned and one Jew who come back,
• You would expect everyone to say, “No surprise there then!”
• Those Samaritan’s don’t deserve Jesus’ healing, they are a waste of space.
• Yet it was the Samaritan who returned and not the nine Jewish men!
• The half-cast, this outsider,
• The heretic to the Jews, who showed gratitude and appreciation.
• And notice that Jesus points out the man’s, “Faith”
• He returned saying; “Praising God”
• The nine Jews may have seen the high priest and be making sacrifices in the temple,
• But Jesus was much more pleased by this Samaritan’s offering!
• The nine Jews would have been declared ‘clean’ by the high priest in the temple,
• But Jesus does even more for this Samaritan,
• He declares him, forgiven.
• The N.I.V. translates it; “your faith has made you well.’”
• The K.J.B.: translates it: “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”
• I don’t think it is stretching the text to say he left not just physically cured,
• But spiritually forgiven!
In Conclusion:
• Forgiveness, Faithfulness & Thankfulness
• Three qualities we all need.
• Forgiveness is needed to heal wounds:
• When we fail or others hurt us.
• Faithfulness to God,
• Obedience is the normal response of anyone who wants to follow of Jesus.
• Thankfulness.
• Like the lepers we too have been cleansed and healed of the disease of sin.
• May we always be a grateful people.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=BfnoQ46PKc6Kk5jG2ClMaaoGbVloOdiO&forceSave
