ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON OTHERS?

Matthew 18:15 (NLT) “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”

Who did Jesus forgive?

• The paralyzed man lowered on a mat through the roof (Matthew 9:2-8)
• The woman caught in adultery John 8:3-11)
• The woman who anointed his feet with perfume (Luke 7:44-50)
• Peter, for denying he knew Jesus (John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-19)
• The criminal on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)
• The people who crucified Him (Luke 23:34)

Jesus did not just teach us about forgiveness, he demonstrated it as we can see above.

Matthew 8:15 is Jesus’s guidance for us Christians no for unbelievers, for sins committed against you an not others, and for conflict resolution amongst us Christians. These words are not a license to attack every person who hurts, or slights us, or we simply suspect them without confirmation. They are not a license for you to start a destructive gossip campaign against your brother or sister. These words are designed to reconcile those that disagree so that all us Christians can live in harmony.

Many of us when we feel we have been wronged do the exact opposite of what Jesus is teaching us. We turn away in hatred or resentment, we seek revenge, or engage in destructive gossip. Jesus teaches us that we should go to that person regardless of how difficult we may think it could be. Then as He tells us in Matthew 18:21-22 when Peter thought he was being so generous asked Him if he should forgive 7 times (seven being the “perfect” number), no “Seventy times seven.” meaning that we should not even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant regardless of how many times they ask.

What better way of restoring a relationship than following the teachings of our Lord and Savior who died in order that we could be forgiven, are we better than HIM?

Rayed Redemption Ministry

Euless, TX 76039

www.rayedredemption.org