The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-08
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMS01OOL
LESSON
by REV. T.. b. FITZWATER. d. d.
teacher of English Bible in the MOODY
Bible Institute of ChcagoJ
L.e. 1870. Western Newspaper Unionl
LESSON FOR JANUARY 9
JESUS TEACHES FORGIVENESS.

LESSON TEXT-Matt. 1S:21-a5
WIDEN TENTH We forgive men
their uespasses your heavenly Father
VIII also forgive you.-Matt. C:I4.
REFERENCE MATERIAI-NIatt CO.
10; JS:l5-2O; Luke 1913. 4; Eph. /. q %.
Col. 3:l:-14 o. 80
PRIMARY TOPIC-Forgiving One An
other "
JUNIOR TOPIC-Learning to Forgive
iNIEltMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Forgiving and Forgiven.
IL NJ PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-rorsNeneSs: Its Meaning and Scope.
III tIliS lesson We have divine in
structlons as to our behavior in case
OF ill-treatment.
!. Peters Question (v. 2D.
Ihls question, How often shall nv
brother sin against me and | forgive
hlmT probably was occasioned nv tho
Ill treatment which Peter was then re.
celvlnS at the hands of his fellow dis
clples. Christ'S confession of Peter
Drought him into the limelight. The
question of the disciples QS:D "Who
Is the greatest in the kingdom of heay-
en-" shows that there was some ieaI-
ousy Of Peter among the disciples and
conSequeP contention among thom
FROM the Lords teaching as to the
efforts to bring about reconciliation in
case OF offenses between brother and
brother He knew that it would require
the exercise of the spirit of forgive
ness. Peter disposed to be gracious in
qulres It'll seven times?' showing his
readiness to forgive his brother not
three times, but twice three times and
little over.
III. Jesus Answer ". 22).
The Lords answer was an astonish.
Ing revelation TO Peter. He said Not
until seven times, but until seventy
times seven" This shows that our
Willingness to forgive should be limit |
less.
III. The Two Creditors wv. 23-35).
This parable of the two creditors H.
lustrates His principles of forgiveness.
1. The gracious creditor wv. 23-2O.
The king in this parable represents
Tod, and the servant who is greatly i'm
debt represents the sinner-any sim
her, every sinner. you and me. We
were hopelessly in debt to God. Ten
thousand talents are equal to some
Twelve millions of dollars. To meet
his obligation would be an utter i'm
possibility. This mans plea for time.
to pay all, much resembles
'ur vain imaginings that we can pay
'ur debt to God, that by our future
'ood works we can atone for our past
most griveous sins. BY the justice of
iods law we were hOpelessly con-
lemned; by the grace of God we were
RELY pardoned.
Z. The cruel creditor wv. 2S-35).
This man who was forgiven so much
ound man who owef him a small
um-about fifteen or seventeen dol
ars. He shut his ears to the mems
ntreaty to be patient with him, flew
his throat and cruelty put him into
ail.' The great mercy shown him did
OF touch his heart, so he refused to
merciful. Being set free from so
reat debt as our sins against God.
'e should make Gods act of unlimited 4.
)rgiveness toward us the standard of
forgiveness toward others.
dealing with others we should al I
avs keep these considerations before
5: (1) We ourselves need it and do {
'ery day continue to need the for |
veness Of God. With all our imper- e
'ctions and positive sins we need the c
'ntinued mercy Of God. When we I
'ay, Forgive us our debts as we for I
We our Debtors" let us be sure that
have put away all thought of sin
I'D against others. To pray that
aver otherwise is an abomination. "
} That there Is day of judgment -
ming and at that day We shall be
Gated as we treat others. No mercy
III be shown to those who have not
own mercy.
The heart. then, of this lesson is that
IDS gracious act toward us should
the standard Of our actions to-
lrd others, and that we must exer.
e the same spirit of forgiveness
ward our fellOwmen IL we would
1tinue to enjoy Gods forgiveness.
e proof that we are Gods children
that we manifest the spirit of God.
e We therefore perfect, even as your
Their which is in heaven is perfect"
att. 5:4S).