Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-01-06
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDNSClOOL
LESSON
tBy REV. z. b. F1TZWATER. d. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
Ca 1890. Western Newspaper Union,
LESSON FOR JANUARY 9
JESUS TEACHES FORGIVENESS,

LESSON TExT-Matt ls:21-a5
GOLDEN TExT-If re forgive men
their trespasses. your heavenly Father
viii also forgive you.-Mast. 6:14
REFERENCE MATERIALr-Matt. s:R-
=: is:1S-ao: Luke liza. 1: Eph. 4: 81. 81:
Col s:z-1l
PRIMARY ToRlc-Forgiving One An
other
JUNIOR ToPIC-Learnins to Forgive.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Forgiving and Forgiven
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Sozgiveness: Its Meaning and Scope
Ia this lesson we have divine in
sructfons as to cur behavior In case
q ni-treatment s
!. Pets@s Question ". pa.
This question. How often shall my
brother sin against me and l forgive
Amr probably was occasioned by the
a. treatment which Peter was then re-
celving at the hands Of his fellow dis
cipaes. Chrfst's confession Of Peter
brought him into the limelight. The
question Of the disciples (1S:1) who
u the greatest In the Kingdom Of heav-
enr shows that there was some jeal-
ousy OF Peter among the disciples and
consequent contention among them.
From the Lords teaching as to the
efforts to bring about reconciliation In
Gaze Of offenses between brother and
brother He knew that It would require
the exercise OF the spirit of forgive
mem. Peter disposed to be gracious In
eufres It'll seven timesi" showing his
readiness to forgive his brother not
three times. but twice three times and
q lutte over.
Il. jss0s' Answer ". 22).
The Lords answer was an astonish-
Ing revelation to Peter. He said "Not
until seven times, but until seventy
dn,es seven" This shows that our
Willingness to forgive should be limit
lees.
III. The Two Creditors (vv. 1856. 4
This parable OF the two creditors L.
Illustrates His principles of forgiveness
L The gracious creditor wv. 2s-27).
The king In this parable represents
God. and the servant who is greatly In
debt represents the sinner-any sin
her. every sinner. you and me. We
were hopelessly In debt to God. Ten
thousand talents are equal to some
twelyeaJ niHions Of dollars. TO meet
this yobAsation would be an utter Inn
possibility. This mans plea for time,
promising to pay all, much resembles
eur vain imaginings that we can pay
sur debt to God. that by our future
sood works We can atone for our past
most griveotis sins. BY the justice Of
Gods faw we we're hopefessiy con-
demned; BY the grace 81 God I'VE were
freely pardoned-s 'QI GIL ,W
2, The cruel creditor wv. 2835).
This man who was forgiven so much
found q man who owed him small
sum-about fifteen or seventeen dol
lars He shut his ears to the mans
sntreaty to be patient with him, flew
At his throat and cruelty put him into
JAIL The great mercy shown him did
NOT touch his heart. so he refused to
be merciful. Being set free from so
great debt as our sins against God,
We should make Gods act of unlimited
forgiveness toward us the standard OF
unlimited forgiveness toward others.
In dealing with others we should al
ways keep these considerations before
us: ~ We ourselves need 1t and do
every day continue to need the for
gfveness of God With all our imper-
6egtiOns and positive sins we need the
l4htinued mercy of God. When we
pray, "Forgive US our debts as we for
give our Debtors" let us be sure that
we have put away ali thought Of sin
held against others. To pray that
prayer otherwise is an abomnation.
t2) That there is day Of judgment
coming and at that day we shall be
treated as we treat others No mercy
will be shown to those who have not
shown mercy.
The heart. then, of this lesson Is that
Gods gracious act toward us should
be the standard OF our actions to-
ward others, and that we must exer-
else the same spirit OF forgiveness
toward our fellowmen II we, would
continue to enjoy Gods forgiveness.
The proof that we are Gods children
Is that we manifest the spirit of God.
BE ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is I'm heaven ia perfacfr